Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management online

Turn your passion for sports into a career you love. Build the skills to run marketing campaigns, manage events, and oversee facilities and operations for teams and leagues.

Apply by: 1/3/27
Start class: 1/25/27

Program Overview

Advance your career when you earn a bachelor of sport management online

The Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management from William Paterson University prepares you to lead in professional and collegiate athletics, sport marketing, event planning, facility operations, and sport finance. Prepare to build career-ready skills through hands-on coursework tied to the New York sports market.

This bachelor’s in sport management takes a broad view of the field instead of narrowing you into ticket sales, so you graduate ready for marketing, operations, and administrative roles across the industry. This program connects your coursework directly to professionals hiring in this space via guest speakers and an employer network including the New York Yankees, DraftKings, as well as the NBA and MLB.

Graduates of this online BA in Sport Management program will:

  • Develop business and administrative skills needed by organizations involved with sports activities, products, and services
  • Analyze financial and economic factors impacting the sports industry
  • Utilize technology and communication skills within the context of sport management
  • Develop and implement sport marketing and event strategies
  • Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible decision-making in sports organizations
  • Develop business and administrative skills needed by organizations involved with sports activities, products, and services
  • Analyze financial and economic factors impacting the sports industry
  • Utilize technology and communication skills within the context of sport management
  • Develop and implement sport marketing and event strategies
  • Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible decision-making in sports organizations

Also available:

William Paterson University offers a variety of specialized bachelor's degrees. Check out all of our online undergraduate programs. In addition, we have minors available to help you meet your undergraduate credit requirements by integrating coursework that enriches your educational experience.

$381 Per Credit Hour
120 Credit Hours
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 833-960-0139

Call 833-960-0139

Add a minor to help meet your credit hour requirement and enrich your educational experience.

Tuition

Score an affordable path forward with per-credit tuition

Online undergraduate programs from William Paterson University offer affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.

Tuition breakdown

$381 Per Credit Hour

Calendar

Kick off your degree on one of multiple start dates per year

William Paterson University online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.

Now enrolling:

1/3/27 Apply Date
1/25/27 Class Starts
AllProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class DayTerm Length
Spring I1/25/271/3/271/7/271/15/271/20/273/14/277 weeks
Spring II3/22/272/28/273/3/273/12/273/17/275/9/277 weeks

Now enrolling:

1/3/27 Apply Date
1/25/27 Class Starts

Have questions or need more information about our online programs? 

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Admissions

Take the field: Apply to this online sports management program

At William Paterson University, we've streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the online sport management bachelor's degree, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.

The requirements include:

  • Online application
  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Must be at least four years post high school

You must meet the following requirements for admission to this BA online program:

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • Students must be four years post high school or two years post high school and have earned 60 or more college credits
  • Official transcripts from each college attended or high school transcript if no prior college experience
    • Applicants must be at least two years post high school to enroll in our WP Online accelerated programs
  • Complete online application and submit $50 application fee

Official transcripts, test scores, and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:

Email address: [email protected]

Mail address:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Services
Morrison Hall 102
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470

Courses

Preview your online sport management bachelor’s degree courses

For the BA in Sport Management online program, you must complete 45 credits of major courses (42 credit hours of core courses and three credit hours of electives). Additional University core curriculum and elective credits will be required to complete the 120-credit BA degree.

