Guide to Becoming a Sports Agent

Becoming a sports agent, or sports management, is a challenging and engaging career field in which you can have responsibilities ranging from player management to accounting, marketing, and team administrative duties. Business, management, finance, accounting, human resources, marketing, and public relations are all fundamental elements of becoming a sports agent. For your convenience, below is a list of sports agent programs from online schools.

Post University – The BS in sports management explores administrative, managerial, and marketing positions in the sports industry, either as stand-alone agent or a part of a company. Students will take classes in business as well as courses designed to develop key management skills like human interaction, communication, and time management.

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Ashford University – The online Bachelors in Sports & Recreation Management program is a great door opener for enter the sports, fitness, or recreational fields. The program can be used to pursue various careers related to the sports industry, including sports agent or manager, fitness clubs, athletic programs, merchandising, and marketing.

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Liberty University – While the Master of Science in sport management does require a bachelor degree for enrollment, it is an excellent option for furthering your career since it can be completed in just two years. This program shows how social and ethical issues can impact the sports industry and explores the role that economics and law play.

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Southern New Hampshire University – Southern New Hampshire University has a leading and well-respected position in online education with a record of helping students achieving their career goals. The Sports Management MBA program is an excellent choice for students looking to become sports agents as the degree is geared towards developing the students understanding and business and management elements in the sports industry.

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Northcentral University – Northcentral's Master of Education in athletic administration is primarily for people who are interested coaching or athletic administration, but its application does cover a broader range than those careers. The PhD in athletic administration is a much more challenging degree that will enable students to plan, organize, and direct athletic programs.

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California University of Pennsylvania – The California University of Pennsylvania Bachelors in Sports Management program is entirely online, perfect for working adults who want to advance their careers or even change careers. The fields student can enter upon completion are numerous and the curriculum is designed for students to be able to immediately apply their education to positions in corporate fitness, gyms, sports management, strength coaching, and even spas.

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Ohio University – Both sports management degrees from Ohio University are focused athletic administration, but they can be applied sports careers outside education like gyms, fitness and recreation. The first is a MS degree in athletic administration that builds upon the fundamentals of sport business. The MS degree in coaching education is for the aspiring sports coach students interested in directing athletic programs.

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University of the Rockies – While not focusing on the business aspects of sports management, the MA in sports psychology from the University of the Rockies does take an in-depth look at the science and behavior of athletes and the human body. Students can go on to pursue positions like sports consultant, trainers, coaches, and physical therapists.

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Salem International University – The BSBA in sports management from Salem International University focuses more the business and administrative sides of sports management emphasizing human resources, communication, finance, accounting, law, and marketing. The program is completely online which presents a fast, convenient, and flexible way to obtain a degree for students.

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Drexel University – The online Master of Science in Sports Management from Drexel stands out from other similar programs because it explores how nutrition and psychology impact outcomes and decisions in the sports industry. The assignments can be worked on and turned in from any computer at any time before or on deadlines, making this a great option for students who want to balance education with their daily lives.

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Grand Canyon University – Grand Canyon University is one of the largest Christian colleges in the nation offering online programs, like the BSBA degree in sports management. The program combines ethics and social issues facing the sports industry with key business management skills like critical thinking and decision making.
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Tiffin University – For student looking for a practical approach to their education as sports managers, Tiffin offers a master of business administration in sports management that focuses on methods and delivery in intercollegiate, recreational, and professional industries. Students will pick up key skills in management and learn how to take on several issues like franchising, endorsements, network building, and marketing.
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Lasell College – Lasell College is one of the few colleges offering an online Master of Science in non-profit sports management program for students interested in helping direct and manage community recreational and fitness centers. While not designed for sports management, much of the curriculum can be carried over and applied to a career as a sports agent.

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St. Leo University – The Sports Management concentration MBA program from St. Leo University is designed for students wanting to advance their careers quickly as it can be completed in two years, entirely online. The program is for students interested in directing or management positions in the media, sports companies or franchises.

