Packed arena during a major sporting event with dramatic lighting
#6 Graduate Program Globally

Game Changers Start Here

This is where careers do more than take the field — they change it. At the David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, you won’t just enter the game. You’ll redefine it. From the sidelines to the boardroom, backstage to the world stage.

$108K+ Avg. Alumni Salary
#1 Largest Program
in the Nation
100% Online Option
Available
5 Degree Tracks
to Choose From

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Learn about curriculum, career outcomes, and how to apply.

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Top 10 Master's Program Globally
Only Named Department in the U.S.
3,000+ Students & Growing
New CLT Uptown Campus — Jan 2027

From Day One, you step into real-world roles and experiences:

Running venues
Managing live events
Building backstage experiences
Driving entertainment strategy
Analyzing the business of sport

This is where ambition finds direction. Where passion becomes profession. Where access becomes opportunity.

Five Paths to Your Future

Whether you want to accelerate your current career or make a bold pivot into the sport and entertainment industry, we have a graduate track designed for professionals like you — including our newest option in Uptown Charlotte launching January 2027.

Flagship

Master of Sport & Entertainment Management

The comprehensive MSEM — our cornerstone program blending sport management, event management, and venue management with world-class faculty who've led NFL, NHL, and NBA teams.

36 credits Fall, Spring, Summer entry Columbia, SC
New — Fall 2025

MSEM — 100% Online

The same globally ranked degree, delivered fully asynchronously. Designed for working professionals who need maximum flexibility without compromising academic rigor or industry access.

36 credits 100% Online & Asynchronous Anywhere in the world
Dual Degree

MBA / MSEM

Earn both your MBA and Master of Sport and Entertainment Management in just two years. The business foundation of an MBA combined with deep sport industry expertise.

2 years Two degrees, one timeline
Dual Degree

MSBA / MSEM

Pair business analytics with sport and entertainment management. Built for the data-driven professional who wants to lead with insights in ticketing, sponsorship, and fan engagement.

2 years Analytics + Industry
Launching January 2027

MSEM — CLT Uptown

The same globally ranked degree, now in Charlotte — one of America’s premier sport business cities. Learn from the world-renowned Columbia faculty alongside the Panthers, Hornets, Charlotte FC, NASCAR, and major media headquarters including ESPN, SEC, and ACC networks.

36 credits Uptown Charlotte, NC Same USC Faculty
Backstage perspective of a major live entertainment production

Where Legends Lead and You Will Too

Learn from Legends

Your classroom goes beyond four walls. Learn from professors who've served as presidents of NFL, NHL, and NBA teams, sold out arenas, and managed headliner tours. They turned passion into profession — and they'll show you how.

The Only Named Department

The $5M Tepper Foundation gift made this the only named sport and entertainment management department in the United States — a historic first for any U.S. university.

Real Venues. Real Opportunity.

Work courtside, backstage, and front office at Colonial Life Arena, Williams-Brice Stadium, and Carolina Stadium. Your classroom is the world of sport and entertainment itself — alive, unpredictable, and electric.

Global Reach

From a joint master's with HBKU in Qatar to the new Charlotte campus and our online program, the Tepper Department connects you to industry opportunities worldwide.

Your Degree. Charlotte's Market.

Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing sport and entertainment markets in America, home to three major league teams, NASCAR, and the conference headquarters for the ACC and SEC. The MSEM — CLT Uptown program puts you in the center of it all.

Same World-Renowned Faculty

Taught by the same Columbia-based faculty who built the #1 SEC and top-10 global program. No adjuncts, no substitutes.

Designed for Working Professionals

Weekend and hybrid format built around your career. Study in Uptown Charlotte's dedicated classroom space shared with the Darla Moore School of Business.

Embedded in the Industry

Direct access to the Panthers, Hornets, Charlotte FC, NASCAR, Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and media companies headquartered in the region.

Request CLT Uptown Info
Charlotte North Carolina skyline at dusk with Bank of America Stadium
Professionals in executive suite overlooking stadium

Where Our Graduates Lead

The MSEM is one of the top-ranked graduate programs in sport and entertainment management in the world. Our alumni hold leadership positions at the most recognizable brands in the industry.

Average Salary
$108,279

5–10 years post-graduation

Master's Ranking
#9 in the World

2025 SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings (Master's Degree)

Program Legacy
First in the U.S.

The original and largest graduate program in sport & entertainment management

Career Flexibility
6 Pathways

Sport, entertainment, venue, analytics, law & more

Where Our Alumni Work
NASCAR Carolina Panthers Los Angeles Rams Atlanta Falcons National Basketball Association CSC — Contemporary Services Corporation AEG Live Nation IMG College Cumulus Media Spectra USC Athletics

From the Sidelines to the Boardroom

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career. Every connection, every challenge, every breakthrough shapes what’s next.

01

Event Planning

Coordinating and managing all aspects of an event, including logistics, vendors, and timelines — from stadium game days to arena concerts and festivals.

02

PR & Media Relations

Building and maintaining relationships with media and the public to enhance reputation, visibility, and brand presence for sport and entertainment organizations.

03

Data Analysis

Examining and interpreting information to uncover insights and inform decision making — from ticketing analytics to fan engagement and sponsorship ROI.

04

Planning & Strategy

Developing and implementing comprehensive, effective approaches to achieve specific organizational goals across sport, entertainment, and venue management.

05

Legal Knowledge

Interpreting and applying laws and regulations to specific situations — NIL, contract negotiation, compliance, and the legal landscape shaping the industry.

06

Management

Directing and overseeing activities and resources to achieve organizational goals — the leadership foundation that transforms practitioners into executives.

Game Changers Start Here

This is more than joining an industry — this is the road to redefining it. Request your free program guide to learn about curriculum, career outcomes, and how to apply.

By submitting, you agree to receive communications from USC's College of HRSM.