Sport & Recreation Management

The sport management degree program prepares students for management careers in the increasingly competitive sport and recreation industry. While the core courses in sport management provide students with a sound understanding of the sport industry, the curriculum includes a broad-based business management core with specialize emphasis on the unique technological, managerial and leadership skills required of managers and executives in the sport industry. To assure access to career opportunities in the field of sport, our graduates must possess both theoretical and practical skill and experience. Many courses offer a significant practical component.

The program is intended for students aspiring to leadership positions in the fast growing field of sport management. Integrated throughout the curriculum is an emphasis on practical applications, globalization, leadership, and technological advances in sport management.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have achieved both an applied and theoretical understanding of the sport management profession through a business-based core curriculum, a concentration of specialized sport management courses and required, career-oriented practical experiences. Students will be prepared to meet the challenges of this rapidly expanding industry in which leadership, technology, governance and social policy play important roles in effective management. To further enhance this preparation, students in the major are encouraged to select from a broad variety of elective courses, study abroad, or pursue a second specialized concentration.

Sport management majors can select a concentration in either sport operations or revenue management. Each sport management major selects a concentration and each concentration allows a selection from two focus areas. This maximizes student choice, allowing more breadth and depth in the curriculum.

Sport management majors selecting a concentration in sport operations can select a focus from program management or event management; and sport majors concentrating in revenue management can select a focus from concessions management or external relations.

Upon completion of the B.S. degree in sport management, graduates will possess the competencies for employment in management positions in a broad range of sport settings such as parks and recreation programs, interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics programs, not-for-profit sport organizations, professional sport franchises, stadiums, arenas, recreational facilities, golf and country clubs, resorts, and spas and fitness centers. Upon graduation, students may also elect to pursue graduate studies. The program aims to provide training in applying specific knowledge and to develop designated skills. These objectives are further detailed in individual course outlines.