George Mason University (GMU) is one of the pre-eminent institutions of higher learning in Virginia. GMU offers a bachelor's degree in the field of sports management along with a minor in the field as well. The program is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) and its curriculum is influenced by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) standards. The sports management portion of the bachelor's degree consists of 66 credit hours of the total bachelor's degree. Of these 66 hours, 12 credit hours are applied toward a required internship. Areas of study covered by the program include research methods, sports law and recreation, sports management professional development, sports communication and public relations, psychology of sport, sports and ethics, introduction to sports management and sports marketing, among others.
George Mason University
School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism
201 G Bull Run Hall, MS 4E5
10900 University Blvd.
Manassas, VA 20110
703-993-3727
rht.gmu.edu/spmt/
Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Va., offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of sports management. Both programs are accredited by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). The undergraduate major at ODU requires courses in areas such as accounting, marketing principles, sports economics, sports administrative theory, sports psychology, sports marketing, sport facility and event management and even sports in contemporary society, among others. The graduate degree at ODU is a 36 credit hour degree that requires additional study in fields such as sports law, sports fiscal management and sports marketing. Students are also expected to complete a 400-hour internship program as part of the degree requirements.
Human Movement Sciences Department
2025 Student Recreation Center
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529
757-683-5962
education.odu.edu
Virginia Intermont College (VIC) in Bristol, Va., also offers a bachelor's degree in sports management. VIC is a small private Baptist liberal arts college that is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The bachelor's degree in sports management at VIC requires an internship of eight credit hours and a close working relationship with the student's adviser. Areas of study by the program include sports marketing and promotion, facilities and event management, the legal aspects of sports, managerial finance, macroeconomics, team sports and human resource management, among others.
Virginia Intermont College
1013 Moore St
Bristol, Va. 24201
276-466-7856
vic.edu