Sport Management Major

There are athletes, then there are those who manage everything around them. With this degree, you’ll build your knowledge of every facet of the sports world. When completed, you’ll have an educational background that gives you the skills to obtain an entry level position within any of the following areas: scholastic sports, intercollegiate sports, professional sport organizations administration, fitness management, facility and event management, community recreation administration, sport retail and marketing, sport economics and analytics and entrepreneurship. When you major in Sport Management, you can also receive a minor in Business Administration which will further help you land a job in one of the most exciting career fields out there.

Sport Management is a term that refers to “all people, activities, and organizations involved in producing, facilitating, promoting or organizing any product that is sport, fitness, and recreation related” (Pitts and Stolar, 2002).

Students who choose to pursue a sport management career may find themselves as a Head Coach, Athletic Director, Senior Women’s Administrator, Athletic Academic Counselor, Sports Information Director, Recruiting Coordinator, Facilities Manager, Events Manager, Equipment Manager, Ticket Sales Director, Sports Marketing Director, Sport Website Coordinator, Sport Equipment Sales Representative Sport Agent, and Fitness Center Manager.

Detailed curriculum information can be found in the catalog.

Download the Sport Management program brochure here.

Curriculum

Sport Management Requirements: 60 hours

EX 443 or PE 443. Kinesiology (3)
OR
EX 444 or PE 444. Exercise Physiology (3)
SM 336. Sport Management Seminar (3)
SM 407. Special Topics in Sport Management (3)
PE 432 or SM 432. Organization and Administration in Health and Human Performance (3)
PE 433 or SM 433. Athletic Administration Seminar (3)
PE 434 or SM 434. Sport and Exercise Legal Issues (3)
SM 439. Sport Management Internship (9)
PE 465 or SM 465. Psychology and Sociology of Human Performance (3)

Approved Sport Management electives (6)

PE 465 or SM 465. Psychology and Sociology of Human Performance (3)
MG 410. Leadership (3)
MK 480. Market Research (3)
SM 310. Ethics in Sport (3)
SM 345. Governance in Sport (3)
SM 409. Sport Management Practicum (3)
SM 435. Accounting and Economics in Sports (3)
SM 437. Sport Management and Marketing (3)
SM 450. Fitness Management (3)
SM 486. Intramural and Non-Competitive Activities (3)
SY 200. Foundations of Sociological Inquiry (3)
SY 325. Sports in Society (3)

Business Administration Emphasis: 24 hours

Emphasis based upon Business Administration minor:

AC 211. Accounting I (3)
AC 212. Accounting II (3)
BA 263. Business Law and Legal Environment (3)
BA 420. Business Communications (3)
CS 205. Microcomputer Applications (3)
FI 300. Finance (3)
MG 300. Management (3)
MK 300. Marketing (3)

Sport Management Program Plan

Extra-curricular activities

Sport Management Student of the Year (G.P.A.)
COSMA student membership (Commission of SM Accreditation)
Practicum opportunity with UWA Athletic Department
Mock Sports Law Trial Court

Career Preparation

There are numerous job opportunities related to the billion-dollar industry of sports. Many graduates successfully pursue a Master’s in Sport Administration or a Master’s Degree in Business (M.B.A.). Often, graduates interested in coaching received a Graduate Assistantship to become a coach on the collegiate and minor league level. A few graduates are working in the marketing/ticketing sales areas at professional sport organizations such as the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Atlanta Hawks. Also, graduates are employed as personal trainers, scouts, and sport-training specialists for football, volleyball and basketball.

Online M.S. in Sport Management is also now available.