Among the Most Innovative Business Programs in the Country
Point Park University's Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business (SAEM) major in Downtown Pittsburgh is among the most innovative business programs in the United States. In our program, you earn a Bachelor of Science in business while focusing your studies on the thriving industries of sports, arts, entertainment and more.
Our Downtown Pittsburgh location puts students in the heart of these industries, with some of sports' most admired teams, world-class arts and cultural organizations, and nationally acclaimed entertainment venues within walking distance. From the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, we offer the perfect setting for SAEM majors to network with professionals and land multiple outstanding internships in Pittsburgh and beyond.
We have academic partnerships with Stage AE, iHeart Media, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Red Caiman Studios through our student-run record label, Pioneer Records. Additionally, we partner with more than 100 organizations to offer students a variety of shadowing and internship opportunities.
Explore Our Focus Areas
Students can concentrate their degree in Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business in some of the following areas:
Students who pursue a Sports Management focus within the SAEM program will gain a thorough knowledge of the business side of the sports industry, as well as meaningful connections that will enable you to build your network of sports professionals.
Point Park alumni work for many sports organizations around campus, and our faculty bring extensive sports industry experience to the classroom. These advantages translate into networking and shadowing opportunities, industry experts in the classroom, internships and jobs.
Sports-Focused Faculty, Coursework and Internships
Sports management courses in the SAEM major include:
- Amateur Athletics
- Sports Sales
- Sports Agents
- Sports Management/Leadership
- Ticketing
- Esports
A full-semester internship with industry professionals is required to complete the SAEM degree. Multiple internships throughout the program are encouraged.
Additionally, students gain hands-on experience through Point Park's various sales teams that work directly with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Cavaliers. The university also has a Pittsburgh Penguins events team.
Prospective students looking for a program that dives deeper into sports experiences, including sports management, sports marketing, facility operations and sports sales, another possible program of interest may be the B.S. in Sports Management.
To prepare students for arts management careers, the SAEM program builds on the strength of Point Park's nationally ranked Conservatory of Performing Arts—an ideal platform for training on the business side of this career path. SAEM arts management courses have helped aspiring musicians launch their careers and given dancers skills in studio business operations.
Pittsburgh's Cultural District is just blocks away from campus, offering students the opportunity to work in theatre, ballet, opera and dance. Cultural institutions such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Kamin Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum are also located close to campus.
Arts Faculty, Coursework and Internships
Embedded in Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse, SAEM students get hands-on experience working in the box office, front of house and guest services and learn performance marketing/advertising techniques.
Arts management courses in the SAEM major include:
- Advanced Fundraising
- Fundraising from Crowdfunding to Proposal Writing
- Performing Arts Presenting and Touring
- Producing Commercial and Nonprofit Performing Arts
- Production Management
- Stage Management
- Ticketing
Additionally, students must complete a full-semester internship with industry professionals to earn the SAEM degree. Multiple internships throughout the program are encouraged.
If you're interested in pursuing a career in the business side of music or live entertainment, the Entertainment and Music Management focus places you at the center of the action, with countless opportunities to work behind the scenes at venues of various genres and scales, including concerts at Stage AE, PPG Paints Arena, Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park and more.
Our music business partnerships with Stage AE (AEG/Promo West) and other concert venues and promoters, such as Live Nation, Roxian Theatre, Drusky Entertainment, Opus One Productions, Women Who Rock, Acrisure Stadium, PPG Paints Arena and many others give our SAEM students direct access to key shadowing and job opportunities in the entertainment field.
Additionally, Point Park has its own student-managed record label, Pioneer Records with its headquarters, The Sound Vault, right on Point Park's campus. Through the record label, students learn about record promotion, marketing and booking — including planning and hosting live concerts. Pioneer Records is unique among colleges and universities in the Pittsburgh region and is a cooperative partnership with Red Caiman Studios, a commercial recording studio in Pittsburgh. It hosts an annual music talent contest, Pioneer Star, through which students work with artists on projects throughout the year, culminating in a show at Stage AE.
Entertainment and Music Management Coursework and Internships
Entertainment and music management coursework in the SAEM department includes:
- Business of Live Entertainment
- Emerging Trends in the Music Industry
- Event Management
- Facility and Venue Design
- Music and Video Production
- Pioneer Records
- Production Tour Management
- Talent and Booking
- Ticketing
Additionally, a full-semester internship, working with industry professionals, is required to complete the SAEM degree. Multiple internships throughout the program are encouraged.
Courses and Topics
You will receive a well-rounded education through our university's core curriculum, the Rowland School of Business curriculum and the various SAEM courses, including (but not limited to):
- Amateur Athletics
- Digital Marketing
- Emerging Trends in the Music Industry
- Esports
- Facility and Venue Design/Management
- Fundraising from Crowdfunding to Proposal Writing
- Sports Sales
- Pioneer Records
- Production Tour Management
- Sports Agents
- Talent Booking Management
- Ticketing
Fast-Track Bachelor's to Master's Program
This degree program is part of our Fast-Track Bachelor's to Master's Program, which lets students take two core classes from one of our university's master's programs. This enables students to earn a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree from Point Park in as little as five years.
Career Options
Point Park University's Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business program will prepare you for a wide variety of exciting careers, such as:
- Sports agent
- Artist manager
- Box office manager
- Sales and sponsorship executive
- House management
- Marketing director
- Talent manager
- Event manager
- Promotions director
- Social media coordinator
SAEM Club
SAEM Club at Point Park provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on, real-world experience, as well as valuable professional networking opportunities outside of the classroom. Membership is open to all students, regardless of major, who are interested in the SAEM industries. The club meets a few times a semester and offers engaging opportunities to get involved, including our Bigs & Littles mentorship program, which helps connect newer students with upperclassmen for guidance, support, and friendship. Each year, the club participates in and hosts a variety of events and activities—from networking events and guest speaker panels to Super Bowl watch parties, craft nights and everything in between.
More information on the SAEM Club and upcoming events is availiable on the Herd.
