Concordia University Chicago & SMWW / MBA in Sports Management

Online MBA in Sports Management – Concordia University Chicago + SMWW

Transform Your Passion into a Sports Business Career with an Online MBA Designed for Working Professionals

Discover how our fully online, specialized 36-credit MBA in Sports Management builds the strategic and operational skills elite sports organizations demand. Study world-class sports leaders and practitioners while balancing your current career.

Why This MBA

The sports industry is ultra-competitive. Hundreds of applicants chase every position, and standing out means having both business expertise and real-world perspective. Our online MBA with a sports specialization gives you exactly that.

Concordia University Chicago’s College of Business delivers this program fully online—a flexible format that fits your schedule. All faculty are working professionals with academic credentials, giving you both theory and insider practice. Register through SMWW and lock in a discounted rate—often less than one-third of traditional MBA programs.

Program Highlights

This MBA with a sports concentration offers a powerful blend of academic rigor and professional relevance. You’ll learn from major league mentors via optional weekly live Zoom sessions—including head coaches, general managers, agents, and athletic directors—who serve as resume references.

With over 30,000 alumni across 163+ countries, SMWW and CUC give you access to a global network of sports professionals, ready to help you launch or elevate your career.

Careers and Outcomes

Graduates with this MBA step into high-impact leadership roles across the sports industry, including:

Athletic Director
Sports Analytics Manager
Front Office Executive
Player Personnel Director
Coach
Sports Agent
Sports Marketing Lead
Media/PR Strategist
Community Relations Coordinator
Compliance Officer
Game-Day Director
Academic Advisor
Ticketing and Development Manager
Professor of Sports Management
Scout or Talent Evaluator

Program Curriculum

Congrats to Dr. Nick Nurse - Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach, who graduated with his Ph.D in Leadership: Sports  Leadership from CUC/SMWW in May, 2022. Pictured here with SMWW President Dr. Lynn Lashbrook

The MBA is structured over six terms (12 months) and includes:

  • Semester 1 (8 weeks each):

    • Managing and Leading Effective Organizations

    • Ethics, Law & Communication in Decision-Making

    • Global Marketing in the Digital Era

    • Organizational Behavior

  • Semester 2:

    • Economics for Managers

    • Strategy for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

  • Semester 3:

    • Accounting for Decision-Making

    • Managing Human Capital

    • Statistics Applied to Managerial Problems

    • Financial Management

    • Global Management

    • Capstone Project

 

Congrats to Dr. Nick Nurse - Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach, who graduated with his Ph.D in Leadership: Sports  Leadership from CUC/SMWW in May, 2022. Pictured here with SMWW President Dr. Lynn Lashbrook

SMWW’s Industry Leading Courses Featured In:

 

Application Deadlines

Application is due:  October 13, 2025 |  Classes Start:   October 20, 2025

 
Apply Today!
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FAQ
 

Why Choose the SMWW + CUC MBA in Sports Management

Learn Directly from Major League Executives
All students meet weekly with SMWW mentors who have worked in MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAA, and FIFA. These live Zoom forums let you ask questions, hear stories from industry leaders, and gain resume references from some of the most trusted names in sports.

Join a Global Sports Business Network
With 30,000+ alumni in 163+ countries, you’ll tap into SMWW’s unmatched global connections. Our alumni work across every major league and sport, making this MBA a launchpad for career advancement.

Advance Your Career While You Work
This fully online 36-credit MBA with a 12-credit Sports Management Specialization is designed for busy professionals, pro athletes, and aspiring executives. You’ll combine business fundamentals with real-world sports management training to create leadership opportunities at the highest level.

 

 

Apply here for more information about the SMWW-CUC Masters Degree.

Apply here free for acceptance to the SMWW-Concordia University Sports Management Masters.

Curriculum

▸▾ Semester 1, First 8 weeks:

  • Managing and Leading Effective Organizations
  • Ethics, Law and Communication in Decision Making

▸▾ Semester 1, Second 8 weeks:

  • Global Marketing in the Digital Era
  • Organizational Behavior

▸▾ Semester 2, First 8 weeks:

  • Economics for Managers
  • Strategy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

▸▾ Semester 2, Second 8 weeks:

  • Accounting for Decision Making
  • Managing Human Capital

▸▾ Semester 3, First 8 weeks:

  • Statistics Applied to Managerial Problems
  • Financial Management

▸▾ Semester 3, Second 8 weeks:

  • Global Management
  • Capstone Course
 

Lynn LashbrookA Word from Dr. Lynn Lashbrook

Every day, I talk to people eager to break into college athletics or sports business. Over my 45 years, I've served as a sports agent, athletic director, coach, professor, and academic advisor. I designed this program to be transformative—which means aligning top-tier sports leadership training with flexible online access for working professionals.

Ready to explore how this MBA could elevate your career? Fill out this quick form, and I’ll call you to discuss your goals. – Dr. G. Lynn Lashbrook, President & Founder

I would welcome the chance to discuss career strategies for your specific goals and background.

Ready to Get Started?

 
 
 

Contact our CUC Enrollment Specialists to make the process simple, fast, and supportive—even if you're applying from abroad:

Email: CUC@SMWW.com
Phone: (503) 445-7105 or Toll Free: 1-888-952-4368


Dr. G. Lynn Lashbrook, Ed.D
President & Founder
Sports Management Worldwide

Apply Today!
Request More Info
 

Admission Checklist For Master's Students

▸▾ Requirements for Admission

To be considered for admission to a master's program, applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and submit the following:

Apply online. Apply here to get the discounted tuition.

▸▾ Financial Aid Information

https://fafsa.ed.gov/

Apply for financial aid and/or make arrangements for payment after you've submitted your application. You will need to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It is in your best interest to complete the financial aid process as early as possible. For assistance, call Concordia University financial aid helpline at 708-209-3347. CUC’s School Code is 001666.

▸▾ Official Transcripts

Provide official, sealed transcripts from institutions where degrees were earned showing all college/university coursework

▸▾ Objective Statement

Provide information on your future educational goals and/or objectives and their relationship to pursuing graduate work at Concordia University Chicago. This is part of the online application.

▸▾ Two Letters of Recommendation

Letters should be from individuals able to comment on the applicant's academic proficiency, personal character, competence, and effectiveness in professional work.

International Students:

If you are an international student, you must complete the basic steps listed above for your degree and the following information:

▸▾ English as a Second Language TOEFL Scores

Please submit TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 72 (internet) minimum requirement on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or successful completion of Level 112 at an English Language School (ELS) unless English is the native language, and an unqualified recommendation from an ELS program director is provided. (International students who have earned an advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States do not need to submit TOEFL scores.)

▸▾ Foreign Transcript Evaluation

Any foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a Concordia approved international credentialing service, such as WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Students should request a “Course-by-Course” evaluation and sent to Concordia University Chicago.