DBA in Sports Administration

Doctor of Business Administration in Sports Administration

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Sports Administration is designed to prepare individuals for management positions in the sports industry and faculty positions in higher education. The degree program prepares graduates in a Business and Sports background, as well as establishing a strong research base.

The sports field has a need for more qualified professionals with a strong business background. The DBA in Sports Administration curriculum provides professional preparation for management and leadership positions with professional sports teams, intercollegiate athletics, and higher education. Most Masters and Doctoral programs in Sports Administration/Management do not provide their graduates with Business Administration credentials. Additionally, most MBA programs do not provide their graduates with Sports Administration/Management credentials. Therefore, our DBA curriculum will make our graduates uniquely qualified in the field.

Program Highlights

  • St. Thomas University started the first DBA in Sports Administration, leading the field, just as they had when they started the first Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Administration a generation ago.
  • Located in South Florida, the sports capital of the world, The Sports Administration program at St. Thomas University has been providing students with access to opportunities in the sports industry for over half a century.
  • With over 2000 Sports Administration alumni, St. Thomas University has a very strong industry network.
  • All students admitted to the Doctor of Business Administration program will be granted 30 credits from their Master’s Degree, toward the program total of 90 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s Degree. Resulting in a 60 credit hour degree completion plan.
  • Additionally, in consultation with the program director an additional 15 graduate, or post graduate credits may be accepted toward the remaining 60 credits beyond the Master’s Degree depending upon content and discipline of the graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and doctoral specialization selected.
  • Depending on the number of credits transferred in from the Master’s Degree, course work can be completed in 1–1½ years before dissertation.
  • There are three doctoral research options. In consultation with the Program Director, the student will choose the best option for their career pursuit:

o   Traditional Dissertation

o   Article Dissertation

o   Action Research

  • All DBA courses are available fully online, on-campus, or a hybrid of both

What Can You Do with a Sports Management Degree?

Curriculum

DBA Program Course Requirements

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED      90 credits

All students admitted to the Doctor of Business Administration program will be granted 30 credits from their Master’s Degree, toward the program total of 90 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s Degree. Resulting in a 60 credit hour degree completion plan.

DBA Common Courses      18 Credits

BUS 813 Strategic Brand Management      3 credits
MIS 879 Information Ethics      3 credits
BUS 806 Global Social Media Management      3 credits
BUS 836 Entrepreneurship      3 credits
SPO 855 Special Topics – Leadership Theory and Practice      3 credits
MAN 810 Legal & Regulatory Aspects of Management      3 credits

RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS      21 credits

Research Core      9 credits
RES 819 Foundations of Research      3 credits
RES 820 Quantitative Research      3 credits
RES 821 Qualitative Research      3 credits

Doctoral Research (Dissertation/Action Research)    12 credits

DIS 900 Doctoral Research Proposal      3 credits
DIS 901 Doctoral Research I      3 credits
DIS 902 Doctoral Research II      3 credits
DIS 903 Doctoral Research III      3 credits
DIS 904 Doctoral Continuation Course      1-3 credits

Sports Administration Specialization (21 Credit)

SPO 840: Sports Media and Public Relations (3 credits)
SPO 843: Sports Financial Management (3 credits)
SPO 844: Sports Marketing and Promotions (3 credits)
SPO 846: Facility and Event Management (3 credits)
SPO 848: Sports Psychology (3 credits)
SPO 852: Governance of Intercollegiate Athletics (3 credits)
BUS 804: Research Design in Business Administration (3 credits)

Featured Alumni

Al Avila ’86, general manager of the Detroit Tigers, has been with the  Tigers for 15 years. Under his leadership, the Tigers have won the American League Pennant in 2006 and 2012, and won four straight AL Central titles from 2011-2014


Andy Elisburg ’89, general manager and senior vice president of operations for the Miami Heat, joined the franchise in its inaugural 1988 season. For the past 21 years, he has been working in basketball operations, and has played an integral role in salary cap planning and basketball operations management, while overseeing the day-to-day operations at American Airlines Arena.


Dave Gettleman ’86, general manager of the New York Giants, has been a part of seven Super Bowl teams, including three winners. He was with Buffalo in 1990 and 1991, Denver in 1997, the Giants in 2000, 2007 and 2011, and Carolina in 2015. The Broncos and the 2007 and 2011 Giants both won the championship.

Contact

Program Coordinator: Dr. Seok-Ho Song
Academic Credentials: PhD, University of New Mexico; MS, Southern Illinois University; BS, University of Incheon, South Korea
Contact Information: 305-474-6909; ssong@stu.edu

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