At Full Sail University, the Entertainment Business master's program prepares students with specialized skills for the business side of the entertainment world — whether that's managing artists, negotiating contracts, or understanding copyright law.

Here, we'll answer some common questions about the graduate program.

Q: Is the Entertainment Business master’s program a traditional MBA?
A: The Entertainment Business master’s program is different from a traditional MBA in that it focuses entirely on the business of entertainment. Students take industry-specific classes, like Product & Artist Management, Entertainment Media Publishing & Distribution, Business Storytelling, and Brand Development.

Q: What is the difference between the online and campus versions of the Entertainment Business master's degree?
A: The online and campus programs offer the same information with the same result. The difference is in the delivery and execution of the student's learning journey.

For students who prefer more guidance and interaction with classmates and professors, attending the campus version of the program may be the best option. For students who are highly self-motivated and prefer to lead themselves through the learning materials, online is a great option.

Q: Who teaches the classes?
A: Classes are taught by people who have actually worked or even still work in the field. At Full Sail University, we believe instructors should not only have the academic prerequisites to teach a course, but also the professional experience and industry knowledge that makes them an expert in their area of study.

Q: How long is the degree program?
A: Our program is only 12 months long — half the time of a traditional MBA, which typically takes about two years to complete.

Q: Do you require the GRE/GMAT for admission?
A: We do not require the GRE/GMAT as part of the admissions process. See the Admissions section for a detailed list of admissions requirements.

Q: Can online master's students with relevant work experience test out of any courses?
A: Yes, online students who have at least five years of management and/or leadership experience may be eligible for credit-by-examination for the Entertainment Business master of science degree program. A maximum of five courses may be considered for credit-by-examination. See the Graduate Admissions section for a detailed list of admissions requirements.

Q: Are there networking opportunities while in the program?
A: Many of our students already work in the entertainment industry or have backgrounds that are related to the entertainment industry like film, recording arts, or game design. This allows for plenty of networking opportunities among classmates.

Full Sail also offers students access to unique industry guest speakers that allow students to learn from experts currently working in the entertainment world.

Q: How is the Sports Management track different from the traditional Entertainment Business master's program?
A: The Sports Management track is much like the traditional Entertainment Business master's program, with a few key differences. Students in our Sports track take three classes specifically related to the business of sports.

Instead of Entertainment Law, Sports track students take Legal Issues in Sports, which is taught by an attorney with a sports law background. Instead of Product & Artist Management, Sports track students take Sports Management & Operations from our resident Sports Marketing & Media faculty. Instead of Entertainment Media Publishing & Distribution, students enrolled in our Sports track complete a course called Sports Marketing & Sponsorship Sales taught by an instructor with over two decades of sports sales and marketing experience.

Q: What skills do students learn in the Entertainment Business program?
A: You will begin your twelve-month program by taking Mastery — Personal Development & Leadership. This is a four-week course where you will learn important leadership skills, how to conduct research, and how to demonstrate mastery of a subject.

During the remaining eleven months of the program, you will explore different areas of the entertainment business industry, such as Entertainment Law, Product & Artist Management, Digital Marketing, Entertainment Business Finance, and Business Plan Development.

Q: Is there a final project for the Entertainment Business program?
A: Full Sail students leave the master's program with a completed business plan. Many students actually use this template to create new businesses after graduation. This tool may also help them secure business loans or prove their concepts to investors.