Alumni will go on to successful careers as
- Account executive
- Athletic coach
- Athletic director
- Compliance coordinator
- Event operations coordinator
- Facilities and event manager
- League commissioner
- Sport development officer
- Sport event consultant
Sports Management Degree
- Bachelor of Science
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In This Section
Build Your Career in Sports with Values That Matter
At Saint Vincent College, the sports management major prepares students to thrive in the fast-paced world of athletics and business. Whether you're aiming to manage professional sports teams, coach future athletes, or analyze trends in the sports industry, this program offers a strong foundation in management, sports law, and real-world experience. With faculty who bring decades of industry expertise—including work with the NFL Players Association—and access to internships with top organizations like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates, students gain the skills and connections to succeed. Rooted in the Benedictine value of hospitality, the program emphasizes ethical leadership, teamwork, and service.
Undergraduate Programs
Program Highlights
Master the Game with Real-World Skills
You'll gain practical skills in leadership, marketing, operations, and digital communication and learn how those skills translate to the unique demands of athletic organizations. From managing teams and planning events to navigating legal issues and promoting sports brands, this program prepares you to lead with confidence.
Train Like a Pro, Think Like a CEO
The sports management major at Saint Vincent College stands out by combining specialized sports courses with the full curriculum of our award-winning, ACBSP-accredited management program. Students graduate with the skills to lead in both the sports world and the broader business arena. Graduates are well prepared for various positions within sports, administration, and operations.
Connect with the Pros
In the sports management program, students have the chance to interact directly with professionals working at all levels of the sports industry. These experiences may include guest speakers, networking events, and classroom visits from agents, coaches, and executives. By learning from those actively shaping the field, students gain valuable insights into career paths and build connections that can open doors after graduation.
Learn more about alum Chaz Coleman's success in sports management and his return to SVC to inspire students.
Pittsburgh Connection
Saint Vincent College’s close proximity to Pittsburgh opens doors to real-world experience with some of the most iconic teams in professional sports. Through strong relationships with organizations like the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, our students have secured internships that provide hands-on learning in marketing, operations, event planning, and more.
Careers After Saint Vincent
Student Success Stories
"The sports management program played a pivotal role in helping me secure an internship with the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Public Relations department. Additionally, it has significantly supported my coaching career—currently at Derry Area High School and with my travel team under Wildcat Select—by equipping me with the skills to manage team budgets, oversee operations, and develop a comprehensive understanding of how to build and sustain a successful program."Adam Bosco, C'23, G'25
Required Curriculum
The sports management major is part of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government and supported by our core curriculum, where students delve into diverse academic subjects at both foundational and advanced levels to explore how different disciplines connect, fostering deeper self-understanding and proficiency in their chosen field of study.
The sports management program prepares students for a wide range of careers in the sports industry. Combining a strong foundation in business management with a liberal arts education, the program offers both practical skills and broad-based knowledge. It is ideal for students who want to study sports through a professional lens while developing critical thinking, communication, and leadership abilities.
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Required Courses
Business Core Requirements - 45 credits
- BA 100 Financial Accounting I (Freshman year)
- BA 170 Organizational Behavior (Freshman year)
- BA 220 Principles of Marketing (2nd semester Freshman year)
- BA 265 Management Information Systems (Sophomore year)
- BA 305 Business Ethics (Junior year preferred)
- BA 320 Corporate Finance I (Sophomore year)
- BA 340 Business Law (Junior year)
- BA 350+BA350A Statistics I (Sophomore year) + Excel Lab
- BA 351+BA 351A Statistics II (Sophomore year) + Excel Lab or EC 360+EC 361 Econometrics + R Lab (Sophomore year)
- BA 495 Capstone Class: Business Policy and Strategy (Senior year)
- EC 101 Principles of Microeconomics (Freshman year)
- EC 102 Principles of Macroeconomics (Freshman year)
- PS 100 Principles of American Politics
- MA 109/111 Calculus I (Freshman year)
- BA 00P ePortfolio Requirement (semester of graduation--pass/fail)
Sports Management Requirements - 30 credits
- BA 150 Managerial Accounting
- BA 209 Sports Administration
- BA 211 Sports Media, Promotion, and Marketing
- BA 280 Leadership
- BA 332 Human Resource Management
- BA 395 or BA 251 Global Marketing or International Business
- BA 398 Project Management I
- BA 492 Operations Management
- CA 285 Digital Layout and Design
- PS 385 Sports Law
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Key Courses
Sports Administration: Explore the key areas of managing sports organizations, including budgeting, staffing, event planning, and career paths in the industry. This course introduces the foundations of sport administration and what it takes to succeed behind the scenes.
Sports Media, Promotion, and Administration: Learn how sports organizations connect with fans and sponsors through media and marketing. This course covers promotion strategies, media management, and real-world projects to help you build practical skills for the field.
Sports Venue and Event Management: Discover how to plan and manage events in sports venues of all sizes. You'll study scheduling, budgeting, security, and the business side of filling event calendars in professional settings.
Facilities and Resources
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Dunlap Family Recreation and Athletic Center
The Dunlap Center (anticipated opening Spring 2026) is a 72,000-square-foot facility that supports fitness, wellness, and athletic programming at Saint Vincent College. With spaces for cardio and strength training, an indoor track, and rooms for group fitness classes, it’s a key resource for students studying sports management. The center also includes an athletic training facility, wellness pavilion, and flexible areas for events and community engagement—offering hands-on opportunities to observe and participate in the operations of a modern athletic facility.