Is a Certificate in Sports Management worth it?

The online Sport Management Certificate program was created by UF’s expert faculty and reflects the latest advances in the sport industry. In addition, the instructors are the same faculty who teach in UF’s online Master of Sport Management program.

Why pursue a Certificate in Sports Management

This certificate is a great way to gain a better understanding of the ever-evolving sport industry. The curriculum utilizes asynchronous learning, video and audio lectures, real-life case studies, and optional live sessions.

What education background do I need to get a Sports Management Certificate

You do not need a bachelor’s degree or background in sports management to register for the Sport Management Certificate. This non-credit certificate is an excellent way for anyone interested in sport management to learn the fundamentals.

What can you do with a Certificate in Sports Management

The sports management and sports administration industry is vast and rapidly changing. Opportunities will vary and may include roles in revenue generation, sales, development, coaching, and marketing.

Online Sport Management Certificate

Move Forward in the Sport Management Industry

Program Overview Explore Our Curriculum

Request Brochure

To learn more about the University of Florida’s online Sport Management Certificate and download a free brochure fill out the fields below. You can also call (877) 655-0111 to speak to one of our academic coordinators about the program.

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A certificate that works for you

The online Sport Management Certificate coursework focuses on real aspects of the sport management industry.

No. 1

A certificate modeled after UF’s #1 ranked MS in Sport Management program.

Study with the experts

The instructors in the Sport Management Certificate program are industry experts and academics in the field.

599.9

Billion

The global sports market is expected to reach $599.9 billion in 2025, according to PR Newswire.

The University of Florida is at the forefront of sport management education. Just like our graduate-level master’s program in sport management, this certificate was created by UF’s expert faculty, reflecting the latest advances in the field of sport. Few other programs provide the expertise and personal attention that you’ll find at UF.

The online Sport Management Certificate gives you access to the same industry connected faculty who teach our #1 ranked M.S. in Sport Management program, in an abbreviated format. This non-credit certificate program was designed for students with or without a sport management background who want to get in the game of the evolving sports industry.

The certificate consists of three eight-week courses that are completed in six months. Students have the flexibility to register for the full certificate or one course at a time. To earn the certificate, you’ll take all three courses — one at a time — in the following sequence:

Revenue Generation in Sports

This course is designed to explore revenue generation in sport. Students will learn how revenue generation applies to different aspects of the sports business and entertainment industry. They will learn foundational sales concepts, including the sales process.

Sport Marketing

The course offers a broad introduction to the basic concepts of marketing in sport. Special emphasis will be placed on the following areas: the marketing concept, the marketing mix, consumer behavior, psychological thought processes of consumers, market segmentation, strategic planning, and the development of a comprehensive marketing plan.

Management and Leadership in Sport

This course is designed to explore the critical function of leadership in the management of sport organizations. Building from the academic foundations of industrial psychology, organizational behavior, and organizational theory, we consider the degree to which leadership is of strategic importance to organizational operations.

Program Snapshot

Format:

Online

Number of courses:

Duration:

6 months

Commitment:

3-5 hours a week

Registration:

Open to all (no degree required)

Next Start Date:

August 7, 2023

Program Fee:

$3,500 (flexible payment methods)

"A case study assignment might be looking at how digital newsletters generate revenue. Students will learn to ask the same questions that may be asked in their careers: ‘What kind of revenue is generated in an organization?’ or ‘Where do you get a consistent stream of revenue?’ It’s a great chance for students to polish skills they can use in the real world."
—⁠ Jake Hirshman, Revenue Generation in Sport instructor, online Sport Management Certificate program

Dive into the curriculum

The non-credit certificate is open to anyone interested in learning about sport management. Admission to UF is not required — simply register online. Students who successfully complete all three eight-week courses of the certificate with an 80% or better will receive 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per course. Additionally, 3 elective credits will be granted to students who wish to pursue the M.S. in Sport Management.*

Diversity and Inclusion in Sports

At the University of Florida, we value diversity and inclusivity, and we continue to look for ways to thoughtfully incorporate it into our curriculum.

"The professors who teach the courses in this certificate have a unique blend of backgrounds. There are people like myself with academic experience alongside individuals who have worked in the industry for many years."
—⁠ Christine Wegner, Management in Leadership in Sport instructor, online Sport Management Certificate program

Sport Management Careers

The sport management industry is rapidly changing and expanding with many new ways to support athletics and athletic organizations. For example, social media and streaming platforms have changed the way sport information is shared and consumed and have also created new opportunities for revenue generation.

Sport management certificate careers run the gamut from coaching to management to funding, and everything in between. According to ZipRecruiter, the majority of sport management salaries currently range between $35,500 (25th percentile) to $53,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $82,000 annually (information taken April 2022). Your career considerations will, of course, depend greatly on your interests and experience level. Below are some of the more popular career titles in sport management:

Athletic Director
Fitness Manager
Fundraising/Sponsorship Associate
Contract Administrator
Marketing Manager

To delve further into sport management careers, please contact an academic coordinator.

Sport Management Certificate Program Q&A

Online Master of Science in Sport Management

The certificate is an excellent way to get a taste of the sport management industry. If you are interested in pursuing an advanced degree, the University of Florida’s online M.S. in Sport Management stands at the forefront of sport management education. This top ranked program was the first in the nation to become PAADS-certified. The 36-credit program was designed by UF’s expert faculty to reflect the latest advances in the field of sport. In addition to core courses and electives, students in the master’s program have the opportunity to complete a professional internship or practicum. Click here to learn more about the online M.S. in Sport Management program and to determine how the certificate program coursework can be applied to the degree.

*Completing UF’s online Sport Management Certificate does not guarantee entrance into UF’s online Master of Science in Sport Management program.