The sport management major is a great fit for students looking to understand the business-side to the sport industry. This program dives into aspects such as facilities and evnet, marketing, policy, and administration.
The sport management BS prepares students to be successful in the sports sector. From working with professional teams, to organizing community sports, to using sports as a mechanism for social change, students are exposed to a variety of areas in the industry. This major combines theoretical knowledge and practical experience, opening doors to a diverse range of career paths for those passionate about sports and entertainment.
- Facility, event, and organization management: Explore the principles and practices of managing sport venues, events, and entities.
- Business of sport: Learn how to think entrepreneurially to shape the future of sports
- Sports ethics: Understand historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives and how they apply to ethics in sports
- Sports law: Discover how the US legal system, structure, and processes relate to legal issues in sport and physical activity settings.
- Sports marketing: Learn marketing concepts and how to apply them to sports consumers in unique ways
- Research methods in sport management: Understand how to interpret, evaluate, and critique research related to sports
A degree in sport management prepares students to become leaders in the sport industry. With this degree, there are a wide variety of career options to explore, including but not limited to:
- Account management
- Community relations
- Facilities management
- Recreation director
- Sales and marketing
There are many career options that connect to a sport management degree beyond the ones listed. Once admitted to the major, students also have the support of CEHD Career Services. This unit helps students with resumes, exploring graduate school and career options, as well as finding job and internship opportunities.
Curriculum and coursework
The courses in the sport management BS program are divided into three different types: Core courses, focus electives, and physical activity courses.
Core courses help students gain an in-depth and diverse understanding of sport management. All sport management students are required to complete the following core courses, totaling 34 credits:
- SMGT 3111 - Sports Facility and Event Management
- SMGT 3143 - Organization and Management of Sport
- SMGT 3421 - Business of Sport
- SMGT 3501 - Sport in a Diverse Society
- SMGT 3601 - Ethics and Values in Sport
- SMGT 3631 - Sport Marketing
- SMGT 3861 - Sport Law
- SMGT 3826 - Research Methods in Sport Management
- SMGT 3881W - Senior Seminar in Sport Management
- SMGT 3996 - Practicum: The Sport Experience
Through the senior seminar and practicum courses, sport management BS students apply their knowledge to real-world situations and graduate with experience in the industry. More information about the core courses can be found in the course catalog.
These courses enhance the core courses, providing a greater understanding of physical activity and health while supporting a student's individual interests. Sport management students take a total of 23 elective credits from an approved list in the course catalog. Below are a few popular choices:
- SMGT 3632 - Sports Sales and Fundraising
- SMGT 3141 Contemporary Esport Management
- KIN 5321 - International Sport: The Impact of the Olympic Games
- KIN 5461 - Issues in the Sports Industry
- ACCT 2051 - Introduction to financial reporting
- OLPD 4401 - E-marketing
- COMM 3201 - Introduction to Electronic Media Production
- ABUS 4022W - Management in Organizations
Physical activity courses allow students to learn about movement and physical activity first-hand. Kinesiology students take a total of 3 credits of these courses from an approved list in the course catalog of over 60 options. Below are a few options that many students enjoy:
- Pickleball
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Marathon training
- Scuba and skin diving
- Self defense
Sample plan
View a sample plan to get a better picture of what your course schedule could look like.
39
students in a major-specific course on average
64
elective courses to choose from
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Student experiences and support
Inside the classroom
Within their coursework, students learn in a variety of ways. Class discussions and group work are common in the sport management major. Modern technology is also used to support learning. Faculty bring in leaders in the sport industry to guest lecture, providing real world learning while also expanding professional networks.
Students are taught by world-renowned faculty who are committed to student success. Our faculty's expertise is diverse and will expose students to a variety of areas in the field.
Outside the classroom
Hands-on experiences are essential to support your long-term professional and educational goals. Students in the sport management BS program are encouraged to explore opportunities to volunteer, work, and potentially earn academic credit through research supervised by a faculty member.
Directed study gives undergraduate students the opportunity to work with faculty on physical activity and health-related research. To get a better sense of the various research areas and labs in the School of Kinesiology, visit our research page.
Field experiences support our student's classroom learning and broaden their professional skills. Students are encouraged to explore opportunities in advance of the term they may wish to participate in the experiences. Faculty, academic advisors, and career coaches are great resources to discuss ideas for these experiences. Some areas that our students have held their field experiences in include:
- Game day experience
- Membership services
- Facility management
- Equipment manager
- Event planning
- Ticket sales
- Community recreation
There are over 1,000 student organizations on campus. Some common groups that physical activity and health promotion majors join include:
- Sport Management Association
- Sport Analytics Club
- Sports Law Association
- Ad Club
View a full list of student organizations on the University's student group page.
Studying abroad is a great way to explore new areas of the world while earning academic credit. The School of Kinesiology's study abroad programs are related to health and wellness:
- Marketing and sponsorship in German sports
- Pillars of wellness in Sicily: Empowering minds, bodies, & emotions,
There are many opportunities through the Learning Abroad Center as well. Some popular programs include:
- Sports and culture in France
- Study and intern in London
Quote from Amanda Rodriguez
“This major was the perfect combination of business and sports for me, allowing me to begin a foundation for a career in sports, access to internships in baseball, and the ability to add minors which interested me and supported my eventual degree.”
Quote from Marlo Mosley
“Having three advisors by my side has made my experience as a sport management major increasingly better. I would not be where I am today without their support and confidence in me.”
Quote from Tristen Ruesch
“I knew that this was the place for me. All of the connections with a Power 5, Division I athletic department, all of the professional teams in the area, all of the volunteer opportunities, the reputation of the program, and the connections to the Sport Management Association. It was not a hard sell.”