Certificate Program in Sports Management

The Certificate Program in Sports Management (CPSM) at Pitt Business provides students with the opportunity to couple their functional area of study with coursework and real-world experiences rooted in the business side of the sports industry. Projected to generate $73.5 billion in revenues in North America in 2019, the sports industry is one of the world’s most popular and profitable industries.

Consisting of 18 academic credits, the Pitt Business CPSM will contribute to students’ preparation for a career in a sports or sports-related industry. Students will learn to see sports not from the lens of a fan or an athlete but as a multi-faceted, multi-disciplined business where substantial opportunity exists for students to apply the business skills they have developed through the Pitt Business curriculum.

Program Benefits

  • Learn about the business practices, processes, and tools of effective management in a broad array of companies within the sports industry
  • Gain experience in the sports industry through the completion of class projects that involve solving real business problems for real-world clients
  • Understand how to apply the tools and techniques for managing people, activities, business operations, and organizational outcomes within the sports industry

Student Eligibility

The Pitt Business CPSM is offered exclusively to students enrolled in the School of Business’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree or who are pursuing double degrees from the business school and the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences. Students may declare for this certificate starting in fall 2019.

The City of Champions

Sports are part of the fabric of Western Pennsylvania. The area is home not only to championship professional sports teams but also the corporate headquarters of market leaders in sports-related fields, like DICK’S Sporting Goods. Additionally, the University of Pittsburgh is part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and fields 19 varsity level men’s and women’s teams at the highest level of competitive collegiate athletics.

Pitt Business students have the opportunity to complete internships with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds, as well as with the Pitt Athletics Department.

CPSM Requirements - 18 Credits

The following two courses are required:

Select three courses from the following options. The elective choices can correspondent to elective choices within a student’s major(s).

 

Select one of the following in order to fulfill the experiential learning requirement:

  • BUSHRM 1686 Sports Management Project Course (3 credits)The objective of this course is to provide the student with a meaningful experience with a real-world client and problem. Each project is distinct and generally will afford opportunities for a team of students to apply conceptual and analytical skills taught within the BSBA major and core classes, and to report to the client the result of all assessments. Particular projects may have a primary focus on one functional area (e.g. marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, supply chain, business information systems, or global management), and will also feature cross-functional dimensions.
  • BUSHRM 1690 – HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP 
    A focus on sports management can also include a global perspective. Pitt Business prepares students for success by giving them an opportunity to gain international experience. A global project experience can be used to fulfill the experiential learning requirement for this certificate. The BUSHRM 1690 designation will be used for both domestic and global sports management internships.
  • BUS 1910 International Business Internship, when completed through the Global Business Institute in Sydney Summer Sports Business Program.

Other Opportunities

The Sports Business Association is a Pitt Business Student Organization that helps students meet and network with professionals in all fields of the sports industry.  Recent events include speakers from professional sports teams, companies like DICK’S Sporting Goods, Pitt Athletics, as well as the annual Dodgeball Tournament.  You’ll also meet and network with other Pitt Business students interested in the sports industry through social and volunteer activities.

Women in Sports and Events (WISE) is a Collegiate chapter of the National organization of WISE. Our mission is to enhance the position and uplift women in the industry of sports and events. We strive to achieve this through bi-weekly meetings, networking events and a mentor match program that works to help members gain valuable insights and connections. Specific to Pittsburgh, WISE has connections with every major sports team and athletics department within the City of Champions.

WISE welcomes students of all majors and minors. Meetings occur bi-weekly on Monday nights at 7 PM. For more information and to get involved, please contact pittsburghwise@gmail.com.