Convenient classes in the heart of downtown Denver

BSBA in Sports Business

AT A GLANCE

Credit hours: 120

Full-time, part-time, most classes have online options

Start terms: fall, spring, summer

Learn with purpose

Sports firms are hiring those with specialized skills in this area. Set yourself apart and land your dream job. Denver is home to every major sports team from football to baseball to soccer to lacrosse. One of the fastest growing industries in the world, degree gives you a business education with the specialized skills to succeed.

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AACSB

places us in the top 5% worldwide

60%

of all new CU Denver freshman
identify as students of color

Classes offered on-campus and online

Real-world experience required as a part of your degree

Study abroad in London

Experience the sports industry on a global scale. The London Calling program offers students an inside look into the UK’s top sports facilities such as Chelsea FC, Wembley Stadium, O2 Arena, Wimbledon, and the BBC.

Our undergraduate students are motivated individuals who chose CU Denver to turn their passion into a career they love. Our program supports that mission by incorporating applied coursework into our classes. Distinguishing features of our program include:

Learn by doing – a required experiential learning component as a part of your degree
Well-rounded education – build a foundation in liberal arts classes before honing in on your business education
Access to business leaders – close proximity and close ties to businesses make it easy for executives to visit our classrooms and career events

You’ll be surrounded by people who are finding their passion and making something of themselves. Our location and flexible schedule allow you to take advantage of the hundreds of businesses in downtown Denver through internships and class projects. With over 300 business partnerships tied to the Business School, you’ll graduate ready and confident to enter the workforce at the job of your dreams.

The bachelor of science in business administration curriculum consists of 120 hours comprised of business classes and liberal arts classes to give you a well-rounded education.

CU Denver core (34 hours)

You’ll be educated in English, math, behavioral and social science, humanities, international perspectives, and cultural diversity.

General non-business courses (12 hours)

These courses are taken outside of the Business School, but support a stronger awareness of disciplines relevant to business studies. Course topics include:

Professional speaking
Microeconomics
Business writing
Experiential learning

Completing an internship in risk management or insurance, fulfilled by RISK 3949, is a requirement for the completing the degree. The RMI Program will assist you in finding a qualifying internship.

Business core (36 hours)

Real-world experience

Apply your education directly to a problem facing business today. Choose between an internship, a project-based course, or study abroad for your experiential learning experience.

Your business classes will take you through the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in business. You will also gain an international perspective of business through the required international course. Course topics include:

Career and professional development
Business statistics
Business problem solving
Managerial accounting
Business law and ethics
Operations management
Marketing
Business policy and strategy management
Managing of individuals and teams

Major classes

Take advantage of these specialized courses that relate to the unique sports business environment. Course topics include:

Business of sports
Social media in business
Sports management
Sports marketing

Electives and/or foreign language proficiency

Foreign language courses may be satified if you’ve taken a certain number of classes in high school. These electives give you the freedom to dive deeper into topics or courses that interest you.

Careers in Sports Business

A bachelor's degree in sports business can lead to jobs with major sports teams, sporting facilities, sports equipment and apparel manufacturers and more.

Sports Business Job Titles

Account manager
Sales Representative
Marketing manager
Advertising manager
Sports Agent
Event Coordinator
General Manager

Visit our Careers page for more detailed information on the resources available.

Learning outcomes

Core Courses (November 13, 2019)

Value 1: Foundational Business Knowledge

Outcome: Explain foundational concepts associated with core business disciplines, including accounting, economics, finance, business statistics, operations management, business law, organizational behavior, marketing, information technology, and global strategy.

Value 2: Critical Thinking

Outcome: Analyze business problems using appropriate analytical and critical thinking skills.

Value 3: Ethical Practice

Outcome: Make ethical decisions, translating ethical principles into business practice.

Value 4: Effective Communication

Outcome: Effectively communicate a business message.

Value 5: International Perspectives

Outcome: Explain the impact of international perspectives on business strategy and operations.

Value 6: Business Technology

Outcome: Use appropriate business-related technologies to address business problems.

To demonstrate understanding of Business Concepts undergraduate business students take the ETS® Exam which contains 120 multiple-choice questions designed to measure a student’s subject knowledge in Accounting, Economics, Management, Quantitative Business Analysis, Information Systems, Finance, Marketing, Legal and Social Environment, and International Issues. More information.

Other objectives are assessed in individual courses using relevant projects, presentations or exam questions.

Tuition

The cost of tuition for the BS in business administration degree is different for in-state and out-of-state students.

Residents of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states may qualify for reduced tuition rates. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program requires students to maintain current residency of WICHE state until degree completion.

Learn more about the WUE program

Scholarships

If you’re worried about financing your education, the Business School offers scholarships for incoming students. Each scholarship looks at a number of different factors from academic performance to community involvement. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when you submit your application.

Dean’s First Generation Student Scholarship

$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to incoming freshmen who have 2.75 or higher GPA and are first-generation college students.

Dean’s Transfer Student Scholarship

$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to incoming transfer students who have at least 24 transfer credits and a 3.3 college GPA.

