About the Major
The Bachelor of Science in Sport Management is an interdisciplinary program that examines sport business and provides professional preparation for jobs in one of the nation’s largest industries. This program enhances the liberal arts curriculum by combining business, economics, philosophy, English, accounting, mass communication and sport-management related courses in exercise and sport science.
Students successfully completing the requirements of this major will be prepared for careers in profit and nonprofit sport and recreation organizations, including industries such as youth sports, professional and semi-professional sports, and sports in educational settings.
Job opportunities exist within the sport management profession in such positions as: athletic director, sports information director, intramural director, community recreation manager, sales person, media relations director, sports entrepreneurship, sports club manager, ticket operations, and sales and promotions, among many others. Students would also be prepared for graduate studies in sports management or athletic administration.
Course Requirements
Economics of Sports
The course would examine public policy questions about professional and college sports using economic models of sports industries. Topics would include theory of the firm, the organization of sports and entertainment industries, the effects of Title IX on sports funding allocations and gender equality, public financing of sports facilities, determining the true costs of athletic programs at the college level, sports labor markets, racial discrimination and pricing schemes specific to sports markets.
Fundamentals of Financial Reporting
This course provides a basic knowledge of the accounting process, the creation and interpretation of the basic financial statements, such as the income statement or profit/loss statement, the balance sheet, the statement of retained earnings and the cash flow statement, and the components of the budgetary process. Students will be introduced to and develop a competency in the application of some of the major software packages in financial reporting, such as tax software and accounting software. The students would also learn the fundamentals of the time value of money.
Foundations of Sport Management
An introductory view of the skills and information necessary for a career in the sport industry. Topics covered reflect the core competencies for sport management including management and leadership in the sport industry, sport finance, sport facility and event management, sport governance, ethics in the sport industry and more.
This curriculum encompasses all core components outlined by NASSM/NASPE for undergraduate key content areas of the sport management field.
ACC 109 Fundamentals of Financial Reporting
ATH 240 Principles of Coaching and Officiating/Judging
BUS 124 Introduction to Management
BUS 223 Marketing Management
BUS 225 Business Law
BUS 326 Human Resource Management
ECO 110 Economics of Sport
ESS 114 Foundations of Sport Management
ESS 225 Women in Sport
ESS 320 Administrative Aspects of Exercise and Sport Science
ESS 330 Psycho-Social Aspects of Sport
ESS 335 Internship
MCM 120 Interpersonal Communications
PHI 226 Business Ethics
Select one of the following:
ENG 112 Business Writing
ENG 212 Technical Writing
MCM 201 Journalism I
Student Learning Goals
Students in the Sport Management major will demonstrate an understanding and application of the following:
-
Cognitive knowledge - Knowledge in the subject content areas in exercise and sport science.
- Communication - Students will write and speak well in different contexts.
- Critical thinking and problem solving - Students will gain the
knowledge to be able to design and implement health/fitness
interventions.
- Integration and application of learning - Students will integrate learning in the Exercise Sport Science major.
- To prepare students for careers in health/fitness industry and graduate programs in the allied health programs.