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Capella University – The online MS in sports psychology from Capella University, while not centered specifically on becoming a sports agent, helps students pursue consulting positions in the sports industry like coaching, training, and even physical therapy. Capella is one of the nation's largest online schools and is committed to delivering quality education to students.
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1) What Types of Sports Agent Degrees Exist and What are They Called?

If interested in becoming a sports agent, manager, or other related professional behind the scenes, there are loads of degree options, and a few are listed below.

  1. Associate of Business Administration (ABA)
    The two year degree prepares students with a foundation for business including operations, budget, management, and more.
  2. Associate of Allied Health (AAH)
    Many healthcare professionals choose this for an associate's degree, which can also be useful when entering the care side of sports.
  3. Bachelor of Arts in Sports Recreation and Management
    The BA degree gives students a strong educational foundation, and this one focuses on the sports world.
  4. Bachelor of Science in Sports Management
    Another four year degree, the last two years of study concentrate on sports management topics such as promotion, public relations, law, and more.
  5. Bachelor of Science in Business
    Learn the business end of any field, including sports, with a BSB degree.
  6. Master of Arts in Sport and Exercise Psychology
    Learn what makes an athlete tick along with how to get the best performances out of them in this degree.
  7. Master of Business Administration – Sports Business
    Learn how to cut deals like a pro in this advanced business degree.
  8. Master of Business Administration – Sports Management
    Another MBA degree, this one focuses on running a sports organization like a business and teaches students management, deals, entrepreneurship, and more.
  9. Master of Science – Sports Administration
    This degree prepares students for careers in administration of intercollegiate and interscholastic sport and recreation programs, as well as professional organizations.
  10. Doctor of Philosophy – Management (PhD Man.)
    This doctorate level degree teaches leadership at the highest levels and includes its research and academic applications.

Because the sports industry needs professionals at all levels, including business, accounting, management, law, and others, getting a degree in these areas can help lead to a career.

2) Where Can I Find Sports Agent Degree Accreditation?

The first step to choosing a sports degree is to make sure it is accredited. Completing an accredited degree or program means that graduates are far more likely to be taken seriously by future employers or when pursuing further education. To see which schools and programs are accredited, visit the U.S. Department of Education Accreditation Database. It lists accredited schools by state, or you can type in the name of the school you are interested in to see if it has been accredited as well as which agency has done the accreditation.

If looking for a specific agency that specializes in the accreditation of sports management programs, try the North American Society for Sport Management. Universities that offer accredited sports degrees are listed alphabetically. They also share whether the degree(s) being offered are bachelor's, master's, or doctorate. You can also use them to find accredited sports agent degrees internationally.

Because becoming a sports agent has no one clear path, it is important to research as many avenues and educational options as possible. If you know which sports agency or business you would like to work for, contact their human resource department to see which sports agent degrees they prefer.

3) Can I Transfer Sports Agent Degree School Credits?

If you already have a degree and are looking to get an education as a sports agent, you may qualify for transfer credits. These allow students to get credits for courses already taken, bypass many core classes, and save time and money. Even if you only have a few classes completed and not a degree, research the transfer credit policy of the school you wish to attend as soon as possible to see how many transfer credits you are eligible for before enrolling.

If switching from a regionally accredited school to a national one or vice versa, there can be problems when seeking transfer credits for a sports agent degree. Because the schools have been accredited by different agencies within the U.S. Department of Education, they may not recognize each other's educational achievements. However, if both schools have been accredited by the same agency or are both nationally and regionally accredited, transfer credits are more likely to happen and in greater quantities.

Those who already hold a degree from an accredited institution can bypass the issue of transfer credits altogether. For example, if you already have a qualifying associate's degree, it can take only two instead of four years to earn a bachelor's sports agent degree. Those who already hold a bachelor's degree can earn a master's degree as a sports agent in just two years, even if the bachelor's is not awarded in the same area, depending on the school. The same goes for students with a bachelor's degree who wish to earn an MBA degree in sports management, business, administration, or other area.

