In the Bachelor of Business Administration program you’ll combine core courses in the business disciplines with electives that will customize your own program of study for your chosen concentration. 

BBA students select a concentration to specialize in: 

• Accounting Concentration 
• Digital Marketing Concentration
• Economics & Finance Concentration
• Entrepreneurship Concentration
• Esports Management Concentration
• Health Care Management Concentration
• Information Systems & Technologies Concentration
• Management Concentration
• Marketing Concentration 
• Sport Management Concentration

Our program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management and business education. It represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide, and it recognizes that the School of Business offers high-quality business programs. Processes are in place to ensure continuous improvement in the future. Therefore students and alumni can be proud of earning a degree from an institution that has taken its place among other world-wide leaders in business education.

I chose Shenandoah because of the small campus size and because it is an accredited school. There aren’t a lot of small schools that offer AACSB Accreditation, which helped seal the deal for me. I had two very close friends who were upperclassmen at Shenandoah, which is another large reason I wanted to attend.”

Laura Pearson ’19 | Sport Management with a Psychology Minor 

Internships are required for this program and allow students to gain valuable experience while enhancing necessary skill sets.

The Career & Professional Development staff helps Shenandoah students search and apply for internships related to their major and career goals. Internships differentiate you as an applicant in your future job searches, provide hands-on experience in your field, allow you to sample different career paths for your major, and help you find a specific position that fits your passion before graduation.

Career & Professional Development at Shenandoah

In recent years, the Sport Management majors have earned positions with the Washington Nationals (MLB), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Baltimore Orioles (MLB), Baltimore Ravens (NFL), NFL Players Association, Elon University (NCAA), Department of Justice (FBI), and Innovative Sports.

 

Career & Professional Development provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.

Career & Professional Development at Shenandoah

Shenandoah’s Sports Management students engage in living classroom laboratories with unique learning opportunities.  While working with small student teacher ratios, students engage in critical thinking exercises, formal & informal learning styles while integrating elements of marketing, sales, sponsorship, traditional media, social media, facilities, event management, revenue generation & development, finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship.

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree requires students to complete 30 credit hours of general education coursework, 42 credit hours of business-specific coursework and 24 non-business elective courses.  In addition, Sport Management Concentration students are also required to complete 24 credit hours of Sport Management-focused business elective course work including: 

SM-110	Introduction to Sport Management
SM-222	Contemporary Issues in Sport Management
SM-398	Sport Management Pre-Internship Seminar
SM-492	Management of Sport Organizations (Capstone)
BA-498	Business Internship (Sport Management Focus)

In addition, Sport Management majors will choose a minimum of 9 credit hours (3 courses) from the following options:

SM-312	Global Aspects of Sport
SM-332	Sport and the Media
SM-351	Sport Governance & Policy
SM-361	Sport Consumer Behavior
SM-383	Sport Marketing, Sponsorship & Promotion
SM-450	Sport Law
SM-473	Sport Facility Planning & Event Management

 

Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.

Learning Support Services at Shenandoah

Past Sport Management Trips 

 

February 2024 | Super Bowl LVIII, Las Vegas

Shenandoah students who participated in the weeklong trip to Las Vegas from Feb. 6-13, got to tour various sports venues in the Las Vegas area and met several industry professionals and organizations in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. These experiences included meetings and site visits with the Las Vegas Golden Knights (NHL); University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Athletics; Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC); Professional Bull Riders (PBR); the Las Vegas Stadium Authority; Las Vegas Motor Speedway; and Las Vegas Ballpark (home of the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s).

