Yes, Penn State offers several ways to study the business and management side of sports, but it does not currently list a traditional undergraduate bachelor’s degree specifically titled “Sports Management.” Instead, students can build a sports-focused education through programs such as sports business, sports marketing, Sports Studies, and Sports Administration.
For students interested in careers with professional teams, athletic departments, sports organizations, marketing agencies, or other sports businesses, Penn State provides several relevant academic paths.
Penn State’s Sports Business Opportunities
One of the most relevant options is the Sports Business programming through Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. Smeal describes sports business as an area combining industry-focused coursework, sports marketing, experiential learning, internships, networking, and connections with sports-industry professionals.
Smeal also says a new sports business degree is coming. Its current sports business offerings include sports marketing courses and opportunities designed to help students prepare for careers in the sports industry.
This makes Penn State particularly interesting for students who want the business side of sports rather than careers centered primarily on coaching or athletic performance.
Is Sports Management a Major at Penn State?
As of the 2026–27 academic year, Penn State’s undergraduate program listings do not show a bachelor’s degree called Sports Management. The university has more than 160 undergraduate majors and 200 minors across its campuses, and its current catalog includes several programs related to sports and management.
For example, Penn State offers a Management, B.S. through the Smeal College of Business at University Park. The program teaches management, leadership, organizational strategy, teamwork, and related business skills. Penn State specifically lists sports management among the industries in which management graduates can pursue careers.
That means a student does not necessarily need a degree with the exact title “Sports Management” to prepare for a sports-management career.
Sports Administration Certificate
Penn State also lists an undergraduate Sports Administration Certificate at Penn State Behrend. The certificate is associated with business, communications, human behavior, law, and sports and is available through the Behrend campus. The current undergraduate catalog also lists the certificate at Hazleton and Schuylkill.
A sports administration certificate can be useful for students who want to add sports-specific education to another major.
For example, a student could study a business-related major and use sports administration coursework to develop additional knowledge of the sports industry. This can provide a broader academic background than choosing a narrowly focused degree alone.
Sports Studies Minor
Another option is Penn State’s Sport Studies minor. The university’s undergraduate catalog lists the minor at University Park and Penn State Harrisburg.
A Sport Studies minor can complement a major in business, marketing, communications, kinesiology, or another related discipline.
This approach can make sense for someone who already knows that they want to work in sports but wants their primary degree to provide a broader career foundation.
For example:
| Academic path | Potential sports focus |
|---|---|
| Management B.S. + Sport Studies minor | Sports management and leadership |
| Marketing B.S. + sports marketing courses | Sports marketing and sponsorship |
| Business-related major + Sports Administration Certificate | Sports administration |
| Marketing major + sports business opportunities | Sports business and sales |
| Sport Studies minor + communications major | Sports media and communications |
The best combination depends on the type of sports career a student wants.
Sports Marketing at Penn State
Marketing is another strong route into the sports industry at Penn State.
Smeal’s marketing program provides opportunities for students interested in sports marketing. Penn State says marketing students can prepare for sports-related careers involving teams, leagues, events, sports marketing agencies, sponsorship, media, and sales.
Students can also participate in sports-focused activities outside their regular coursework. Penn State’s Sports Marketing Association, for example, provides opportunities intended to give students hands-on experience relevant to sports-industry careers.
This is important because sports management is a broad field. A person working for a professional sports organization might specialize in marketing, ticket sales, sponsorships, operations, finance, communications, partnerships, or another business function.
Can You Study Management at Penn State?
Yes. Penn State offers a Management, B.S. through Smeal College of Business at University Park. The curriculum covers management fundamentals, leadership, strategy, organizational culture, teamwork, and related business skills.
Penn State also identifies sports management as one possible career area for graduates of its management program.
This can be a practical option for someone who wants a conventional business degree while keeping sports as a career target.
A management degree may also provide flexibility if a student later decides not to work in sports. The skills developed through management coursework can apply to many industries.
