BUFFALO, NY - Sporting goods retail is big business these days, with sales in the U.S. averaging $60 billion annually - and growing. To help meet the increasing need for development and management professionals in the sporting goods industry, Canisius University will introduce a new master’s of science degree in sport product development, beginning in fall 2018. The online program is comprised of 33 credit hours (nine courses), two tracks (product design and retail management) and culminates with a six-credit internship. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have developed an understanding of theoretical foundations and their practical applications; be able to communicate that knowledge and apply it to the management and business of sport product; and recognize and implement those areas of professional obligations that include diversity and global awareness.
“The breadth of career options and salary projections for sport product management graduates show vast potential for positive outcomes,” says Shawn M. O’Rourke, PhD, director of sport administration. “By introducing this new master’s degree program, which will be one of only two such programs in the country, Canisius graduates will enter the workforce with a competitive edge, able to pursue a diverse and increasing number of opportunities in the industry.”
Students of the program will graduate prepared to pursue employment positions in such fields as product line management, product development, product merchandising, product innovation management, materials management, product engineering, retail management, product sourcing and costing, brand management and factory management. Many of these opportunities are available in major industries with connections to Canisius, including New Era Cap, Dicks Sporting Goods, Dorel Industries Inc., S&S Worldwide and the Decathlon Group.
Canisius is recognized for having one of the top sport programs in the world. BestColleges.com ranks the college’s online master’s program in sport management 3rd in the U.S. The Community for Accredited Online Schools puts Canisius at No. 4 on its 2016-17 list of Best Online Colleges in the Nation. In addition, BestMastersDegrees.com places Canisius among the top 30 most affordable and top-ranked schools for online master’s degree programs in sport management.
To learn more about the new online master’s degree in sport product development or to enroll in the program, visit www.canisius.edu/academics/programs/sport-product-development.
Canisius is one of 28 Jesuit universities and the premier private university in Western New York.
-30-
