Sports is a multibillion-dollar business. It demands professionals with skills ranging from finance to marketing, from communications to risk management. Northwestern University School of Professional Studies has developed a master's program to prepare students for leadership positions in all segments of the sports industry. With the proliferation of sports programs in colleges across the United States, Northwestern University stands out in its commitment to providing a program with academic excellence and world-class credibility, backed by leaders in the industry. Students have access to faculty expertise from all aspects of the sports industry including team executives, sports agents, corporate sports consultants, and professionals in sports media, events, sponsorship marketing, and collegiate and professional administration, to name a few.

Students who are serious about the business of sports build their expertise in core courses that provide students with a solid foundation in strategic, analytic, and creative thinking relevant to the business of sports; three elective courses covering topics such as social media strategy and sports economics; a leadership course, and the capstone project. Students may also choose a specialization in sports analytics, consisting of four online courses that provide the technical and leadership training required for key positions in sports team management and analytics.

MSA courses are offered weeknights on the Chicago and Evanston campuses. The MSA program provides students with access to Chicago’s fast-paced sports community — from guest speakers to program events, students are exposed to professionals who are shaping the Chicago, national and even international sports marketplace