NOT JUST A SPORTS DEGREE
The sports business industry is extremely competitive. That’s why, at Finlandia, we provide you with the business classes, opportunities, and principles to gain a competitive edge in the job market.
Compete in an emerging field.
The sports business industry is extremely competitive. That’s why, at Finlandia, we provide you with the business classes, opportunities, and principles to gain a competitive edge in the job market.
In the sports world, it’s not what you know, but who you know. Luckily at FinnU, we have a lot of connections at all levels to make your internship and job search easier.
Finlandia encourages every student to find multiple internships, both locally and nationally. Internships are the best way to discover strengths and weaknesses within the sports industry. Working for multiple teams, both big and small, will help you find your niche.
Leading the Pride talks with Austrian Lukas Alberer (’08). Alberer, a Sports Management major and former hockey player for the Lions, currently works at Johnson & Johnson-Ethicon in Austria as a Business Development Manager.
Listen as host Olivia Myers and Alberer talk about his decision to move to the United States to play hockey, the struggle of losing one’s identity as an athlete after college and his journey to finding a career he’s passionate about.
Given the nature of sports, the skills learned outside of the classroom are just as important as the ones learned in the classroom. One of the most important skills needed to succeed in sports management is networking. Meeting and helping others in the field will make all the difference when the time comes to job hunt. Finlandia faculty, alumni and local business owners are all great resources to connect with and are always willing to help.
"Find a way to get involved in sports. It could be at the collegiate or even youth level, but it is important to gain some experience to add to your resume. A degree is great, but internships, or any sort of involvement, can really separate someone from other candidates competing for similar positions."
“I was swayed to attend Finlandia because of the sports management program and I had classmates in Finland that spoke very highly of their experience while at Finlandia. I loved it. I found the curriculum to be very engaging, and it aligned to my interests better than I thought possible. I also made the Finlandia University’s NCAA Division III hockey team. Even though I mainly watched the games from a press box, I made some great friends, and those guys were a big part of my experience at Finlandia.”
“Just be open. You never know where life will take you and if some things don’t work out for you, don’t crumble. Get up, do it with Finlandia pride, with Lion pride, because things will come your way.”
Finlandia is home to 12 NCAA Division III sports. Students in the sports management concentration have the chance to work with these sports throughout the year, gaining valuable knowledge and skills directly related to college athletics. Some students who want to specialize in coaching have the option to assistant coach a team.
Experiential assignments give you a learn-by-doing mentality during their time in the program. By engaging in assignments, you can learn the practical skills and industry trends that will be used not just in professional sports, but in any sports setting such as; recreation, high school, or collegiate level.
January 05, 2021
Matt Benolkin, a 2017 graduate of Finlandia’s International School of Business, was recognized by Cargill as the 2020 Sales Professional of the Year. Benolkin earned the award because of his consistent effort which increased new sales by $1.1 million in 2020. Benolkin was a Sports Management major and has worked at Cargill since graduating from Finlandia.
Cargill, Inc. is an American privately-held global food corporation based in Minnetonka, Minn., and incorporated in Wilmington, Del. Employing […] Read More
December 08, 2020
Sara Bendix (’20, Healthcare Management) talks about her experience as an intern at Aspirus Keweenaw
Some of the most important lessons Finlandia’s International School of Business students learn don’t come from the classroom. They happen during internships.According to one source, only 12 percent of American business schools require their students to participate in an internship. Finlandia BBA students are in this unique group as most complete an internship during their junior or senior year. In some cases, if […] Read More
December 03, 2020
Finlandia University has established a number of academic minors in multiple disciplines that are available to students. These offer the opportunity to complement their major area of study or to offer specialization in new academic areas. The International School of Business now offers 18-credit minors in Healthcare Management, International Business, Management, Marketing and Sports Management for both business and other majors.
Students working towards their BBA can also pursue a minor outside of the business […] Read More
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program, International School of Business graduates will be able to do the following:
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Dean, International School of Business Associate Professor of Management & Marketing
kevin.manninen@finlandia.eduAssistant Professor, Sports Management, ISB
Associate Director of Athletics
