Our commitment to sports administration is well-known. St. Thomas was one of the first universities to establish both undergraduate and graduate studies programs in Sports Administration. Founded in 1961, St. Thomas University is a small, private coeducational institution of higher learning, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami. St. Thomas offers undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing education programs joining a rich liberal arts curriculum with practical skills that create and enhance career opportunities.
St. Thomas enrolls more than 2600 students. Our student body reflects the diversity of the South Florida community. The atmosphere is friendly, caring and supportive. The small classes allow personalized instruction in an environment where the exchange of experiences and ideas is encouraged. Students bring diversity to the classroom, providing the opportunity for lively and challenging discussions.
The growth of professional and college sports and leisure services, including media coverage and facilities, has created an escalating demand for professionally trained sports administrators. In 1973, Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University) began the first undergraduate program in sports administration in the country. In 1977 the Master of Science in Sports Administration was added to the program degree offerings. Both degrees were designed to fulfill the complex needs of the sports industry. The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees were first offered in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Collaboration with the University’s School of Law created the first joint degree program, a J.D./M.S. in sports administration, in 1999. Interest in a joint J.D./M.B.A. in sports administration degree program was answered in 2006 when the University’s Board of Trustees approved that degree option. Today, St. Thomas University sports administration has received national recognition as one of the country’s finest.
While stressing academic excellence, our faculty is committed to the development of the individual. Our strong academic programs are linked to our growing reputation for “hands-on” professional training. Some programs offer the opportunity to earn credits toward a degree by completing an internship. The students are provided with many exciting career opportunities within the South Florida area, which enjoys recognition as one of the fastest growing communities in the United States. Students are attracted to this unique blend of academic studies and specialized career training.
The programs prepare students for leadership roles in professional, college, and community sports affairs as well as careers in the management of sports facilities and other entertainment and not-for-profit industries. Our graduates have gone on to rewarding careers in various aspects of sports administration.
St. Thomas University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Bachelor, Master, and Juris Doctorate degrees, and the sports administration programs are approved by the NASPE/NASSM Sport Management Program Review Council.
We believe that few colleges offer the full array of program elements that St. Thomas University’s sports administration programs can offer students. For example:
• BUSINESS COURSES with an application to sports - Historically, all of St. Thomas University’s sports administration programs have their roots in business and management.
• Opportunities to gain invaluable PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE - South Florida, as a major sports market, is a natural laboratory setting that offers unique opportunities for students to engage in volunteer and part-time work experiences. These opportunities enhance the student’s education and provide additional skills that will aid them in their future careers. The experiences also allow the students the chance to test a variety of organizations and position responsibilities and to learn exactly what is entailed in the jobs their goals are leading them toward.
• NETWORKING – Students have access to industry professionals who serve as adjunct professors, guest lecturers, and mentors. “It’s not what you know or even who you know . . . but who knows you.” Sports administration at St. Thomas affords students the opportunity for industry professionals to get to know them.
• NASPE/NASSM Approved Programs – All degree programs are approved by the Sport Management Program Review Council.
• TWO undergraduate degree options – 1) B.A. and 2) B.B.A.
• FOUR graduate degree options – 1) M.S., 2) M.B.A., 3) Joint J.D. / M.S., and 4) Joint J.D./M.B.A.
**To learn more about both our undergraduate and graduate degree programs, please view the "About the Degree Program" sections for both our undergraduate and graduate programs.