Sport Administration, MSA

Advance Your Sports Career

A scenic view of the Nashville skyline on a bright, sunny day, featuring the iconic AT&T Building and surrounding high-rises.

Whether you're looking to break into the industry or take your career to the next level, Belmont’s Master of Sport Administration (MSA) program gives you the competitive edge to make it happen. In today’s sports world, success is about more than just passion—it’s about building the right experience, making the right connections and developing your personal brand. At Belmont, you’ll gain all three. With a curriculum that blends foundational knowledge with hands-on application, plus built-in internships that put you in the middle of the action, you’ll graduate with two years of real-world experience and the skills to stand out in the field.

At Belmont, your career starts from day one. With four to five internships built into the curriculum, you’ll gain unmatched access to industry leaders, developing the relationships that will define your career. And because we welcome students from all backgrounds—not just those with a sports degree—you’ll build a diverse network that extends far beyond the classroom. At Belmont, you won’t just study sports—you’ll live it, work in it and graduate ready to make an immediate impact.

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Our location: Nashville, TN

Nashville isn’t just Music City—it’s a thriving sports hub with a fast-growing industry that provides unmatched opportunities for MSA students. Home to professional teams like the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators and Nashville SC, as well as major sporting events and Belmont’s own NCAA Division I athletics, the city offers a dynamic environment to gain real-world experience.

With its rapidly expanding sports market, Nashville is the ideal place to launch a career in the industry. MSA students benefit from hands-on internships, networking events and direct access to professionals working in every facet of sports business. Whether it’s game-day operations, marketing, sponsorship or player development, you’ll be immersed in an active sports scene that helps shape the future of the industry—and your career.

A view of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring its distinctive glass tower and signage.

What You'll Learn

The MSA program teaches you to successfully navigate the sport industry as you pursue an exciting career. From the time you enter the program to the time you graduate, faculty and industry professionals work alongside you to prepare and enhance your skills and knowledge to place you in the best position possible.

It begins by providing a curriculum grounded in theory but always with an eye practical application. Courses cover a broad spectrum of topics to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the uniqueness of the field. Classroom content is paired with extensive networking opportunities which give you a clear perspective of how to best develop and shape your competencies to match the needs of a future employer.

Practical experience from internships are embedded into your experience as students complete between 4-5 internships during their time in the program (6 credits out of 30 total credits of the program are internship based). Over your two years in the program, you’ll grow and enhance your abilities and develop a deep understanding of what it means to be a professional in the sport industry.

Program Details

Curriculum

The Master of Sport Administration requires 30 hours of coursework, including 24 core hours and 6 hours of internship credit.

See All Program Requirements

Courses You'll Take

SAM 6010 Sport in Society: This course provides a forum in which to explore the sociological impact of sport in America. Emphasis is placed on issues affecting administrators, fans, athletes and coaches.
SAM 6050 Legal Aspects in Sport: This course contains an integration of the various aspects within the sport industry as pertaining to legal liability of coaches and administrators, facility and event management and risk management. Additionally, a thorough study of the governing structure, rules and legislative process within the NCAA and other sport governing bodies will be included.
SAM 6060 Research Methods in Sport: This course examines strategies, techniques, materials and principles for effective research within the sport industry. The traditional research model will be a focus with special attention given to survey research and economic impact research.
SAM 6070 Financial Aspects of Sport: This course contains an overview of basic financial concepts, tools and techniques used by sport administrators and emphasizes financial analysis, capital structuring & budgeting, short and long-term financing and financial troubleshooting. Additionally, this course examines the fundamental tools and strategies necessary to raise funds within various segments of the sport industry. Both annual and major giving will be emphasized, as well as studying their role within the overall scope of a college athletic department, professional sport organization or other sport industry segments.
SAM 6280 Organizational Behavior and Leadership in Sport: This course will examine the relationships between sport organizations and a wide variety of consumers. Fundamental programs will be designed to enhance the relationship between the consumer and sport organizations.
SAM 6260 Sport Event Management & Planning: This course is designed to introduce students to principles and practices of planning, funding, operating and evaluating events within the sport industry. This course includes actual hands on involvement with event planning and management.
SAM 6270 Marketing and Public Relations in Sport: This course focuses on current factors and issues related to sport marketing and public relations. Emphasis will be placed on creating and evaluating a marketing plan and evaluating the relationships between sport organizations and a wide variety of consumers.
SAM 6310 Seminar in Sport Administration: This course offers an introduction to various aspects of sport administration. Responsibilities of administrators within intercollegiate athletics, professional sports and private industry will be discussed.

