Ready to thrive in the sport industry?
Our program prepares you for a variety of sport management careers, including professional sports, college athletics, campus recreation and parks departments. In addition to our academic requirements, one of the hallmarks of our program is our connection to the sport industry. You’ll have opportunities for experiential learning (through internships, graduate assistantships and class trips), in-class guest speakers and professional networking. Our diverse student population facilitates camaraderie and respect among classmates, faculty and staff, fostering a supportive learning environment.
30 credit hours
In person
Full or part time
Start in the fall semester
NIU offers a quality education and one-on-one attention. The program in Sport Management provides the knowledge you need to start your career in this rapidly growing field. NIU is close to a huge market where I can capitalize on networking and internship opportunities.
Average mid-career salary for alumni:
Top job titles for alumni:
Top employers for alumni:
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You’ll apply through the Graduate School.
You'll need:
Our competitive tuition and fees helps ensure an excellent return on the investment of your time and resources. Learn about additional funding opportunities for graduate students.
Many NIU graduate students have an assistantship, which provides financial support (typically a tuition waiver and stipend), as well as career preparation.
Your coursework will include MBA-level courses in areas such as finance, marketing, operations management and information systems, complementing your sport management core and elective classes.
View Coursework and Program Requirements
During your program of study, you will:
You are required to complete an internship, the culminating course in your program. The internship is a full-time management experience in an off-campus sport management setting with a minimum time requirement of 150 hours. Our students have completed internship experiences with professional and semi-professional sport organizations (including the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Fire, the Rockford IceHogs and the Detroit Tigers) as well as intercollegiate athletic departments and private corporations around northern Illinois and across the United States.
The LESM 586 internship is the culminating requirement for the M.S. in Sport Management program. It's a three-credit hour field experience designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge in a professional sport setting.
Our accelerated program allows you to begin graduate study while an undergraduate, saving you time and resources. View requirements for the accelerated B.S./M.S. in sport management. Contact your advisor for more information.
Our faculty bring diverse experiences, backgrounds, scholarship and expertise in sport management. They’re committed to facilitating engaging learning experiences in and outside the classroom.
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Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
Anderson Hall 221
DeKalb, IL 60115
P: 815-753-1407
F: 815-753-1413
knpe@niu.edu