The University of South Carolina’s Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management (MSEM) program is ranked No. 6 in the world and No. 5 in North America, according to a new report from SportBusiness International. The graduate program jumped nine spots this year from No. 15 in 2017.

“This ranking is a reflection of the success and growth of our outstanding sport and entertainment management students, alumni and faculty,” said Haemoon Oh, dean of USC’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. “We will continue building an unmatchable educational experience and creating transformative opportunities for our students. Nothing less than the very best!”

SportBusiness is an independent organization dedicated to providing expert analysis of the global sport industry and began its ranking of graduate programs in 2012. The 2018 SportBusiness Postgraduate Course Rankings are based on the results of a survey of more than 1,300 faculty members and alumni from 75 universities around the world. Programs were ranked based on a variety of criteria, including student satisfaction, employment rates and salaries, value, and diversity. An advisory board of academics assists SportBusiness in choosing and updating the criteria each year.

Matt Brown, chair of USC’s Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, says the MSEM program is continuously striving for excellence in all those areas, and succeeding as indicated by the rankings.

“Our master’s program is leading the way in graduate-level sport and entertainment business education. We recruit exceptional faculty who have strong industry leadership experience and collaborate with partners and alumni to create unique experiences that prepare our students to lead after graduation,” Brown said.

With 21 full-time faculty, USC has the world’s largest sport and entertainment management program and offers a bachelor of science and Ph.D. degree in addition to its master's. The MSEM is a 36-credit hour program designed and offers thesis and non-thesis course tracks. The business-focused curriculum includes an emphasis on venue management, and students have the opportunity to learn from former team presidents from three of the five major North American professional sports leagues. Alumni of the program work around the world in college athletics, professional sports, venue and event management, sport media, entertainment and other sectors of the business.

Tom Regan, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the USC Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, says the faculty’s focus is always on preparing students for jobs and helping them through the process of getting those jobs.

“We have quality students coming from all over the world and we’re providing significant opportunities for them to be hired in well-paying jobs in the industry,” Regan says.

Regan and other faculty members have one-on-one meetings with each graduate student, going over their career goals as they begin the program. They then follow up with continued meetings to make the students aware of job opportunities and connect them with alumni and other industry partners to offer every possible advantage.

In addition to the MSEM ranking, the University of South Carolina as a whole is ranked No. 1 in the United States and No. 4 in the world by ShanghaiRanking's 2017 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.