MBA with a Specialization in Sports Marketing

The goal of the MBA with a Specialization in Sports Marketing is to educate top quality graduates who will become professionals in sports marketing. These graduates will have knowledge of general business issues, an understanding of marketing issues, and an internship in the field. Graduates may take a variety of positions in a variety of industries, including professional sports, recreation and leisure, and education. Opportunities for sports marketing professionals in these industries are growing at a rapid pace.

The MBA with a Specialization in Sports Marketing combines both classroom and practical experience to prepare students for leadership positions in the sports industry. Drawing not only from the field of business, but also from the fields of law and education, the curriculum covers the important areas that will lead to a successful career in sports business.

MBA Sports Marketing students attend many classes with general MBA students. A minimum of 9 hours of coursework are taken at the graduate level in sports marketing or law. The following courses are available to fulfill the requirements for the MBA with a Specialization in Sports Marketing.

• Sports Marketing
• Sports Marketing Practicum
• Administration in Physical Education and Athletics
• Three credit hours of law classes from an approved list of courses

Application Information

Click to find out more about the application process.

For further information, contact:

Dr. Patricia Kennedy

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Marketing
CBA 325
P.O. Box 880492
Lincoln, NE 68588-0492
Phone: (402) 472-3002
Fax: (402) 472-9777

Comparing the Degree Programs

Marketing Courses:

We offer a number of Marketing courses at the Masters level:

• Marketing Management which is required in the M.B.A. program but also available in the M.A. program, and emphasizes the development of marketing plans and controlling the marketing mix for the firm. (GRBA 813)
• Applied Marketing Research covers the use of exploratory research, surveys, and experiments in marketing management decisions. (MRKT 821)
• Survey of Buyer Behavior which examines the economic, psychological and sociocultural bases of buying behavior as the basis for marketing strategy and public policy. (MRKT 822)
• Advanced Quantitative Analysis in Marketing covers state-of-the-art methodological issues in multivariate analysis of marketing research data. (MRKT 824)
• Sports Marketing covers concepts and theories unique to sports marketing, review of the basic principles of marketing in the context of sports. (MRKT 828*)
• Strategic Issues in Marketing Communication covers the analysis and application of current concepts in the formulation and evaluation of promotional strategy in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. (MRKT 830)
• Marketing Channels and Distribution emphasizes the marketing management issues relating to the selection of intermediaries, channel control, marketing institutions, channel power, and pricing. (MRKT 835)
• Marketing and Electronic Commerce covers strategies to deal with opportunities and challenges of evolving technology and marketing in digital networks of customers, suppliers, and employees. (MRKT 841*)
• Strategic Database Marketing covers concepts of customer relationship management, integration with electronic commerce systems, analytical techniques, ethics and practices of customer data privacy. (MRKT 850*)
• Marketing and Globalization puts emphasis on access to new consumers, new supplies, and the effect on consumer choices. Marketing strategies developed for Nebraska firms and organizations such as value-added food marketers. (MRKT 855)
  *(400-level counterpart)

Beyond the marketing courses they choose to take, Masters students are encouraged to take courses in other departments which fit their needs and goals. For example, a student interested in database marketing might take Database Organization from the Management Department, and an applied statistics course or two from the Sociology or Educational Psychology departments. A student interested in advertising might take a course or two in Mass Media from the Journalism and Mass Communications Department. A student interested in Marketing Research might take courses in statistics or research methodology from any one of several social science departments. Each student's program is tailored to him or her as an individual. We take a strong personal interest in each student, and do not put anyone in a preconceived mold.