New program will leverage Purdue’s strengths in athletics and industry partnerships, offering students access to valuable opportunities in Indianapolis
Purdue students will get to connect with industry leaders and take advantage of a dynamic sports landscape while studying and working in central Indiana. (Purdue University photo)
INDIANAPOLIS — Harnessing its reputation in athletics and the sports strength of its urban location in Indianapolis, Purdue University is launching a master’s degree program in sport management.
The Master of Science in Sport Management, which will begin in fall 2025, leverages Purdue’s athletic prowess, partnerships with industry leaders and Indianapolis’ renowned reputation as a sports-centric city.
“With an interdisciplinary curriculum and strategic partnerships with Indiana Sports Corp, Purdue Athletics and other industry leaders, this program will prepare students to become the next generation of sport leaders,” said Jeanne Boyd, executive director of sport management at Purdue.
Students in the sport management program, which was approved by the Purdue Board of Trustees on Feb. 7, will mix classwork with practicum hours in the capital city — thanks to entities like Indiana Sports Corp, which will provide research, internship and job-shadowing opportunities. Topics such as sport marketing, sport analytics, organizational leadership, as well as ticketing, sales, sponsorships and venue management will be covered.
Known as the Amateur Sports Capital of the World, Indianapolis is also home to dozens of professional sports teams, venues, organizations and governing bodies. Being in close proximity to potential employers, Purdue students will be able to experience real-world learning opportunities and establish meaningful connections as part of the program.
Housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences, the sport management program will also create offerings led by the College of Science and Department of Computer Science. Those courses will focus on disciplines specifically tailored to the new program, such as sport analytics as well as AI and technology in sport.
“We are thrilled to expand our graduate program offerings with the addition of this innovative sport management program that features Indianapolis, a city known for its sports facilities, sports organizations and headquarters, and major sporting events,” said Aaron Bowman, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue. “The new program will offer an exceptional opportunity for students to learn from our expert faculty and gain practical experience through immersive learning that aligns with their areas of interest within sport management.”
The fast-growing sports and entertainment industry generates billions of dollars in Indiana each year and is projected to grow 11% nationwide between 2023 and 2033. Purdue’s new program reflects its commitment to meeting workforce demands and preparing students for future career success in a dynamic and evolving industry.
Anticipating high demand, the sport management graduate program plans to expand to 100 students over the course of the next several years.
While Boyd, who previously spent over a decade as the managing director of the Division I men’s basketball championship at the NCAA, will serve as executive director, Patrick Tutka, clinical associate professor of sport management, will also lead the program during its initial stages.
Indiana-based organizations interested in exploring work-study opportunities with Purdue students can contact Tutka at ptutka@purdue.edu.
Mike Bobinski, director of intercollegiate athletics at Purdue: “The landscape of athletics at all levels rapidly evolves; we believe there’s no place better equipped than Purdue to develop tomorrow’s industry leaders. We are excited to support our academic colleagues and future graduate students to ensure the sport management degree program exceeds expectations.”
Gina Lehe, vice president of communications for the NCAA: “Purdue holds a reputation for being a national and global leader in discovery and innovation. This important next step in the ever-popular and changing landscape of sports presents a unique opportunity for expanded academic growth and excellence. The establishment of this program will ensure a sport management program equipped to cultivate a new generation of skilled professionals who understand both the challenges and opportunities ahead, specifically in college athletics.”
Julie Roe Lach, commissioner of the Horizon League: “The capacity for Purdue University is unlimited. With Jeanne Boyd, a veteran with national respect in the sports industry, leading the development of this new program, Purdue will quickly become a name synonymous with cultivating and developing top sports leadership talent. I welcome the chance to support this effort by having students intern at the Horizon League and other entities around the state. I look forward to partnering with Purdue on this important venture as we launch our state to be the global epicenter of sports.”
Patrick Talty, president of Indiana Sports Corp: “This program from Purdue University aligns perfectly with Indiana Sports Corp’s statewide strategic plan to make Indiana the global epicenter of sports, and we believe strongly that these are the types of academic programs for which our state must be known. Indiana Sports Corp’s partnership with Purdue opens opportunities for the program’s hands-on experiential training requirements. Through these types of programs, we can develop the next generation of sports leaders right here in Indiana.”
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu
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Last modified: March 26, 2025