Note: Transfer credit is given for all earned credits except in such cases where the earned grade does not meet major program requirements. There is no limit to the number of credits that may be transferred. A total of 30 credits used to complete a William Paterson University degree must be William Paterson University credits.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduces topics associated with the professions of kinesiology. As a foundation course, students learn basic information related to physical activity, the bio-sciences, fitness and health, pyscho-social domains of kinesiology and sport management. This course includes practical elelments that incorporate the disciplines of athletic training, exercise science, physical education and sport management. Additionally, this course explains department academic programs and careers in the field of kinesiology. Students must earn a grade of C- or better in KNES 1200 in order to continue taking courses in the Exercise Science, Physical Education, or Sport Management majors.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An investigation of the scope, history, and empirical foundations and the philosophical aspects in the development of the sport industry, a growing major business enterprise in the United States and in much of the world. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the evolution of sport and social institutions including politics and mass media. Fuctions of management, skills, and attributes required of a sports manager, and roles of a manager are discussed. The managerial process is related to sport orginazations and their products. Students become acquainted with career opportunities in the sport management field.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores how historical and contemporary forces in society have shaped the opportunities and experiences of various cultural groupings in the realm of sport. In particular, the class will focus on diversity issues as they relate to race, ethnicity, gender, social class, sexuality, and physical ability. Additionally, the course will explore discrimination and biases and the way those issues impact sport participation, sport spectating, and managing sport organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides sport management industry experience through preparation and execution of a sporting event. Students are expected to participate in a pertinent training and volunteer at an approved sporting event. Topics include experiential learning theory and methods, history of the sporting event, planning and administration of large scale sporting events, networking, volunteer recruitment, training, and management, and post-event analysis and reflection.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the principles, guidelines, and recommendations for planning sport events as well as constructing, using, and maintaining sports facilities. This course is designed to provide students with an awareness of appropriate planning for sports programs in a variety of facilities and sports venues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An investigation of the ethical and legal dilemmas faced by athletes and professionals in sports. Ethics and legal issues that have an impact on the business aspects of sports, such as marketing and management will be discussed. Key concepts include: sportsmanship, fair play, competition, negligence, tort law, collective bargaining, public regulation of sports, athletes’ rights, sports business, labor law, sports agents, and players’ contracts. This course takes a philosophical approach to the ethics of competition, sportsmanship, cheating and violence in sport, the use of performance-enhancing drugs, equality and gender equity.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to marketing concepts and theories that apply to sports and sporting events. This course will include sports marketing plans, behaviors of sport consumers, and an understanding of market segmentation and pricing. Information on promotion, sales, distribution, and public relations in sport will be covered.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is takes an intimate look at two prominent areas in sport management and their integration: Leadership and Governance. Leadership in sports will focus on general concepts of effective leadership (theories, principles, traits, skills, etc.) that are necessary to every sports organization. Success in a leadership position is often related to an individual’s preparation, experience, and knowledge. Governance provides students an introduction to the organization and governance of sport services and businesses. It examines sport delivery systems in the United States and expands its focus to examine international sport governance.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic theory in finance applied to managerial aspects of sport organizations. Included are forms of ownership, taxation, financial analysis, feasibility studies, and economic impact studies. Students will study entrepreneurship and develop an understanding of the financial aspects for owning their own businesses.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This technology intensive course provides sport management students with the knowledge and skills essential to properly use technology as it relates to the sport industry. Specific technology covered in this course will include spreadsheet development and management, facility scheduling software, ticketing software, Microsoft Office, Adobe, and a number of new and social media technologies. Students will develop not only a familiarity with the various tools, but also critically evaluate the use of those technologies and their effects on the functions of sport management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of worldwide phenomena that impact sport today. Issues discussed include the international economic systems, commercialization, internet and technology and their impact on management within the global sport industry.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course involves the investigation and study of current research topics using directed library research and readings as they apply to sport management. (Seminar)
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a vital component of the sport management curriculum. It is structured to prepare students to become more effective leaders in their chosen profession in the sport industry. In addition to the student’s classroom experience, this course provides the students an opportunity to obtain relevant, practical, and professional experience. This course will not only help students prepare for a profession in Sport Management, but will also be able to prepare them for an active role in community and civic engagement. Students must have completed all required undergraduate hours in Sport Management except SPM 4500 and receive departmental approval to be eligible for this course.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Through a comparison of numerous cultures, students explore the primary distinguishing characteristics of culture and identify strategies for relating their own culture to those of others. Emphasis is placed on an eclectic cultural design. The primary goal is to provide students with practical and theoretical knowledge and an understanding of intercultural communication in contemporary life situations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course focuses on interpersonal communication theory, research, and application. Study and apply the elements of dynamic communication within personal, small group, corporate, and intercultural contexts.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course has two themes. The first theme introduces computer concepts. Topics include hardware and software fundamentals; computer and information systems; data communications and computer networks; World Wide Web and the Internet; social impact of computers including discussions on privacy, security, civil liberty, risk of computers, intellectual properties, and computer related legislations. The second theme familiarizes students with leading application software such as Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Web design programs. Practical computer problem-solving skills are emphasized through intensive hands-on exercises.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course entails the study of core web marketing concepts and digital marketing strategies. Topics include disruptive technologies, networks, social media, affiliate marketing, online advertising, search engine marketing, and web analytics. The course adopts a strategic marketing approach to help students understand the value creation principles underlying various new digital business models and monetization. Students implement live web projects in which they learn and apply concepts such as digital curation, content creation, keywords advertising, and search engine optimization. The course emphasizes ethical approaches to safeguarding and protecting the privacy of consumers and other stakeholders for the implementation of digital marketing initiatives.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduces the basic concepts and skills of professional selling, including customer analysis, communication skills, effective openings and closings, and customer relations. Selling skills and concepts are developed through the extensive use of sales exercise, role-plays, and presentations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Explores the basic concepts and key critical skills involved in between the organizational representative and the client, including the psychology of bargaining. Applies negotiation strategies and tactics in a variety of business environments, with an emphasis on collaborative and competitive styles of negotiating. Seminar-style course with multiple bargaining simulations throughout the semester.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of sport in relation to the concepts, theories and principles of psychology and sociology. Enables the student to understand the human organism’s involvement in sport and physical activity and the relationship of sport to culture and society.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introductory course in the fundamental principles of accounting, the theory of debit and credit, account classification, preparation of working papers, adjusting, closing, reversing entries, and preparation of basic financial statements. Use of spreadsheet and word processing computer applications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduces basic principles, policies, problems, and successful methods of business organization and management. Emphasizes management’s ability to analyze, plan, coordinate, and control the varied activities of production, personnel, finance, and marketing. Also examines social responsibility and environmental factors affecting business policy and operation.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Major emphasis on techniques for solving business problems, the development of marketing policies, and the sale of consumer and industrial products. Various marketing decisions are examined with respect to product planning, channels of distribution, promotion activity, selling and sales management, pricing, and international marketing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Dive into the fascinating study of human society and social behavior. As an introduction to the field of sociology, this course explores how social forces shape our lives, identities, and interactions. You’ll learn about key sociological concepts and apply them to analyze contemporary issues, from inequality and globalization to culture and social change. Through engaging discussions, hands-on projects, and real-world case studies, you’ll develop your “sociological imagination” - a powerful tool for understanding the connections between personal experiences and larger social structures. Key topics include race, class and gender, family, education and religion. By the end of this course, you’ll have a new perspective on the social world around you and the skills to critically analyze complex social issues.

Take your degree even further. Choosing a minor will allow you to enrich your experience while meeting your undergraduate credit requirements.

Explore your options.

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