Sport & Esports Management
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
- Undergraduate Major
Modes of study:
Why should you consider USM’s Sport & Esports Management degree?
Ready to turn your passion for sports and gaming into a career? As one of the only universities to offer a Sport & Esports Management degree in the state of Maine and New England, the University of Southern Maine (USM), prepares you to level up in the fast-growing sport business industry. As an undergraduate student, you’ll gain hands-on knowledge of sport management, esports operations, marketing, event planning, leadership, and business strategy. Learn how the sport and esports industries work behind the scenes, build real-world skills, and create a game plan for success in sport business careers, esports management, and leadership roles across the industry.
Southern Maine is one of the nation’s premier destinations for minor league sports, giving USM students unmatched real-world experience through internships, networking and guest speakers, and experiential learning opportunities. Portland’s four minor league teams — soccer’s Hearts of Pine, hockey’s Maine Mariners, basketball’s Maine Celtics, and baseball’s Portland Sea Dogs have direct partnerships with USM and are just minutes from our Portland, Maine college campus!
See program details
The requirements and courses needed to graduate with this degree are based on the academic catalog that applies to your start year.
Program duration
Typical completion time: 4 years. Flexible options may save time.
School
Admissions
SAT and ACT scores optional. Early action and year-round admissions.
From Sports Management at USM to the Boston Red Sox
Why should you become part of USM’s Sport & Esports Management program?
Prepare for a wide range of careers in Sports and Esports Management
Our alumni have positions with the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Harvard University Athletic Department, Hearts of Pine, Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Mariners, and the Maine Celtics, along with many other professional sport organizations. Graduates of this program have careers in professional, collegiate, and amateur athletics, and work in areas including event operations, facilities management, marketing, sales, promotions, and merchandising.
As a USM alum, you will have lifelong advising and support services from our Career and Employment Hub.
Immersive internships for course credit
Internships outside of the classroom with some of Portland’s most popular sports teams give you the hands-on experience you crave. The USM School of Business Internship Program gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom with local businesses for credit.
Whether you’re assisting with game prep at the Hearts of Pine, marketing at the Maine Mariners, helping the Portland Sea Dogs increase attendance, managing a local esports tournament behind the scenes, or learning the ins and outs of business operations at the Maine Celtics, bring your adventures back to your studies at USM in Portland, Maine and beyond with a new readiness for the working world after graduation.
Prepare for an exciting career in the emerging industry of esports
If you’re passionate about esports, the University of Southern Maine’s Sport & Esports Management BSBA provides a business-focused pathway to careers in the rapidly growing esports industry. The program is designed to develop skills in esports management — including marketing, sponsorships, legal and regulatory issues, and operations management.
Whether you aspire to run tournaments, manage sponsorships, support players, or oversee the business side of esports, you’ll gain the experience and professional network needed to succeed after completing a sports management program in Maine.
We’re here to help answer questions about costs
What should I minor in?
Game Design Minor: Gain Specialized Skills for the Esports Industry
A Game Design minor complements this degree by providing hands-on and theoretical experience in game development, with specialized tracks in General Design, Programming, or Art and Animation. Students can build skills in game design, animation, sound production, and storytelling, creating valuable esports industry expertise that stands out to employers after graduation.
Athletic Coaching Minor: Build Leadership and Sports Operations Skills
An Athletic Coaching minor will help you develop leadership, team management, travel logistics, uniform procurement, and day-to-day sports operations skills for recreation, high school, college, and other athletic programs.
Audio and Video Production Minor: Develop Sports Media and Content Creation Skills
If you are creative and love working with a camera and want some direct field time in your career, consider this minor with your USM major in Sport & Esports Management to give you an edge in how to plan, produce, manage, and evaluate media content for target audiences. You’ll gain hands-on skills in video production, audio storytelling, media design, and digital communications, preparing for careers in sports media, content creation, and broadcasting.
What makes our Sport and Esports Management program so special is the combination of a strong business education and a vibrant sports community right outside our doors. Portland was named the No. 1 minor league sports market in 2024 by Sports Business Journal, and our local professional teams are tremendous partners in creating meaningful opportunities for our students. Students learn from, work within, and begin building their careers in this sport-centered environment. Through internships, experiential projects, and partnerships across the sport community, they graduate with both a B.S. in Business Administration with a sport & esports management major and meaningful, industry-relevant experience.
Heidi M. Parker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sport Management
Get your masters with a 4+1 Accelerated Graduate Pathway
Leave USM with two degrees — and save time and money. Our Accelerated Graduate Pathway programs allow you to start your MS while still completing your BSBA, and finish both in just five yours. Top recommendation – our Digital Marketing Analytics pathway!
Scholarship opportunities
If you’re considering applying to the Sport & Esports Management program at USM, you should also look into scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are a great choice because they are financial aid that you don’t have to pay back. You’re also automatically considered for Merit Scholarships if you apply by the deadline. Additional opportunities are available.
AACSB accreditation
Our School of Business is AACSB-accredited. This mark of distinction is achieved by fewer than 5% of all business schools in the world.
Next steps
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.
Request information
Complete this form to get more information about our University.