Minor in the Business of Sports
Olin Business School’s undergraduate minor in the Business of Sports exposes students to opportunities and leaders within the industry, providing the academic foundation, industry connections, and experience they need to position themselves for careers in the sports industry.
The Business of Sports minor, generously underwritten by the Lacob Family, melds specialized coursework, experiential learning, and rich networking opportunities for undergraduates who meet minimum GPA requirements and course prerequisites. Through the minor in the Business of Sports, students will:
- Be educated in the business fundamentals of the sports industry through a rigorous 15-unit curriculum, including courses in sports business analytics and sports management principles.
- Apply their knowledge through a variety of experiential learning opportunities. These include real-world projects, solving business problems in partnership with industry-leading organizations; “immersion trips” to industry hubs, exposing students to the inner workings of sports business; and exposure to leaders in the industry through speakers and the annual Olin Sports Business Summit.
- Build their networks through exposure to scores of industry leaders and internship opportunities in sports-themed organizations, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Golden State Warriors, Manchester United, Sportvision, Stadia Ventures, and more.
View Business of Sports minor core requirements and electives (PDF).
Students received hands-on training in Sports Business event operations and communications during their March 2017 immersion trip to Los Angeles. Here, students are seen during a tour of Dodgers Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Preparation for Careers in Sports
How does Brand X become an official sponsor for a sports league? What can data reveal to a sports team about fan engagement, ticket sales, and sponsorship renewals? Are fans reading the communications they receive from the team—and how does that drive them to act? How do finance, public relations, marketing, and sales interlock in the operation of a league, team, conference, or other organization?
These sorts of questions and more are the core issues the minor in the Business of Sports explores in its curriculum, which prepares students for careers in sports business and sports management, such as:
- Operations and Logistics: Coordinating the parts of a sports business toward a common goal
- Brand Management and Sports Marketing: Managing merchandising, promotions, sponsorships, and athlete representation
- Marketing Analytics: Measuring fan engagement, marketing ROI, and sponsorship ROI
- Sales: Ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandising, and media rights