What About Sports Business?
Sports business is arguably the closest current Penn State pathway for students specifically interested in the business side of athletics.
Smeal’s sports business programming focuses on areas such as sports marketing, industry experience, professional networking, internships, and relationships with sports-industry organizations.
The university says sports business students can gain exposure to industry professionals and opportunities involving internships, job opportunities, site visits, mentoring, and experiential learning.
That can be valuable because sports-industry employers often look for candidates who have both academic knowledge and practical experience.
What Jobs Can Penn State Sports-Focused Students Pursue?
The specific career depends on the student’s major, experience, internships, and specialization. Possible career areas include:
- Sports marketing
- Athletic department administration
- Sports business
- Sponsorship and partnerships
- Ticket sales
- Sports event management
- Team operations
- Sports communications
- Fan engagement
- Corporate partnerships
- Sales
- Sports media
- Recreation management
- Sports analytics
A student interested in professional sports could, for example, combine business coursework with sports marketing experience. Someone interested in college athletics could emphasize administration, management, communications, or related areas.
The important point is that sports management is an industry rather than one single job. Different positions require different skills.
Does Penn State Have a Sports Management Master’s Degree?
Students considering graduate education should check Penn State’s current graduate offerings separately from its undergraduate programs. Penn State’s undergraduate catalog and sports business pages primarily show the current undergraduate pathways described above, rather than a traditional undergraduate Sports Management B.S.
Graduate programs can change over time, so prospective students should verify the current program name, admission requirements, and campus through Penn State before applying.
Which Penn State Option Is Best for Sports Management?
There is no single best option for every student.
If your goal is sports management or sports administration, a management or business major combined with sports-specific coursework can provide a strong foundation.
If your goal is sports marketing, Penn State’s marketing program and sports marketing opportunities may be a better fit.
If you want to add sports education to another major, the Sport Studies minor or Sports Administration Certificate may be useful options.
If your primary interest is the broader business of sports, Smeal’s Sports Business programming is particularly relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Penn State have a Sports Management major?
Penn State does not currently list a traditional undergraduate bachelor’s degree specifically named Sports Management. However, it offers several sports-focused and business-related pathways, including sports business opportunities, sports marketing, Sport Studies, and a Sports Administration Certificate.
Does Penn State have sports administration?
Yes. Penn State’s undergraduate catalog currently lists a Sports Administration Certificate, including an offering through Penn State Behrend and listings associated with other campuses.
Can I study sports business at Penn State?
Yes. Penn State Smeal offers Sports Business programming that includes sports marketing coursework, industry connections, experiential opportunities, and career-development activities. Smeal also says a new sports business degree is coming.
Can a management major work in sports?
Yes. Penn State’s Management, B.S. prepares students for management careers across industries, and the university specifically identifies sports management among potential career areas for management graduates.
Does Penn State have a Sport Studies minor?
Yes. Penn State currently lists a Sport Studies minor at University Park and Harrisburg.
Is Penn State good for someone who wants to work in sports?
Penn State offers multiple pathways into the sports industry, particularly through business, marketing, sports business, Sport Studies, and sports administration. The best route depends on whether you want to work in management, marketing, sales, administration, communications, or another area of sports.
Conclusion
So, does Penn State have sports management? Not as a traditional undergraduate major with the exact title “Sports Management” in its current 2026–27 program listings. However, Penn State offers several closely related options that can prepare students for sports-management careers.
Students can consider a Management, B.S., sports business programming through Smeal, sports marketing opportunities, a Sport Studies minor, or a Sports Administration Certificate, depending on their goals.
For someone who wants to work in the sports industry, the absence of a degree literally called “Sports Management” does not prevent them from building a sports-focused education at Penn State. In many cases, combining a strong business major with sports-specific coursework, internships, networking, and practical experience can be a flexible way to prepare for a career in sports.