Business student working on laptop.

B.S. in Sport Management Overview

 

One thing is for certain: Americans love sports. Ranked as one of the 20 largest industries in the United States, the sports industry spans professional, college and privately run programs and demands jobs in areas such as management, law, finance, accounting, development, marketing, media, licensing, ethics, merchandising and special events.


The growth of jobs in the sports industry since 2010 has been notably higher than that of the national average for all jobs, with sports serving as a key economic driver in cities across the country, according to CareerBuilder. If you love sports and are interested in gaining the professional expertise necessary to work in this $350 billion industry, consider enrolling in the Sport Management program at Alvernia University.


In addition to gaining specific competencies as they pertain to the sports industry, you’ll also acquire the critical thinking, writing and problem-solving skills that are necessary to be successful in today’s workplaces. And you'll do it in the ninth-best minor league market in the country, as ranked by Sports Business Journal in 2022, home to Major League Baseball's Class AA Reading Fightin Phils and the ECHL's Reading Royals.


Alvernia faculty members teach about business from both practical and ethical standpoints. This gives you the knowledge you’ll need to succeed professionally, because it develops supervisory and managerial skills that are necessary to advance in your career.

 

Careers in Sport Management

The sports industry provides opportunities in many different areas, including sports marketing and sponsorship, traditional and social sports media, and sports facilities. However, while the opportunities for working in a sports-related job are many, competition for these jobs is keen.


At Alvernia, members of the business faculty will help you narrow your career goals within the sports industry, and guide you on how to acquire the knowledge and experience you’ll need to succeed. Graduates in Sport Management are prepared for exciting careers areas such as in sports industry segments including:  Professional, collegiate and interscholastic sports, Professional tour events such as the LPGA or Pro Cycling Tour, Sport governing bodies such as the NCAA or PIAA, Sport marketing companies, Sport and recreation facilities, Health, fitness and sport clubs, Sport events, such as tournament and races, Sport camps, Sporting goods manufacturers, Sporting goods retailers, and Theme park and cruise ship operations.


To learn more about jobs in the area of sport management, check out the Career Services page of the North American Society for Sport Management. You also can research job postings for sport management positions to get a better idea of what various jobs in this field entail.
 

A sampling of employers of Alvernia sport management graduates:

  • Binghamton Devils
  • Lehigh Valley IronPigs
  • State University of New York College at Brockport
  • Reading Royals
  • Reading Fightin Phils
  • King's Promotions/King's Gym
  • Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA)
  • Big Vision Foundation
  • Mclean School of Maryland
  • University of Houston
  • Pitch In For Baseball
  • All Star Baseball Academy

 

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Some business students pursue graduate degrees after graduation, either at Alvernia or other colleges and universities.


Alvernia offers a special program for motivated students — a MBA + 1 option. By declaring an interest in your junior year, you could be eligible to enroll in a 30-credit Master of Business Administration degree program that you complete in just one year. You would extend your stay at Alvernia for an extra year, finishing after five years with both an undergraduate and graduate degree.


Learn more about the MBA Program here.


 

Curriculum

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.  You’ll need to complete 54-55 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours.

In addition, Sport Management majors must complete 61 credits.  View all business course descriptions here.

Required Courses for Finance Degree

Business Core (33 credits)

  • BUS 101 Financial Accounting*
  • BUS 200 Managerial Accounting or BUS 250 Accounting Principles
  • BUS 206 Management Principles*
  • BUS 207 Marketing Principles*
  • BUS 315 Data Analytics & Information Systems
  • BUS 342 Business Law
  • BUS 410 Financial Markets
  • BUS 411 Financial Decision Making
  • BUS 426 Strategic Management
  • BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I (enrolled for at least 3 credits)
  • MAT 208 Introductory Statistics or MAT 209 Probability and Statistics

* must earn a grade of "C" or better

Related Area (6 credits)

  • ECON 248 Macroeconomics
  • ECON 249 Microeconomics

High Performer Development Series (3 credits)

  • BUS 251 High Performer Development Series I
  • BUS 351 High Performer Development Series II
  • BUS 451 High Performer Development Series III

