Washington DC Sport Management Degree Programs

Alexis Bennett

Collegiate D1 Golf Coach; MS Sport Management, University of Florida. Last updated February 20, 2025.

Washington D.C. has multiple sports programs, including sports management and kinesiology degrees. Degrees in sports are rapidly growing, and in Washington DC, has become increasingly popular due to the expansion of sports media and popularity over the years.

Are there online Sports Degrees in Washington DC?

Yes, there are online Bachelors in Sport Management programs and Masters in Sport Management degrees online. Washington D.C. has some of the best known colleges in the country, both on-campus and online. Such a mecca of intellectual and international policy and politics is rife with opportunity for rich careers including those in sports management, and it can all begin with a simple online application.

Click for more online sports programs that are taking applications for 2025.

Top Online Washington D.C. Sports Degrees

Georgetown University Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management

Georgetown’s Master of Sports Industry Management prepares students for a future in a global sports industry: a deeper understanding of the dynamics, planning, and operations pertinent to the success of multi-million-dollar athletes, businesses, brands, and events. Distinguished and renowned faculty includes accomplished sports business consultants, industry executives, and management professionals from organizations like the U.S. Olympic Committee, Washington Nationals, Octagon, Washington Capitals, and the NFL Players Association.

Georgetown's online Sports Industry Management master's degree consists of 30 total credit hours and can be completed in two years while studying part-time, but students may take up to five years to complete the program.

Enrollment Requirements:
Online students must meet the following standards and submit the following information:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Application and application fee
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume or CV
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
• Official TOEFL/ILETS scores (if applicable)
• Official WES or ECE evaluations of transcripts from outside the United States (international applicants only)

Classes Offered With Curriculum:

MPSM 520: Social Responsibility and Diversity in Sports — Diversity in sports is an increasingly important facet of the industry and this course takes a deep dive into the history and current issues facing underrepresented groups in the athletic world.

MPSM 620: Sports Sales, Sponsorship, and Revenue Development— Business as well as sports knowledge is integral to a thriving sports franchise; in this course, students explore techniques used to generate revenue in athletics like sales prospecting, proposal development, sponsor solicitation, broadcast and digital media, monetization of content, licensing, and more.

MPSM 630: Sports Digital Media and Consumer Engagement — This course focuses on the principles behind the emergence and consumption of digital and social sports media. Students will gain an understanding of how sports teams, brands, and properties have adapted to utilize technology in their marketing strategies.

MPSM 730: Sports Economics and Global Brand Management — Combining elements of global branding and marketing with sports franchising, this course helps students understand how to adapt marketing strategies to an increasingly global world.

George Washington University Master of Science (MS) in Strength and Conditioning

GWU's Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning aims to provide a high-level academic education in science and theory of resistance training. This can be applied to any athletic experience towards the aim of improving performance, preventing injury, and decreasing the likelihood of inactivity-related health disorders.

The majority of the curriculum is taught via online instruction with synchronous and asynchronous modules, however students are required to be on campus for a 3-day capstone course held in the second year of the program.

George Washington University also offers a Short Course in Sports Management through a partnership with online education platform GetSmarter. This 8 week course including 6-9 hours of weekly work and weekly modules is perfect for students looking for a less strenuous program. It includes education on sports-specific business and industry, preparing students for a career in sport management.

Enrollment Requirements:
Online students must meet the following standards and submit the following information:

• Application and application fee
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• An undergraduate exercise physiology course with a “B” or higher
• SOPHAS application

Classes Offered With Curriculum:

EXNS 1112: Current Issues in Coaching — Students in this course study current methods and trends used in developing athletes' skill and ensuring safe, successful play in a high-intensity or professional sports setting.

EXNS 1119W: Children and Sport — For those looking to work with athletes at the high school level or lower, this course provides an understanding of the way sport can physically and psychologically affect children. Ways to adapt training in terms of participation motives, social factors, nutrition, and stress are covered.

EXNS 2116: Exercise and Health Psychology —.This course covers the psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence the adoption and maintenance of exercise and other related health behaviors.

EXNS 3102. Applied Sport Psychology — This practical course applies theoretical ideas in psychology to the world of sports. It is based on using these methods to encourage higher mental and physical performance in athletes during high-intensity situations without jeopardizing their health and wellbeing.

