Sport Management M.S.M

Earn your Master’s in Sport Management online

Build the leadership skills to pursue a fast-paced career in the sports industry with a master’s degree from Colorado State University. Gain in-depth knowledge that you can apply immediately to jobs in recreational, intercollegiate, or professional sports. Through a targeted, interdisciplinary curriculum and direct professional experience, you will prepare for a sports career in areas such as: business development, sales, marketing, communications, event coordination, community outreach, or facilities management.

Whether you’re a recent graduate or already working in the industry, CSU welcomes students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds to apply.

Study in a collaborative online program as you gain professional skills

Like all of CSU’s regionally accredited online graduate programs, this degree will allow you to expand on the knowledge you gained during your undergraduate studies. Explore and discuss a wide range of topics with your instructors and fellow students, including:

• Selfless leadership and inclusive excellence
• Globalization of the sports and athletics industry
• Sports law, governance, policy, and ethics
• Marketing, media relations, and corporate communications
• Risk management

In as little as 18 months, you can develop the research skills, creative problem-solving ability, and strategic thinking required to achieve success in a sports management career.

Why choose an online sports management master’s program?

As a professional degree within CSU’s College of Liberal Arts, this fully online graduate program offers a unique interdisciplinary curriculum. Go beyond foundational topics like management and business fundamentals as you push yourself to explore more challenging areas of study. Students in this program will:

• Dive into the ethics, policies, and laws that shape the modern sports landscape
• Learn data-driven analysis methods that inform strategic decision-making processes
• Examine modern cultural perspectives and concepts of social responsibility
• Gain the knowledge to pursue future leadership opportunities
• Receive regular guidance and insight from distinguished scholar-practitioners

Customize your learning experience

Before completing this degree, you will choose one of four tracks: Generalist, Business Foundations, Marketing, or Sport Media and Communications. Program tracks allow you to focus your learning and build the knowledge that will be the most beneficial in your current or future career.

Colorado State University has teamed up with the Colorado Rockies to foster the next generation of sport management professionals with the Colorado Rockies Sport Management Institute at CSU.

About the Institute

Situated within the College of Liberal Arts, CSU established the Sport Management Institute in 2014 with a focus on developing capable, well-rounded leaders that benefit from a humanities-based approach. Beginning in 2022, CSU has partnered with the Rockies to offer CSU students an even more impactful academic experience.

By connecting a top research university with an iconic sports franchise, the Institute offers an innovative program that includes both an undergraduate minor and a master’s degree, each designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue a career in the sports industry.

Academic Opportunities for Institute Students

Annual Career Fair at CSU

During the beginning of the spring semester, the Rockies will travel up to Fort Collins and hold a career fair exclusively for Institute students. Heads from various Rockies departments will share details on upcoming entry-level positions with the Rockies for the upcoming season.

Annual Business of Baseball Day

CSU and the Rockies welcome Institute students interested in learning about what it’s like to work in Major League Baseball by hosting an annual Business of Baseball Day, where students can meet members of the Rockies front office and learn about the organization. This event will include an interactive Q&A with various department representatives.

Curriculum Integration

The Rockies will consult on various topics relevant to operations of a professional sports team, including the opportunity for student teams to co-create case studies and other projects.

Seasonal Employment Positions: In-Game Entertainment and Event Operations Crew

Paid, part-time employment positions with the Colorado Rockies will be offered during the summer months to 8-10 CSU students that have been part of the Sports Management program for at least one full year. Students accepted into a position will receive:

• A paid, part-time position with the Colorado Rockies
• Class credit to be allocated towards CSU coursework
• Experience in a professional sports organization
• Networking opportunities across Colorado Rockies various departments

Andrew Goldsmith, Ph.D.

Dr. Goldsmith is an assistant professor and Interim Director of the Sport Management Program at Colorado State University. His primary line of inquiry in the field of sport management has been focused in the area of organizational behavior and ethical decision-making. He has spent a majority of his effort investigating the role of antecedent conditions and cost-benefit analysis towards whistleblowing intention in sport. He has published in journals such as Sport Management Review, Leisure Sciences, and International Journal of Sport Management.

Read more about Dr. Goldsmith.

Justin R. Garner, Ph.D.

Dr. Garner is an Instructor of Sport Management at Colorado State University. He has experience as a college student-athlete mentor, professor, and researcher. His research is focused on the areas of sport analytics, athlete activism, anti-colonialism, and the experiences of BIPOC in sport and entertainment. He has served as a consultant for basketball operations at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Dr. Garner seeks to continue making an impact through his service as an educator, advisor, and activist.

Olivia Knoll, Event Operations Assistant

“I pursued this degree because I aspired to work for a professional sports team. I also wanted to advance my knowledge of the sports industry and learn how to be a successful manager. Taking classes such as Sport Law, Sport and Communities, and Sport Facility and Event Management, I was able to build on my undergraduate education and dive deeper on subjects I had prior knowledge about. Through my coursework and on-site experiences, I learned several different leadership styles. Being knowledgeable and skilled does not necessarily translate into being a successful leader, and I want to make sure I exhibit both in a managerial position.”

Frank Martinez, Middle School Head Football and Basketball Coach

“This program has been a great experience! Every one of my instructors have been incredibly knowledgeable. They have high expectations, and they teach great leadership skills. The instructors also understand the demands that someone working full time or competing in college athletics have while working in a master’s program. It is important that nearly every class placed great value in social equity issues within sports, which is also very important to me.”

The online Master of Sport Management program is a professional degree that prepares you for leadership in the sports and athletics industry. To earn this degree, you must complete:

• All required core courses, including:
  • Internship (2-4 credit hours)
  • Capstone project (2 credit hours)
• Selected elective courses based on your chosen track

Choosing a Program Track

Before completing this degree, you will select one of four tracks: Generalist, Business Foundations, Marketing, or Sport Media and Communications. Program tracks allow you to focus your learning and develop skills that will be the most beneficial in your current or future career.

Application Deadlines