4) What Sorts of Careers are Common With a Sports Agent Degree?

Although sports agent is the first career to come to mind, it is not the only one available with a sports degree.

  1. Athletic Manager
    Whether working for a high school team or professional organization, this professional manages the athletes to ensure the best performance.
  2. Coach
    Often a stepping stone to becoming a sports agent, coaches work closely with athletes during practice and games to get the win.
  3. Scout
    This career involves traveling around the globe to attract and hire the best in sports talent.
  4. Sports Agent
    They represent athletes in deals involving performing, competitions, endorsements, and much more.
  5. Sports Marketer
    Promoting an individual athlete, entire team, or sports organization is the focus of this career.
  6. Assistant Manager
    Work with the manager and other team leaders to run the tasks involved in a variety of sporting areas.
  7. General Manager
    The GM is charged with running many of the business oriented tasks of a sports team and can include travel arrangements, promotions, and more.
  8. Sports Psychologist
    They say that sports is all mental, and this career involves exclusively counseling athletes to perform to the best of their abilities.

And the above are just some of the careers available with a sports agent degree.

5) How do I Become a Sports Agent?

Unlike a doctor or lawyer, there is no specific path in becoming a sports agent. Although no education is formally required to become a sports agent, competition is so fierce an advanced, or graduate, degree is often desired by employers. The most popular degree for sports agent is the Master of Business Administration and there are even many specialized programs for those who wish to go into the business side of sports.

In addition to getting a proper education, sports agents often need experience in the field. Whether earned through an internship at an agency or by taking a position of administrative support in a related field, experience is key when becoming a sports agent. Because the field is all about relationships, the art of the deal, and results, a good sports agent candidate will be able to demonstrate an ability in all three

If looking to represent clients who play in the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL, a certification is required. Because all four have different certification processes, the sports agent candidate can be required to do anything from passing a written exam to already having existing clients. You can click here to get an FAQ for those who wish to become sports agents for professional football players.

6) What is the Average Salary of Someone With a Sports Agent Degree?

To get the most current average salary for someone with a sports agent degree, visit Payscale. The current median yearly wage for sports agents across the nation is anywhere from $40,391 to $115,900, factoring out to an average salary of $78,145. Because sports agents are also subject to signing bonuses, commission, profit sharing, and more, the average salary can be far more difficult to calculate.

If looking to get average salary information in other areas of sports, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This section of the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes the pay for umpires and related workers, average salary $23,730; coaches and scouts, average salary $28,340; and athletes and sports competitors, average salary $40,480. Most of these workers were employed in schools and the top paying ones were colleges, universities, and professional schools which offered an average annual salary for their sports staff of $39,550.

As a sports agent, average salary largely depends on those represented. As Sports Management Worldwide puts it: "agents get paid when athletes get paid." They also include a list of many popular sports and their average salaries including the big four, along with Arena Football, Canadian Football, European Basketball, Minor League Hockey, European Soccer, and Major League Soccer. They show the low to high range of an athlete's pay, along with what the sports agent's commission is.

7) Where Can I Find Sports Agent Degree Scholarships and Grants?

To help pay for a sports agent degree, check out the scholarship and grant resources and links listed below.

  1. Fast Web
    Simply sign up for a free profile here to be connected with loads of scholarship opportunities.
  2. Athletes USA
    If looking to play a sport as part of your education, this site can help match you with over 20,000 American college coaches looking for players to offer scholarships to.
  3. Business School Scholarship Guide
    Because a sports agent degree can be considered a business degree, check out this free guide from Business Schools to get a step by step instructional on how to apply for business degree scholarships.
  4. National Society of Hispanic MBA's
    Student resources from the NSHMBA include grant searches, student guides, finance tools, and scholarship programs.

And the above are only some of the scholarships and grants available when earning a sports agent degree. Because each school and state are different, be sure and contact your current or future financial aid department to get information on local scholarships, grants, and other funding options. Dedicated to helping students pay for school, they can help fill out forms, lay out options, and answer questions at no charge.

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