Belmont’s practical approach and extensive hands-on experience has allowed our students to get hired at nearly 10x the average candidate rate according to TeamWork Online, the online job board for sport industry professionals. TeamWork Online ranks Belmont No. 3 in the nation, regardless of size of the program in placement of graduates in the field.

Our students have gone on to work for professional organizations in all the major sport leagues including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS, not to mention PGA Tour, USTA and many others. Graduates have also found fulfilling careers in intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics as well as community and non-profit sport. Throughout the course of the two-year program, our faculty work closely with students to build the competencies and skills necessary to launch your career in sport.

Internships and practical experiences are at the heart of the Belmont sport administration program. Our faculty work closely with students and our wide range of athletic partners to pair you with experiences that add real context to coursework and curriculum. If it’s a sport organization in Nashville, we can get you connected! The typical student will be involved in an internship experience each semester of the program (fall semester year 1, spring semester year 1, summer semester, fall semester year 2 and spring semester year 2). Some choose to take multiple internships from wide variety or sport organizations while others choose to concentrate on a particular aspect of the industry and focus on a specific area- the choice is up to you. With all the various sport opportunities in Nashville, from professional, collegiate, community organization and many other sport-specific entities, your skill set will be one that the industry will value.

Admissions Requirements

Apply Online from the BU4U application portal. *Select Fall Term ONLY.
Application Fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee is required.
Official Transcripts: Request official transcripts from previous colleges. You may request official hard copies to be mailed, or they may be sent using a secure third party electronic service, if your institution participates (i.e. parchment, student clearing house, etc.). Please allow 4-6 weeks for all official transcripts to be received and processed. Official copies should be mailed to: Belmont University, Office of Admissions, 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212. Electronic copies should be sent to belmontadmissions@belmont.edu.
Recommendations: Contact two individuals for professional recommendations. These are completed after the application fee has been submitted, and are listed under the Supplemental Items section. Recommendations are done entirely through the BU4U portal through email.
Resume: A professional resume is required, and is uploaded through your BU4U portal as a supplemental item.
Interview: You may be contacted for an interview with the Director of the Master of Sport Administration program.

International Students: Non US citizen applicants must satisfy one of the English language proficiency requirements (i.e. TOEFL, Duolingo, etc.) before an admissions decision can be made. The list of acceptable options may be found HERE. International applicants with college level course work from foreign institutions must have transcripts evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service, such as World Education Services or Joseph Silny & Associates. Any questions related to immigration paper work should be directed to International Student and Scholar Services.

Application Status: Applicants are admitted on a rolling admissions pattern and will be notified of the admissions committee's decision shortly after the admissions requirements are completed. To check on the status of your application, check your BU4U account.

Tuition Information: Determine total cost per semester using the graduate Cost Estimator.

After being offered admission to Belmont, you may secure your enrollment with a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $150. This deposit will be applied to first semester charges.

Field	Openings in 25-26	Commitment
Cross Country/Track & Field	1	2 years
Women's Tennis	1	2 years
Men's Tennis	0	2 years
Sport Performance	2	2 years
Game Operations	1	2 years
Ticket Sales/Fan Development	1	2 years: 1^st year intern, 2^nd year assistantship
Marketing	1	2 years
Media Relations	2	2 years
Video & Broadcasting	0	2 years
Student Services	0	2 years
Facility Operations and Student Development	1	10 months
Fitness Programming and Special Events	1	10 months
Personal Training and Educational Programming	1	10 months
Marketing and Strategic Engagement	1	10 months
Intramural Sports and Informal Recreation	1	10 months
Graduate Assistant-Sports Administration	1	10 months

Graduate Assistant-Sports Administration	1	2 year
Graduate Assistants: Athletic Communications	2	2 year

Outcomes & Alumni Success

A group of panelists, seated in a semi-circle at the front, engage in conversation while an audience listens. The large screen behind them displays the Nashville SC logo and details of the event, which is moderated by Dr. Ted. Belmont’s Master of Sport Administration program gives students a direct path into the sports industry through real-world experience and professional connections. With multiple internships built into the curriculum, graduates gain the hands-on training and industry relationships needed to land roles with top organizations, from professional leagues like the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS to collegiate athletics and sports business operations. Belmont’s strong industry reputation and prime location in Nashville create unmatched career opportunities, helping graduates successfully transition into leadership roles across the sports world.

