Carthage adds graduate business track in Sports Management

With new graduate coursework, Carthage is holding out the green flag for students to accelerate into a career on the business side of sports.

Expanding the scope of its 3-year-old Master of Science program in business, the College is recruiting students for a new Sports Management track that begins this fall. The original Business Design and Innovation (BDI) track remains available to those seeking a broader perspective.

Input from 23 senior executives in professional basketball, hockey, baseball, esports, and related industries shaped a curriculum that aligns students’ strengths with modern hiring preferences.

“We pulled together the best courses for skills needed in the industry,” said Craig Leipold, owner of the Minnesota Wild NHL franchise and parent of a Carthage graduate.

The 39-credit master’s program can be completed in as few as 10 months. It’s open to students with any undergraduate major.

On Nov. 4, Carthage welcomed NHL executives John F. McDonough and Craig Leipold to campus for a public event. Input from industry leaders like them shaped the new graduate track in Sports Management. “We’re teaching management through the lens of sports,” says Professor Jennifer Madden, director of the MSc program. “This is great preparation for those who want to get a foothold in that industry, but seeing business strategy employed in something as familiar as sports makes it valuable for anyone.”

The new track consists of seven courses tailored to sports management careers, plus a set of core courses it shares with the BDI track. Those provide a firm grasp of principles like emotional intelligence, disruptive innovation, and cross-functional team management.

In addition, students can expect:

• Intensive workshops led by guest instructors with industry expertise
• A sales lab during January Term that provides hands-on experience in tandem with a major sports organization
• A culminating 10-day study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, where they complete projects for top-level sports clients

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree and a GPA of 2.75 or higher in previous coursework can apply for admission. Fellowships covering $500 to $5,000 are available to candidates with financial need.

Graduate Studies at Carthage

• Learn more about the MSc program in business
• Explore other advanced degree options