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Sports Management Certificate Online Athletic Administration Graduate Program

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Register By: December 02 Classes Start: December 04

Succeed in Athletic Administration

  • $637 per credit for 15 credits
  • Complete in as little as 6 months
  • Start your path toward an advanced career in sports
  • Upskill for the job you want
  • 24/7 access to course material
  • Engage with faculty who have in-field experience

Graduate Certificate in Athletic Administration Program Overview

Take steps to turn your passion for sports into a full-time career by earning your Athletic Administration Graduate Certificate online at Southern New Hampshire University.

Prepare to enter the field of athletic administration, or enhance your resume with additional skills you can use to advance in your career. Several of the graduate athletic administration certificate online courses may be applied toward a Master's in Sport Management degree as an additional credential if you so choose.

Southern New Hampshire University’s athletic administration program is designed to provide students with opportunities to make connections within collegiate and professional sports management. If you have a passion for sports, and a desire to understand an organization's inner workings, this certificate may be a good addition to your portfolio to help advance your career.

Learn how to:

  • Investigate the interrelationships between sport, culture and society
  • Understand the responsibilities of intercollegiate athletics, as well as interscholastic and recreational athletics
  • Apply concepts used in the marketing and communications of a sport organization
  • Examine and learn how to overcome the current challenges facing interscholastic athletic administrators

Career Outlook

Earning a certificate in athletic administration can help lead you toward a career working with athletes at various levels, including youth, scholastic, collegiate and beyond.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of administrative services and facilities managers – who are responsible for planning, coordinating and directing organizational activities – are expected to grow 7% through 2031. The median annual wage for these employees is $99,290, with most positions requiring a bachelor's degree, meaning a graduate certificate in athletic administration is likely to offer a competitive advantage.1

There are many career options for someone who enters the field of athletic administration. "Graduates with a certificate in athletic Administration are prepared for careers in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics, with opportunities [such] as assistant athletic directors of marketing, finance, communications and administration," said Michael Newhouse-Bailey, an associate dean of business at SNHU.

Additionally, you can apply what you learn in our graduate athletic administration certificate online to other sports-related careers in areas such as marketing, sales, media and public relations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage for advertising, promotions and marketing managers, of $133,380, with 10% job growth expected through 2031 resulting in 33,700 new positions in that time.1

Earning a graduate certificate in athletic administration can also serve as a valuable addition to your undergraduate degree and prepare you for future graduate study.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Athletic Administration Certificate

Courses & Curriculum

If you're looking to enter the world of athletic administration, the athletic administration graduate certificate program online gives you an in-depth understanding of athletic administration principles and sports in media and society. And, since the growth of sports as a major industry has increased the need and opportunity for well-trained professional managers, you could be in a good position to follow your dreams in this industry.

Students who complete the graduate certificate in athletic administration program at SNHU will be prepared to work in the sport industry and in the administration of interscholastic and recreational athletics.

"Students will learn skills in human resource management, athletic operations, management, leadership and communications," said Michael Newhouse-Bailey, an associate dean of business at SNHU.

Coursework may include:

  • Sport and Society
  • Principles in Athletic Administration
  • Sport Marketing and Media
  • Advanced Topics/Athletic Administration

Students may have the opportunity to work with SNHU adjunct faculty who are working in the sport industry. You could learn directly from those in the field - perhaps the most timely education you could ask for.

In your courses, you may learn how cultural and social features impact participation in sports, including the ethical questions facing the industry today.

"As an athletic administrator, understanding the human experience in sport and its impact on society positions future leaders to shape how sport is structured in a meaningful way," said Newhouse-Bailey.

You may also learn about the organization and management of both recreational and interscholastic sports, marketing standards and more.

The Athletic Administration Graduate Certificate online curriculum combines training in athletic administration coursework with the practicality of an optional internship. It’s like getting two degrees in one, as it covers sports management broadly and athletic administration specifically.

At SNHU, we’re committed to making education more accessible, by making it more affordable.

Beyond low tuition rates, we help our students save through transfer credits, credit for prior learning, grants and scholarships, tuition assistance and more. U.S. service members, both full and part time, as well as the spouses of those on active duty are also eligible for a 25% tuition discount.

This certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid. Students seeking alternatives to federal financial aid can explore tuition assistance, grants and scholarships, as well as private loans. To learn more about private loans, visit our Funding Your Education with Student Loans page.

Online Graduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 15 credits 
Degree/Certificates $1,911 $637 $9,555 
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)*
$1,410 $470 $7,050 

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
 *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs:
No Application Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

This certificate is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.

ACBSP logo

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