Sport management programs are offered at UMass, Springfield College, Western New England University and American International College. This fall, Westfield State University will begin offering a concentration in sport management.

Professors and administrators at all of these schools agree on one point: It’s OK to enjoy sports, but that alone is not a good enough reason to pursue a degree or career in the field. Sport management is much more closely aligned with a school of business than with the athletic department, and students entering because they are fans — or used to be athletes — had better have other motivations to choose this path.

Administrators in all local programs agree that the involvement of women in the sport management field is on the uptick. Most say they are actively looking to entice more interest from women students.

If sports background alone does not guarantee success, it can still be a bridge to a career.  “It’s a natural fit for the student-athlete, and it’s become one of the most popular programs on campus,” Mei-Lin Yeh-Lane, PhD, associate professor of sport recreation management at AIC, said. “Our program is in the School of Business, Arts & Sciences and students learn accounting, economics, sports finance, sports marketing, event management — all are related areas.” Full story is a subscriber exclusive on MassLive.