DENTON (UNT), Texas — Hands-on experience and networking opportunities with professional athletics teams and industry leaders ensure graduates in the University of North Texas’ Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Sport Entertainment Management are prepared for top careers in the competitive field.

“We have current and former students employed with every major sports team in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and many of the other leading sport organizations all around Texas such as the Dallas Cowboys, FC Dallas, PGA of America and the San Antonio Spurs,” said Bob Heere, director of the sport entertainment management program and G. Brint Ryan College of Business professor of management. "For example, we have alumni making an impact with the Dallas Cowboys and FC Dallas, excelling in their roles and demonstrating the strength of our program."

UNT offers two versions of its Sport Entertainment Management an in-person program and an online-only option with both connecting students with top industry leaders and hands-on experience through strong partnerships in the sports industry. In a recent update to its 2024 rankings, SportBusiness recognized UNT's sport entertainment management programs for their excellence, based on data from 2021. The in-person program is ranked No. 23 globally, while the online-only program is ranked No. 10 globally. What makes UNT's online program stand out is that it is the sole online-only option in the Top 10, which earns it the distinction of being the top-ranked online sports management program in the world. These rankings reflect UNT’s commitment to providing high-quality, flexible education for students pursuing careers in sports management.

UNT also has partnered with the Dallas Cowboys to provide students with career-focused opportunities, including semester-long projects, boot camps and guest speaker events.

“This unique partnership allows students to learn directly from Dallas Cowboys executives and is a key reason many choose our program,” Heere said.

The online program combines UNT faculty expertise with Dallas Cowboys executives to offer an immersive, real-world curriculum. Students attend on-site boot camps at locations like The Star in Frisco and AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

“Partnering with the UNT sport entertainment management program is an exciting opportunity to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the sports industry,” said Carly Stephens, corporate partnerships marketing manager for the Dallas Cowboys. “The Dallas Cowboys and UNT share a commitment to excellence in everything that we do, and this program is a shining example of that. We look forward to continuing our support of the program’s success for years to come.”

The in-person program, which includes a 36-credit-hour degree and a capstone project, offers students hands-on experience with sports industry clients. Recent projects have included collaborations with the Dallas Cowboys, PGA of America and the Dallas Mavericks.

The program also offers professional development through events like the Business Matters Luncheon and the annual Sports Entertainment Management Symposium at AT&T Stadium, which connects students with industry professionals.

Xuan Li, a first-year student in the program, values these professional development events as her way to make her start in the sports management industry.

“The perspective you get is so unique,” Li said. “As someone who didn’t come from sports management, the opportunities here have been exactly what I needed to break into the industry. This program is like a cheat code for sharing your creative ideas with industry leaders and building valuable connections.”