Students also participated in a networking event at UNLV, during which they heard from a panel of sports-industry executives and connected with fellow college students from other institutions who were working at this year’s Super Bowl.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, the students worked throughout the day at the NFL Fan Experience, and on Sunday, Feb. 11, they worked the Kansas City Chiefs’ pregame party prior to kickoff of the Super Bowl, which ended in the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

You don’t find this type of opportunity everywhere. I felt lucky getting this type of experience at a major sporting event, to see how many people and resources go into it. Looking back, it feels like a dream. I wish everyone would get to do this. Having those hands-on experiences will separate us, put us one step ahead down the line in the future.” – Aaron Sustrick ’24

Read More About This Experience

2020 Super Bowl | Miami, Florida 

Shenandoah students worked Super Bowl LIV. The SU team volunteered with the Miami Host Committee and NFL On Location Experiences. Students gained experience in event operations and fan engagement while working at Super Bowl LIVE and the NFL Experience.

Leading up to the Super Bowl, our group was in charge of directing guests and working multiple stations. At the Super Bowl, my group worked at the football toss and exotic animal booth, and helped direct guests at the Touchdown Club pregame party, which had approximately 5,000 guests. Some things that I will take with me from this trip is that you have to work with what is given to you, you have to use critical thinking effectively and efficiently, and you need a good attitude no matter the circumstances.

Kaitlyn Carter ’22

Read More About This Experience

2020 NHL All-Star Game | Saint Louis, Missouri 

Nine students volunteered at the 2020 NHL All-Star game in St Louis, Missouri in 2020. The students worked the NHL Fan Fair events at Union Station in downtown St. Louis. The team’s responsibilities included ticket check-in at the entrance to Fan Fair, serving as instructors with various hockey games in the NHL Kids Zone, and assisting with the setup for NHL mascot events.

 

 

 

2020 College Football Playoff National Championship | New Orleans, Louisiana

Shenandoah University’s Sport Business Association traveled to their fourth consecutive College Football Playoff National Championships in 202. This year, nine students traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to work at the 2020 College Football Playoffs (CFP) National Championship. Throughout the week, students worked as courtesy car drivers for CFP personnel and support staff at events such as Media Day, Playoff Playlist Live and Playoff Fan Central. On game day, students served as way-finders inside of Mercedes-Benz Superdome for pregame fan experiences. 

2019 World Esports Championships | Busan, South Korea

Our students traveled for eight days to South Korea to work the International Esports Federation (IESF) Championships. The students served as team hosts and stadium support staff.

Watch Highlights of Our World Esports Championship Trip

2019 FINA World Swimming Championships | Seoul, South Korea

Six students volunteered at the 18th FINA World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea in 2019. The student team escorted athletes to the drug testing center directly after their competition. 

 

2019 Seoul International Marathon | Seoul, South Korea

Going to Seoul, South Korea, was not only my first international trip with Shenandoah, but my first international trip ever! I went to work the 2019 Seoul Marathon. South Korea offered many things for me: new food, new people, new friends, new opportunities, but most importantly a new perspective. While we were there we got to see the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bongeunsa Temple, and the Jamsil Olympic Stadium. Seoul has beautiful sights such as architecture, mountains, rivers, and lots of skyscrapers. South Korea is a beautiful country with an amazing culture.

Victoria Hannen ’21, ’24

 

2019 Super Bowl | Atlanta, Georgia

Seven Shenandoah University students were chosen through a selective process to work at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, GA. The team’s services were specifically requested after volunteering at the 2018 College Football Playoff in Mercedes-Benz Stadium last year. Students worked closely with the National Football League On Location Experiences as well as the Atlanta Host Committee. Students saw firsthand the planning that goes into the operation and production of one of the most widely recognized sporting events in the world. They drew upon their critical thinking skills and prior knowledge of the stadium to assist in wayfinding and media credentialing.

Watch Highlights of Our 2019 Super Bowl Trip

2019 College Football Playoff National Championship | San Jose, California

The group worked hand-in-hand with the operations team for the College Football Playoff. Three members of the group —Jared Lowry, Michael Nguyen and Kit Gould — worked as Spirit Squad team hosts/liaisons for the winner of the Orange Bowl game between University of Alabama and Oklahoma University. This job entailed providing assistance or logistical support needed for the band and cheer squad from each participating school. The remainder of the team attending will be handling various assignments, all of which will be given by the Santa Clara Host Committee.

