Essential MOOC Courses In Business

The Global Business of Sports

School: Wharton School of Business

Platform:  Coursera

Registration Link: The Global Business of Sports

Start Date: July 6, 2015 (7 Weeks Long)

Workload: 4-6 Hours A Week

Instructor: Kenneth L. Shropshire and Scott Rosner

Credentials: A twenty year faculty member at Wharton, Professor Shropshire is the faculty director of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative. He previously served as the chairman of Wharton’s Legal Studies and Business Ethics department. In his spare time, Shropshire has served as a consultant to organizations ranging from the NFL to the United States Olympic Committee. Before joining Wharton, Shropshire served under Peter Ueberroth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. He is the author of numerous books on the sports business and is a former president of the Sports Lawyers Association.

The course will be co-taught this time with Professor Scott Rosner, who teaches legal and business ethics courses and heads the Wharton Sports Business Academy.

Graded: Students can earn a Statement of Accomplishment by completing the final exam. There is a $49 fee for a statement.

Description: This course, which is divided into seven modules, covers focuses on sports league business models, economics, and growth strategies, particularly in the United States. It also examines the impact of media, venues, salaries, and unionization on team operations. Professor Shropshire relies heavily on case studies, lecture, and online discussions, along with providing links to interviews with key sports industry leaders. Students are evaluated through quizzes and an optional final exam.

Review: “Learning about commercialisation of sports is quite hard. This subject is taught scarce and not easily found. This course explains as much as it could to make sure students are informed and taught elements of sports revenue. Sponsorships, legal aspects and brilliant examples are taught.” For additional reviews, click here.

Additional Note: It may be helpful to read The Business of Sports before starting the course.