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The Falk College Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University offers a bachelor of science degree in sport management, a bachelor of science degree in sport analytics, and a master of science in sport venue and event management. Sport management students study and practice in sport business and finance, sales, marketing, law, promotion, technology, communications, research methods, data analysis, event planning and facility management. Through the 12-credit Senior Capstone Experience requirement, students gain valuable hands-on experience in the sports industry. In sport analytics, students gain a deep understanding of math, statistics, research methodology, sport economics, database management, finance and computer programming integral to sport analytics. The culmination of the degree is a two-semester senior thesis, an analytical research and analysis project in the student’s sport (or sports) topic of choice. Learn more information about our degree programs, facilities and technology, Capstone sites, and student research.

When considering a career path in sport management or sport analytics, the following information is helpful:

• A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for entry-level positions.
• An advanced degree is essential for some business management positions, and supervisory roles in sports organizations.
• A Ph.D. is recommended for college teaching.
• A J.D. degree may be useful in becoming a professional athlete’s agent, general counsel for an organization or other similar positions.
• Useful skills in the field include writing and research, communication and public speaking, time management and organization, technology and social media, problem solving, decision making and critical thinking.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for any career path in sport management.
• As the sport industry transforms into a global enterprise in countries like India, China, Russia and South America, multilingual students will be highly sought to fill positions.

Employment Settings

Listed below are a series of market segments and types of potential employers looking for students with sport management and sport analytics degrees.

Analytics

Potential titles: Data analyst, research analyst.
Prospective employers: Professional leagues, teams and organizations; sport foundations; stadiums; sport agencies, media outlets, corporate sponsors, ticket agencies, food and beverage companies.

Strategies for students:

• Join one of the many analytics-related student organizations in the Department of Sport Management.
• Work with a faculty advisor to submit articles for publication.
• Gain hands-on experience through internships.

Communication/Media

Potential titles: Director for sports communications, media relations assistant, social media manager, producer/assistant producer, video manager, website manager, public relations assistant, community relations director.

Prospective employers: Professional teams, leagues, and sport foundations; colleges and universities; amateur and athletic organizations; broadcast organizations, newspapers and magazines; event management companies; sporting goods manufacturers and retailers; sports agencies, stadiums and civic centers.

Strategies for students:

• Minor in public communications studies or double major in newspaper and online journalism, public relations, or information management and technology.
• Work with campus departments or student organizations, either in a paid position or as a volunteer, to assist with social media campaigns.
• Submit articles for publication.

Facilities and Events

Potential titles: Executive director, assistant facility manager, special events director, operations manager, event promotion manager, customer relations manager, sales associate, account executive, fan engagement director.

Prospective employers: Sport venues, stadiums and civic centers; professional teams, colleges and universities; event management companies, and; athletic and fitness clubs, country clubs, resorts.

Strategies for students:

• Minor or double major in management-related programs.
• Assume leadership role in campus or community recreational activities such as golf tournaments, road races, and other fundraising events.
• Obtain experience with community recreation programs through volunteer positions or part-time jobs.
• Intern with a facility such as a stadium, multipurpose arena, golf course, or other type of venue.

Finance

Potential titles: Financial analyst, associate athletic director for finance, box office manager, corporate sales manager, accounting manager.

Prospective employers: Professional teams, leagues, and player unions; colleges and universities; amateur and athletic organizations; stadiums and venues; sports agencies; sporting goods manufacturers and retailers; athletic and fitness clubs, country clubs, resorts.

Strategies for students:

• Minor or double major in accounting, finance, or retail management.
• Develop skills in analytics, finance, accounting, and bookkeeping.
• Develop skills in statistics, and data management and analysis.
• Study for an MBA or MS in finance.

Law

Potential titles: Sports agent, general counsel, arbitrator/mediator, special events contract lawyer.

Prospective employers: Professional teams, leagues, and players unions; sports agencies; stadiums and venues; professional athletes; athlete foundations; and player representative firms.

Strategies for students:

• Be involved in college athletics as a player or manager.
• Study for a law degree.

Marketing

Potential titles: Director of marketing, director of special events and promotions, director of new business development, director of fan development, tournament operations manager.

Prospective employers: Professional teams and leagues; colleges and universities; corporate sponsors; amateur organizations; stadiums and venues; sporting goods manufacturers and retailers; event management companies; athletic and fitness clubs, country clubs, recreational programs.

Strategies for students:

• Minor or double major in marketing or retail management.
• Assume leadership role in campus organizations.
• Obtain a master’s degree for administrative positions.

Public Relations

Potential titles: Public relations manager, director of sports information, director of sports media, director of community relations, corporate communications assistant.

Prospective employers: Professional teams and leagues; colleges and universities; amateur and athletic organizations; stadiums and venues; sporting goods manufacturers and retailers; event management companies; athletic and fitness clubs, recreational programs, sports agencies; and nonprofit sports foundations.

Strategies for students:

• Double major in newspaper and online journalism, public relations or other communications-based major.
• Assume leadership roles in campus organizations.
• Submit articles for publication.

Operations

Potential titles: Game-day operations manager, facilities manager.

Prospective employers: Professional teams, leagues; colleges and universities; stadiums and venues; event planning companies; extreme sports companies.

Strategies for students:

• Minor or double major in business-related areas.
• Assume leadership roles in a multitude of event planning and game-day operations activities.
• Volunteer at events.

Sales

Potential titles: Corporate sales manager, manager of suite sales, ticket sales or group sales, account executive, sponsorship sales manager, director of business development.

Prospective employers: Professional teams, leagues; colleges and universities; stadiums and venues; sporting goods manufacturers and retailers.

Strategies for students:

• Ticket sales is the primary entry point for employment with professional sports teams, and is one of the most rapidly-growing career paths in college athletics as well.
• Students interested in working in professional sports must prepare for sales to be a key aspect in their career path. Identify a sales internship with a professional team or college athletic department as a first step into sports sales.
• Join the SPM Sales Club.
• Volunteer with SU Athletics or Syracuse professional sports teams.

Administration

Potential titles: General manager, executive director, vice president, collegiate athletic director.

Prospective employers: Professional teams, leagues, and player unions; colleges and universities; amateur athletic organizations; stadiums and venues; recreational programs; athletic and fitness clubs, resorts.

Strategies for students:

• Minor or double major in management-related programs.
• Assume leadership roles in campus clubs or organizations.
• Study for an MBA or other master’s degree.
• Volunteer for an athletic department such as SU Athletics.

Sport for Development Advocacy

Potential titles: Program assistant, project director, marketing coordinator, communications officer, foundation manager.

Prospective employers: Sport for development programs, government organizations (i.e., United Nations), charitable foundations that support sport for personal and socioeconomic development efforts.

Strategies for students:

• Volunteer with sport for development organizations that use sport as a community-building tool to impact the lives of others in a positive way.
• Get involved in campus clubs or organizations that allow for skill development in areas such as project management, fundraising, and facilitation and training.
• Become proficient in foreign languages.
• Double major in psychology, social work or similar areas.

Build Your Network

To learn more, students interested in sport management and sport analytics careers should explore related professional associations:

Association of Sports Analytics Professionals
College Sports Information Directors of America
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators
National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators
North American Society for Sport Management
Society for American Baseball Research
Sports Marketing Association

Learn More

For more information, please contact:

Falk College Office of Admissions
315.443.5555 | falk@syr.edu | visit the admissions website

Falk College Career Services
315.443.3144 | falkcareers@syr.edu | visit the career services website

Falk College Department of Sport Management
315.443.9881 | visit the sport management website