Read More About This Experience

 

2018 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Games | PyeongChang, South Korea

Shenandoah University, in conjunction with the Korean Olympic Committee, volunteered in the operations and execution of the 2018 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Sport Management students saw the Winter Olympics in a unique way that most people will never get to experience and gained valuable knowledge of a major international sporting event. Lessons such as event planning, event management, cultural understanding, marketing, and more were taught to the students through class discussions and this intimate first hand experience. The group worked at the Alpensia Biathlon Center in various roles.

Not only will students be participating in one of the greatest international events, but they’ll also be working alongside volunteers from all over the world. After spending nearly one month away from campus, living among an international community and managing their course work at a distance during these four weeks, students will be prepared for almost any work situation or challenge after they graduate!”
Fritz Polite | Trip Leader, Sport Management Professor, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs

Read More About This Experience

 

2018 College Football Playoff Championship Game | Atlanta, Georgia

Nine business students, who are also members of the Sport Business Club, worked directly with representatives from the Atlanta Football Host Committee at the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game, which saw the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Georgia Bulldogs, 26-23, in overtime, on January 8, 2018. Byrd School Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Fritz Polite, Ph.D., organized the weeklong trip and accompanied the students. The students gained sport management experience by observing and learning from professionals while performing tasks related to media credentialing, hospitality and fan experience, as well as additional tasks at Playoff Fan Central, Taste of the Championship, and the VIP section of Playoff Playlist Live on the day of the championship game. During Media Day they had the opportunity to interact with players, coaches and television personalities from ESPN, SEC Network, NBC and FOX Sports.

I helped coordinate our volunteer experience with the Atlanta Host Committee for the 2018 CFP Championship Game and the 2019 Super Bowl. Being able to work as a volunteer with the CFP gave me real world, hands-on experience which I was able to put on my resume, and eventually it helped me land my first job in sports with the Baltimore Orioles. Being able to apply theories learned in the classroom, to real life applications is vital to success, especially in this industry.

Casey Edsall | BBA ’16, MBA ’18
Coordinator in Partnership Marketing for the Baltimore Orioles

I learned so much this week, and after seeing everything first hand, I know this is exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’m proud of the work I did, and I hope that I protected the brand!”

Jared Lowry  ’20 | Sport Management Major

Watch Kit Gould’s Interviews at Media Day

 

2017 Harlem Globetrotters Event | Baltimore, Maryland

Four students from the School of Business and the Sport Business Club (Michael Nguyen, Jared Lowry, Isaac Schrantz and Steven Pironti) and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Sport Management Fritz Polite, Ph.D., traveled to Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 9, for a uniquely up-close view of the Harlem Globetrotters‘ operation. The group met with the famed exhibition team’s tour manager and coach, as well as Globetrotter players, and other arena staff members and officials. The students saw, first-hand, the processes involved in putting on a major entertainment event. Following the game, the Shenandoah group stood on the court while players signed autographs for the fans. The students gained great insight into how a company develops and maintains a brand over an extended period of time, and learned about strategies for continued success, which they can apply in their own future careers.

2017 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game | Tampa, Florida

While the top two teams in college football – University of Alabama and Clemson University – battled for the championship (Clemson beat Alabama, 35-31), the students, who are all members of the SBC, worked with and learned from the organizers of this event, which has, in the past, drawn more than 75,000 attendees and 23 million TV viewers.

Over the course of their time in Tampa, the group worked several events in the days leading up to the game, as well as during the game itself, which is was on Monday, Jan. 9, at Raymond James Stadium. The students worked directly with representatives from the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. The students were able to gain media operations skills and throughout their time working with CFP officials. The Shenandoah University students were a key component for helping media officials run the event smoothly.

I learned that I go to a small school and there are lots of people who are out there doing the same thing I want to do. You have to work hard in the field and you don’t realize that until you go to a major event like this one. There was something about witnessing history that is cool.” 

