Master of Business Administration in Sport Business

Get the advanced training to take your career in athletic administration to the next level. Hardin-Simmons University is proud to offer one of the most well-regarded yet affordable sports management MBA programs in Texas.

Our MBA in sport business is accredited by multiple institutions and considered by some agencies to be among the top online sports management MBA programs in the country. Whether you’re aiming to be a general manager or athletic director, you’ll learn the business theories and financial and personnel management strategies, and how to apply them to various types of organizations within the sports industry.

Supportive, Faith-Based Learning Environment

At HSU, we’re committed to your success. Not just in the classroom, but in your life beyond graduate school. You can count on a supportive learning environment in which your professors and peers are there to help you when you need it. You can expect a flexible class model designed to achieve work-life-study balance — with fully online courses, 8-week semesters, and multiple opportunities to join the program per year, not just in spring or fall. You’ll also benefit from a program grounded in the Christian faith, that will foster the integrity and ethics essential to successful leadership, as well as the business acumen.

Program Contact

Jennifer Plantier-Director of Graduate Programs

Dr. Jennifer Hobbs Plantier

Professor of Business and Marketing, Coordinator of Marketing Programs, Director of Graduate Programs for Kelley College of Business

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Why Earn Your MBA In Sport Business at Hardin-Simmons?

MBA Sport Business program professor speaking to students in a gym

Flexible Online Model

We know that many students seeking a sports management MBA are already industry professionals with busy work lives. We’ve tailored this program to meet the needs of the working student, with a flexible online teaching model that allows you to work at your own pace. Study full-time and finish in as little as 12-15 months or take longer depending on your needs. HSU undergraduates can also enroll in the Early Admission To Graduate Learning (EAGL) to get up to two courses of their Sport Business MBA out of the way while completing their bachelor’s degrees.

HSU Public Administration students in lecture hall

Elite Reputation

Any college can claim they offer one of the best sports management MBA programs in the country, but few have the industry recognition to back it up. Hardin-Simmons’ MBA program is accredited by both the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges,  a member of the Alliance for Sport Business, and MBA Central ranked our MBA in Sport Business among the top 20 online sports management MBA programs in the country in 2020.

Hardin-Simmons football scoreboard with HSU in the lead

Dynamic Learning Atmosphere

The world of sports business is dynamic, and we believe your education in sports management should reflect that. Changes in the field present opportunities for hands-on learning, and as a sports management MBA student, you’ll have opportunities to engage in service learning, research, simulations, internships, and real-life corporate projects as part of your coursework.

Softball players slap hands

What Can You Do With an MBA In Sport Business?

Sports management skills are needed in all types of sports and all levels of competition, including in municipal recreation, private organizations, social organizations, government athletic activities, amateur sport, college-level athletics, and professional sports.

Graduates of our sports management MBA program have gone on to work in several athletic organizations, including the Texas Rangers, Abilene Youth Sports Authority, Abilene Independent School District, Carrolton Independent School District, and in college athletic departments throughout the country.

Sports Management MBA Jobs

  • Corporate officer
  • Business development representative
  • Marketing and sales executive
  • Recruiting and development specialist
  • Facilities manager
  • Coaches and scouts

MBA in Sport Business Salary

A sport business MBA can boost your earning potential and lead to a variety of lucrative careers. Facilities managers, for example, earn an average of $98,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Public relations managers and marketing managers each average an annual salary of $141,000.

Program Details

HSU is here to support you in your goals to advance within the field of athletics administration. Students in our sport business MBA program have job search and industry analysis through our Career Center. You can take advantage of personal career advising, resume analysis, and other resources to ensure you’re ready to make the biggest splash possible on the job market once you’ve graduated.

Our online MBA sport business program combines coursework in business and kinesiology to offer a specialized graduate degree that’s perfect for professionals that want to work in the sports industry. You’ll gain a big picture understanding of sports business as a whole, become adept at financial decision making, learn how to organize athletes at the administrative level, and become an expert at crafting smart solutions to business problems.

Find descriptions for all the courses in the sport business MBA program in our Graduate Catalog.

To be eligible to pursue a sport business MBA at Hardin-Simmons, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a GPA of at least 3.0.

View all requirements for the MBA program at Hardin-Simmons.

If you’re interested in the sport business MBA, you might also want to explore these other business-related graduate degree programs at HSU:

Jennifer Plantier-Director of Graduate Programs“Our MBA in Sport Business courses are hands on, so students can apply what they are learning in the classroom to what they will actually do on the job. We coordinate with businesses and sports venues on projects that are real-world work – marketing and business planning, research, promotions, merchandising, and internships.”

Dr. Jennifer Hobbs Plantier, Professor of Business & Marketing, is the Hardin Simmons University MBA Sport Business program director. Dr. Plantier received a BS in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Hawaii Pacific University. Her work carried her beyond retail into commercial trafficking and sales while working for two radio stations in Connecticut and Texas.

Dr. Plantier furthered her education while working as the marketing director and station programmer in student affairs at Texas Tech University. She completed her MS in marketing at Tech, then shifted her focus to consumer behavior and continued her education at Texas Tech earning a PhD in consumer economics. During the completion of this degree, Dr. Plantier served as a Visiting Professor at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, where she taught marketing and economics courses.