Graduate Certificate in Sport Development and Management

Combining sport industry expertise with innovative business acumen, Salem State University’s Graduate Certificate in Sport Development and Management is designed to help you move into leadership positions at profit or non-profit sport, fitness, and leisure organizations. Fully online, this unique program expands and deepens professional knowledge of the strategic aspects of sport management, including finance, marketing, event, and facility management. This program also explores the industry’s most systematic and progressive ways to develop sporting organizations and services.  

Program Features 

• One year to completion: This certificate can be completed in as little as one year, with 2 courses in the fall and 2 courses in the spring. Students have up to six years to complete the program. 

• Online course delivery with self-paced courses, designed for working professionals. 

• Accessible faculty: Support offered via Outlook, Teams, Zoom, and Canvas, as well as in person 

Program Objectives 

Students will:  

• Learn how to develop, finance, manage, and market sport programs, events, and facilities for better performance, health, education, and social harmony  

• Examine how to connect physical education and recreation programs with competitive sport to offer participants healthy paths to excellence  

• Discover industry best practices in sport management and athlete services  

This program is taught by internationally known faculty with decades of experience coaching and managing university, national, and professional teams and working as sport and recreation administrators and consultants to business leaders across the globe. Learn more about the program coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Sport Development and Management. 

Curriculum 

The graduate certificate in sport development and management requires four courses, 12 credits total. 

Content Courses* 

• SMS 708 - Financial Aspects of Sport Industries 

• SMS 706 - Sport Development: Mass Participation and High Performance 

• SMS 707 - Facility and Event Management in Sport Industries 

• SMS 709 - Marketing and Public Relations in Sport Industries 

*Subject to change, accurate for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Careers 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the sport, fitness, and recreation management fields are expected to grow 5% from 2023 to 2033, the average growth rate for all occupations*. Surveyed US coaches and administrators from different sports indicated that their future success depends on deeper programs and athlete development education. 

The global sports market is on an upward path for 2033, with the market forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.9%. North America accounted for 35% of the total sports market in 2023, the largest region globally.** 

*source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2023-2024, Recreation Workers 

**source: Sports Global Market Opportunities and Strategies to 2033, The Business Research Company