American University

Programs Offered:Master of Science in Sports Analytics and Management Graduate Certificate in Sports Analytics and Management
Average Tuition/Cost: $1,385/credit
Next Admission Deadline: Deadlines change depending on semester. Contact online admissions for a specific timeline.

Unlike other programs, American University's Master's degree program emphasizes new and emerging areas of technological advancement that are transforming sports including interactive spectatorship, mobile technology, fantasy sports, e-sports gaming, performance data analytics, virtual reality, and more.

The full degree takes less than two years for most to complete, and contains 30 credits. Within that coursework, students examine the impact of social media and technology on the sports industry, consider ethics in sports, and gain experience in the use of the latest data evaluation and analysis tools.

AU also offers an online Graduate Certificate in Sports Analytics and Management which is approximately half the length of the masters program, comprising four courses taken in 12 to 15 months.

Enrollment Requirements:
Online students must meet the following standards and submit the following information:

• Application and application fee
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• GPA of 3.0 or higher

Classes Offered With Curriculum:

SAM 600: Strategic Management of Sports Organizations — This course focuses on the principles of managing a sports organization with emphasis on financial and accounting acumen as well as budgetary control, ownership, and day-to-day operations.

SAM 610: Sports Analytics & Social Engagement
This applied statistics course uses data to measure social engagement and explore the way these numbers can tell a story about the changing role of sports in American society. It also addresses the ethical implications of such changes.

PROF 600: Innovation Through New Technologies
This hands-on course not only allows students to experience emerging technologies in the sports industry, but explores the current and potential impacts of these innovations. Topics include project design, data collection, and data storage as well as legal and privacy issues.

PROF 610: Intercultural Communication for Professionals
Sports is an international industry. This course exists to prepare students for that—to be able to handle intercultural relations and communication responsibly and respectfully.

List of Sports Degrees in DC

Click for 100% online sports programs that are taking applications.

What are the Benefits to an Online Sport Management Degree?

For many in the bustling D.C. area, spare time is limited. Though many want to explore new job opportunities, or gain a degree in sports management or kinesiology, it can be difficult to do so with job, family, and other commitments that may make an in-person commute or on-campus life impossible. This is where the freedom and flexibility of an online degree becomes a major benefit.

Sports management is the study of business as it relates to the sports industry including elements of coaching, facility management, sports marketing, event planning, public relations, and more. Students study a wide range of topics from business, finance, and economics, to sports history and facility management. For those who want to combine their love of sports with a sharp business acumen, a Washington D.C. sports degree can be a perfect place to begin.

Career Paths with A Washington D.C. Sports Degree

Game Day and Event Coordinator

Organizing events and game day activities is more complicated than it sounds. Especially for large events such as professional or college sports, a coordinator wears many hats. From making transportation and lodging arrangements during away games to updating and speaking to media representatives, no two days look exactly alike for a game day coordinator.

Athletic Coach

Coaches help athletes to play their best individually or as a team in sports such as football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, track and field, soccer, tennis and golf. Whether it’s with professional teams, or with high school or college teams coaches are not only experts in the sport, but experts in interpersonal communication.

Public Relations Manager

Sports media is an incredibly large and marketable field, and the right PR strategy is essential to build the reputation of a team, agency, or athlete and ensure appropriate and accurate media coverage. Generally those in this field, especially those who represent professional athletics, have master’s degrees and a long history of experience, but starting with smaller organizations, anyone can work their way up.

Athletics Administrator

For those interested in working at a collegiate or high school level, athletic administrators supervise teams and programs within the school to help young athletes thrive. These sports professionals hire coaches and other athletics staff, give salary raises and promotions, manage events schedules, and oversee budgeting. They also ensure students are emotionally and academically prepared for their future while balancing their athletic careers and passions.

Sports Degrees by Level

• Bachelors degrees in sports
• Online Bachelors in Sports Management
• Online Masters in Sports Management
• Doctorate degrees in sports

Sport Program Areas

• Athletic Administration Degrees
• Exercise Science Degrees
• Kinesiology Degrees
• Coaching Degrees
• Health and Wellness Degrees
• Sports Industry Management
• Sports Analytics Degrees
• Sports Marketing Degrees
• Sports Psychology Degrees
• Recreation Management Degrees