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As a candidate in the University of New 51����’s graduate program in sport management, Simão Sousa Branca ’19 M.S. was grateful for the challenging and stimulating discussions and the critical examinations of current events he participated in. He says it was an environment that encouraged everyone to continuously improve.

“The best part of the program is, by far, the professors,” he said. “They are not only great professionals and experts in the field, they are also wonderful people who are extremely dedicated to helping students develop into the best possible sport managers. Their support and enthusiasm were the two most important factors that contributed to my success at the University, and the impact they had on my life will continue to be significant for a very long time.”

His experience embodies why the program has been , a global intelligence service that ranks postgraduate sport management degree programs across the globe. The program was ranked 17th in the United States, and 29th among hundreds of programs worldwide.

In particular, the program was recognized for the quality of teaching, ranked sixth in the U.S. and ninth in the world.

“We are pleased to see our M.S. in Sport Management program ranked among the best in the world,” said Ceyda Mumcu, Ph.D., an associate professor of sport management.” We are dedicated to preparing our students for the sport industry, and high rankings in quality of teaching, supporting students’ job searches, and providing industry networking are a testament of our student-first approach.”

‘One-of-a-kind program’

The University offers the only STEM-certified graduate degree in sport management with a business analytics concentration in the country. Dr. Mumcu says this offers students unique opportunities and career possibilities.

“This is a one-of-a-kind program,” she said. “Students go through rigorous coursework and gain knowledge in analytics, as well as skills in coding, database management, and data visualization while developing an understanding of the sport business. We are proud of the curriculum and excited to see the opportunities our students will have upon graduation.”

In addition to lauding the program’s teaching, Sport Business also included the University in its top 30 schools in areas such as alumni and industry networks. The organization ranked the University 18th in the world for the outstanding job support it provides to students.

The University of New 51���� was the only school in Connecticut to be included on Sport Business’s list. It was ranked the second-best program in the New England region.

‘The program was exactly what I was looking for’

Rachel Vogel ’17 M.S. knew early in her career as an undergraduate student that she wanted to work in intercollegiate athletics. As a candidate in the University of New 51����’s graduate program in sport management, her coursework and her position as an athletic communications graduate assistant in the enabled her to focus on developing the skills and knowledge she needed.

Currently the assistant director of athletic communications at , Vogel serves as the primary media contact for the women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and softball programs, and she maintains the school’s athletics website and social media pages.

“I knew that having the opportunity to focus my degree precisely on my career interest would help me stand out among others when searching for a job within my desired field,” said Vogel, who earned a master’s degree in sport management with a collegiate athletic administration concentration. “Having the opportunity to pursue my master’s degree while simultaneously working a in position that gave me experience in my desired career path was invaluable.”

Sport Business also recognized the University of New 51���� for its high levels of alumni employment – at six months of graduation and based on current alumni employment levels.

Branca, the 2019 graduate who now lives in his hometown of Porto, Portugal, works for the city’s sport, culture, and entertainment department, where he assists with managing the public budget. He says it was the stories of alumni success that initially attracted him to the University of New 51����, and it was the opportunities he had as a student that prepared him for success.

“The program was exactly what I was looking for, and it didn't disappoint,” he said. “My classmates and I had opportunities to meet many employers and industry giants who always provided us with insightful knowledge and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, enabling us to go further than we ever expected and preparing us in the best way possible for our futures.”