Professional Readiness (1 credit)

  • UNIV 200 Career & Internship Preparation

Sport Management Courses (18 credits)

  • BUS 208 Intro to Sales
  • SM 201 Introduction to Sport Management
  • SM 210 Sport in Society
  • SM 310 Facility & Event Management
  • SM 325 Sport Marketing, Promotions & Fundraising
  • SM 455 Sport Management Seminar
 

Recommended Courses (Optional)

  • BUS 442 Cooperative Education in Business II

Choosing a dual major can make you even more marketable after graduation. Complementary majors to sport management might include accounting, marketing, management and human resource management.

Business Minor

Students who major in another area can minor in business by earning 21 credits. Required courses for a business minor are:

  • BUS 101 Financial Accounting
  • BUS 200 Managerial Accounting
  • BUS 206 Management Principles
  • BUS 207 Marketing Principles
  • BUS 342 Business Law
  • BUS 410 Financial Markets
  • ECON 248 Macroeconomics OR ECON 249 Microeconomics
Experiential Learning 

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Alvernia believes that real-world experience is extremely important, as it can improve your confidence and introduce you to professionals in your intended field of employment.

You will not only benefit from experienced faculty members who have extensive experience in the business world, you’ll also get the opportunity to participate in learning opportunities in real business settings through internships and cooperative experiences.

Some of the organizations with which Alvernia business majors have had internships include:

  • The Camden Riversharks
  • Citizens Bank
  • Cott Beverage
  • Ernst & Young
  • Four Seasons Produce
  • Haines & Kibblehouse
  • InRoads
  • Morgan Stanley
  • The Philadelphia Eagles
  • The Reading Royals
  • Service And Access Management (SAM)
  • Superior Oxygen
  • U.S. Department of Finance
  • U.S. Department of Treasury
  • Walt Disney World
  • Webb Insurance

 

Research Opportunities

Research is a valuable aspect of any education. Business faculty at Alvernia conduct research in a variety of areas, including leadership, management, organizational development, strategy, market research, international marketing, time management, conflict resolution, international leadership and hiring of part-time employees.

As a business major, there may be an opportunity for you to assist in faculty research, and to benefit from the knowledge gained through faculty research.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Sport Management – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

 

 


Reading CollegeTowne featuring Enhanced Business Programs

Rendering of Alvernia University's downtown Reading location

 

With the launching of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative and new state-of-the-art metropolitan complex at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading, the university’s business programs take experiential learning to new heights. With world-class facilities and increased community engagement, our real-world learning opportunities will be further expanded to fully prepare students for success upon graduation.

 

A new trading floor/business lab will be used for a variety of learning experiences over a wide range of classrooms. It will be incorporated into upper level seminar classes such as Marketing Research Seminar, Marketing Management, Investment Fund Management, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Analysis and Corporate Finance. The lab will support simulations, research and a wide-variety of other business applications. It will also support the granting of Microsoft Certification for Excel.

 

The expanded curriculum will fully utilize the new facilities as well as enhanced engagement via the O’Pake Center’s business incubator. The student-run incubator provides hands-on learning for students of all disciplines, allowing students to create, collaborate and lead while they provide support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community. In addition, industry and community partners provide resources, internships and professional mentoring to students. It’s a win-win for both students and businesses in the region.

 

 


Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Sport Management program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Dr. Tufan Tiglioglu
Chair of Business Department
tufan.tiglioglu@alvernia.edu
610-796-8278

Majors

Timothy Bailey | Business | MBA | Rodney Ridley | Student | O'Pake | 2020
Master of Business Administration
Some business students pursue graduate degrees after graduation, either at Alvernia or other colleges and universities.

Alvernia offers a special program for motivated students — a MBA + 1 option. By declaring an interest in your junior year, you could be eligible to enroll in a 30-credit Master of Business Administration degree program that you complete in just one year. You would extend your stay at Alvernia for an extra year, finishing after five years with both an undergraduate and graduate degree.
clock at sunset
Request Info
Rendering of Alvernia University's downtown Reading location
Visit Us