We're committed to your success

Curb College's Professional Development team helps MSA students and graduates grow their skills and networks, preparing them to enter the sports industry. To support this, our team offers connections to internships, one-on-one meetings, weekly workshops led by industry experts and off-campus networking. We serve as ambassadors and connectors for Curb College students and graduates through active involvement in the entertainment world.

It's no wonder that 95% percent of Curb College graduates are employed, pursuing continuing education or enlisted in the military within 6 months of graduation and 85% of employed graduates are in positions that align with their short or long term career goals.

Learn more about Career & Professional Development

Alumni Testimonials

Drew Nipper

Master of Sport Administration

Sr. Account Executive, Membership Services | Tennessee Titans

“The curriculum offered the perfect balance between knowledge garnered in a classroom setting and first-hand experience through internships within the sport industry. Belmont has the unique luxury of being located in a beautiful city surrounded by multiple major sport organizations. This provided unparalleled access to industry leaders and networking opportunities. The growth I experienced professionally and personally while enrolled in the program was second-to-none.”

Maribeth Peevy

Master of Sport Administration

Manager of Tour Operations | Tennessee Golf Foundation

“The Belmont Sport Administration Program creates many wonderful opportunities to learn about all avenues of sports. It helped me get to where I am today working with the Sneds Junior Golf Tour under the Tennessee Golf Foundation. From the curriculum, the supportive professors, and incredible friendships I have created from my time in the program, I am confident in my career and the sport professional I am today. I would recommend the Belmont MSA program to anyone looking for a future in sports. Go Bruins!”

Mackenzie Hammond

Master of Sport Administration

Marketing and Communications Manger | Special Olympics Tennessee

“The MSA program at Belmont was a transformative experience that shaped my career and personal passions. The guidance and mentorship provided by the faculty is invaluable; their support and insight helped me discover my deep passion for Special Olympics and the power of inclusive sports. The program not only provided me with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the sports industry but also helped me uncover what I truly wanted to do with my future—make a meaningful impact through sports. I am incredibly grateful for my time at Belmont and the clarity it brought to my professional journey.”

Career Possibilities

A Master of Sport Administration from Belmont gives you the experience and connections to advance in the sports industry. Graduates step into a wide range of opportunities across teams, leagues, events and sports business operations, paving the way for long-term career growth.

As a Director of Marketing, you will be responsible for all marketing initiatives, creative direction and execution of brand design and advertising initiatives for a sport organization or collegiate team. You will lead a marketing team to develop and create strategically integrated marketing campaigns, and other brand initiatives.

A Coordinator of Membership Services and Ticket Operations is responsible for cultivating and maintaining long-lasting relationships with Season Ticket Members through all communication channels and tracking those touch points in CRM. This position is focused on retention and provides world class customer service, while also engaging in cross selling and sales referrals.

Responsible for planning and execution of media coverage for a sport organization. This leader directs the development, and implementation of a comprehensive, multifaceted communication program around the team, players and technical staff. In addition, this position will be responsible for developing and building media relationships.

This role involves assisting with the development and implementation of compliance policies, procedures, systems and strategies. The Director will help manage the day-to-day operations of a college’s NCAA compliance program, ensuring adherence to all league/affiliate conference and NCAA rules.

The Event Manager is primarily responsible for overseeing all aspects of an event from the advance planning stages through the completion for all assigned events taking place in the venue including developing, coordinating and supervising all related activities key to the operation of the facility.

Learn from the Best

Belmont's Master of Sport Administration faculty are industry professionals with extensive experience across various sectors of the sports industry. This diverse expertise enables them to provide students with practical insights and real-world applications, enriching the learning experience through engaging storytelling and mentorship.