Gabelli School introduces sports business specialization
Coursework Stories | Oct 12, 2012 | Nicole Gesualdo
Sports Marketing.
Business of Sports Media.
Sports Law.
These are the ingredients of the Gabelli School’s brand-new specialization in sports business, approved for launch in spring 2013. This specialization — a designation on a student’s business degree — replaces the more informal “business of sports program” that has existed for the last few years.
The sports business specialization was created to respond to student demand. Many Gabelli School students are passionate about sports and envision themselves in that industry. Students hold part-time jobs at Yankee Stadium, have internships with the NBA and pursue careers at ESPN. The very first meeting of the student group that would become the Business of Sports Society packed Flom Auditorium last spring. Finally, the school has a formal academic program to support those pursuits.
Dean Donna Rapaccioli and several Fordham business faculty members, led by Professor Mark Conrad, made this sports business specialization a reality. Students who want to earn the sports business specialization on their diplomas must complete 10 credits:
- 3-credit Sports Marketing course (MKBU 4454) with Professor Francis Petit
- 3-credit Business of Sports Media course (CMBU 4488) with Professor John Fortunato
- 3-credit Sports Law course (BLBU 3450) with Professor Mark Conrad
- 1-credit capstone summary experience (a presentation at a sports-related academic conference, an internship in the field, or a sports travel experience, analyzed in a final paper)
Students interested in the sports business specialization are encouraged to contact their class dean or Professor Conrad to discuss the program.
Many thanks for photographs courtesy of Pablo BM (top) and Ed Yourdon (bottom) via Flickr’s Creative Commons.