Dean’s Esteemed Student Scholarship

Up to $10,000 scholarship (up to $1,250/semester for 8 semesters) open to incoming freshmen who have demonstrated superior high school performance and community service. Minimum 3.5 HS GPA.

Dean’s Veteran Student Scholarship

$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to Veteran or Active Military students who have a 2.75 or higher GPA.

DPS Future Business Student Scholarship

$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to high school graduates of Denver Public Schools with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Must indicate interest in Business when applying to CU Denver.

We also offer additional scholarship opportunities for current students every semester. Scholarship opportunities are based on program and course enrollment.

Double Major

Many students utilize the flexibility of the degree to major in two separate disciplines. With careful planning, you may be able to add a double major without extending your graduation date. Major requirements could overlap depending on which majors you decide on.

Discover other BSBA majors that might interest you.

Certificates

You can add an undergradute for-credit certificate to enhance your degree or explore a new area of interest to you.

Application Checklist

Online application
$50 domestic, $75 international application fee
SAT and ACT optional
High school transcript or GED score
College or community college transcript – transfer applicants only
English language proficiency —international applicants only

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Admission Requirements

If you are an incoming freshman to CU Denver, you can apply through either the Common Application or the Milo Application. Transfer students and international students will need to submit the Milo Application.

Incoming first-year students

CU Denver requires that students complete the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR). You will not have to meet all Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS) for admission, but you will need to be completed through CU Denver coursework by graduation.

Transfer Students

We have strong connections with other four-year and community colleges. If you have completed more than 24 hours of transferable coursework, you will be evaluated for admission on the basis of your college GPA without regard to your high school performance. If you have fewer than 24 hours, you will be evaluated based on both your high school and college GPAs. For more information and to plan your transfer, see transfer admissions in the admissions office.

Transfer Admissions Promise

If you are in your first or second semester at one of the participating Colorado community colleges and plan to transfer to CU Denver after earning your associate degree, CU Denver’s Admission Promise might be a great program for you. To qualify, you must meet the criteria including meeting regularly with your assigned CU academic advisor while you are attending community college. See the promise page for details and the link to the eligibility questionnaire.

International Students

You will need to begin your application through the Office of International Affairs. They will help you manage your application process.

Spring

Domestic Applications

January 1

International Applications

Priority: September 15
Final: October 15

Summer

Domestic Applications

May 15

International Applications

Priority: January 15
Final: March 15

Fall

Domestic Applications

August 1

International Applications

Priority: March 15
Final: May 15

See yourself at CU Denver

Follow your passion

No matter your background, you’ll have access to a career and professional development course as a Business School student. Through this course, you’ll be introduced to all of the resources available to you as a student including:

Career events
Student organizations
Resume and personal branding training
Career planning

Find your people

Our students bring their passions outside of the classroom. We offer a number of clubs that give you an opportunity to build your resume and relationships with your peers at the same time.

Beta Gamma Sigma
Business Student Ambassador Committee
Student Center for the Public Trust Marketing Club
Sports and Entertainment Club

See your future

“I am drawn to exploring, and the beautiful state of Colorado was an open door to endless opportunities with the fast-paced, growing city of Denver combined with the diversity of students on this campus.”

—Kelly Czerpak, current student

Major in what matters

A career team dedicated to you

In the heart of downtown Denver, you have easy access to hundreds of employers. Our career team has developed close relationships with quality employers and regularly brings them in for career fairs and panel events. It’s no surprise that employers have told us they prefer CU Denver students, because they know how motivated our students are to succeed.

Take the first step of many towards your future career. Our career team offers a number of services that help you:

Gain confidence to interview and network with employers
Find opportunities to land an internship or job of your dreams
Create your personal brand—online and in-person
Introduce you to business etiquette and corporate culture

Employers know we produce work-ready graduates

“CU Denver students have real-world experience and are ready to talk about their jobs. There’s a reason we keep coming back.” – S&P Global

“When I see a name tag with ‘CU Denver Business’ on it, I know that I’m talking to a high-quality candidate.” – TIAA

“Every single student has shown up excited about why we’re here. I’ve been really impressed with students’ knowledge, their preparedness, and what they are bringing to the table. It has upped the game tremendously for new hires.” – Marketo

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Convenient classes in the heart of downtown Denver

Breadcrumb

BSBA in Sports Business

CU Denver core (34 hours)

General non-business courses (12 hours)

Business core (36 hours)

Major classes

Electives and/or foreign language proficiency

Careers in Sports Business

Sports Business Job Titles

Value 1: Foundational Business Knowledge

Value 2: Critical Thinking

Value 3: Ethical Practice

Value 4: Effective Communication

Value 5: International Perspectives

Value 6: Business Technology

Tuition

Scholarships

Double Major

Certificates

Application Checklist

Admission Requirements

Incoming first-year students

Transfer Students

International Students

Spring

Domestic Applications

International Applications

Summer

Domestic Applications

International Applications

Fall

Domestic Applications

International Applications

Follow your passion

Find your people

See your future

Major in what matters

A career team dedicated to you

Employers know we produce work-ready graduates

Request More Information