Laura Pearson ’19 | Sport Management with a Psychology Minor 

Read More About This Experience

Sport Business Association (SBA) meets every other Monday to discuss current issues in the sport business industry and upcoming sport management opportunities. There are nearly 60 SBA members.

There is a competitive application process to become a member of SBA. Applicants must complete an interview and submit a cover letter and resume.

SBA focuses professional development of its members. SBA has attended the College Sport Research Institute (CSRI) three times — receiving one first-place finish in the case study competition and one second-place finish. 

 SBA works to assist the community.

• Over thirty SBA members visits to local elementary schools every week to serve as positive role models for at-risk children.
• SBA raised money for Christmas gifts for a local child in need through Bright Futures of Winchester.
• SBA organized donations of healthy breakfast foods for the Harlem Globetrotters’ “Slam Dunk Hunger” campaign.
• SBA facilitated a campus-wide winter clothes drive to benefit the Laurel Center for Domestic Violence.

Students interested in this program should also look into these other majors, graduate degrees, minors, and certificates.

These minors complement this program well:

• Esports Management 
• Mass Communications

You may want to think about enhancing your degree with these certificates that pair well with this program:

• Coaching
• Esports Coaching 

Continue your education by earning a graduate degree:

• MBA

Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.

Submit your application, review required admissions materials, and find our admissions standards.

Application Information

The Honors Program is a multidisciplinary Honors Program for students who are curious, creative, self-motivated, and eager to engage in their education and community.

Not only do Honors Program students partake in honors courses that emphasize collaboration, service, and communication, but they will also have the opportunity to develop aspects of the program based on their own interests and goals. By participating in the Honors Program you will acquire the tools, knowledge and experiences necessary to make meaningful contributions to your community – whether it be globally, locally, or specific to your life’s work. You will have access to unique courses, exciting experiences and a community of peers and faculty who never stop asking questions and striving for excellence.

Explore the Honors Program

Looking to Transfer and Get Your MBA Fast?

We have the 2+1 option! If you’re a transfer student with two years of college credits, you can take advantage of the 2+1 option that allows you to transition from an associate of arts degree in business to the BBA degree and subsequently the MBA degree – all in five years!

Start Your First Year of College and Fast-Track to Your MBA

Check out our 4+1 option! If you’re enrolled in Shenandoah’s four-year Bachelor of Business Administration program, you can take advantage of the 4+1 option to earn an MBA with one additional year of classes.

Explore the MBA Program

As a Shenandoah BBA student, you are automatically considered for our MBA program. If you qualify, you will be notified of acceptance to the assured pre-admission MBA program! 

Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks. You will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.

Learn About Education Abroad

Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program

The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit.  These short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs are offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If a course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.

GEL Courses Currently Offered

Study Abroad

Shenandoah University is a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a global network of 300 universities. This partnership allows students to study for a full semester or year at other member campuses abroad. By working closely with their academic advisors and the study abroad advisor, students can take classes taught in English abroad while receiving Shenandoah credit.

Shenandoah University also maintains direct partnerships with several universities around the world.  These relationships allow students from SU to study abroad as exchange students and students from these universities to study at SU.  All partner universities offer courses taught in English.

Business students looking to study abroad should consider studying at Audencia. Located in the city of Nantes, France, 2 hours from Paris, Audencia is an AACSB accredited university that specializes in courses in Business and Mass Communications.

Plan your Semester Study Abroad Experience

Short Term Exchange Program

The January Business exchange program with SU partner university Audencia in France provides an experience of a lifetime while completing undergraduate or graduate credit hours. Through coursework, city tours, and company visits, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your knowledge and understanding of European management practices and the European market.  All courses are taught in English.

January Business Exchange

There’s a special bond between School of Business students and their professors. Students enjoy close professional relationships with academically and professionally experienced faculty who mentor them in and out of the classroom. This remains a hallmark of a Shenandoah University business education. Students also benefit from our executives-in-residence who works with both professors and students to broaden the student’s focus beyond the classroom.

Meet The Business Faculty