Posted on: September 14, 2016
By: Allen Wallace, wallacej7@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-5667

The University of South Carolina offers one of the top five postgraduate sports business degrees in the world, according to SportBusiness International, a well-respected industry trade publication.

The Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, offered by South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, moved up three spots from eighth in the 2015 rankings to fifth this year.

In the publication’s Graduate’s Choice rankings, South Carolina fared even better, finishing fourth worldwide based on a survey of alumni who were asked about support from the university during their studies and after graduation.

“I'm very thankful for my time as a grad student at South Carolina,” said alumna Liz McCaslin, now senior director of events and operations for the Nashville Sports Council and Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. “The SPTE program was one of the best decisions I've made. The courses were challenging and taught by professors who are leaders in the sports and entertainment world. I had plenty of opportunities for networking with industry folks, especially since the SEVT conference is held there each year. The Colonial Life Arena served as an excellent complement to my education, as I was able to see what we learned in class in real-life work situations. Finally, the professors are great at challenging students to think creatively and did a great job assisting with career development. I'm very thankful for the relationships I still have with my professors there. I highly recommend the program to anyone interested in this industry.”

The overall rankings took into account the alumni survey along with data such as employment rates after graduation, average salary three years after graduation, and ratios of male to female and domestic to international students.

“The key to success is recruiting and retaining quality students from all over the United States and the world,” said Thomas Regan, director of graduate studies for the USC Department of Sport and Entertainment Management. “We have a great diversity of students and our global view of the sport and entertainment business attracts students worldwide. This and the addition of a quality faculty that has academic and practical experience provides the graduate students with an advantage over other degree programs.”

The new rankings continue an upward trend for South Carolina, which was ranked No. 20 globally in 2014.

“Our master’s program in sport and entertainment management has quickly risen to national and international prominence,” said Matthew Brown, chair of the USC Department of Sport and Entertainment Management.

“The program is less than 15 years old and is now listed in the same grouping as Ohio University and the University of Massachusetts, both of which were early pioneers and leaders in the field,” Brown added. “Because of the high quality of our faculty, their attention to student needs, industry trends, and industry connections, our master’s alumni have done well in the industry and our program’s reputation has rapidly increased.”

“The Master of Sport and Entertainment Management (MSEM) program at USC has been everything I hoped it would be when I decided to call Columbia my new home,” said current student Jonathan Potter. “The professors, relevant class material and connections that I have made during my time here has been worth every penny. The faculty have been extremely flexible with my travelling work schedule, and encourage me to take as many professional development opportunities away from the university as possible.”

A detailed look at the SportBusiness International rankings is available at the publication’s website.