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Career Possibilities
- Community Center Director
- Convention Coordinator
- Marketing, Promotions or Sales Person
- Nonprofit Agency Positions
- Nonprofit Sports Organization Management
- Recreational Sports Management
- Sport Fund-raising Positions
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- Sporting Goods Industry Positions
- Sports Facility Coordinator
- Sports Information Director
- Ticket and Concession Manager
- Tournament Manager
- Wellness/Fitness Center Director
- Youth Sport Program Manager
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The Sports Management (SPM) major is one of the University's best
examples of interdepartmental cooperation. This program of study
consists of three fundamental components: Business management,
sports sciences and practical experiences. The heavy emphasis of
business management reflects the equivalent of a business major at
many institutions. This program offers an innovative curriculum designed
to provide the student with the opportunity to develop expertise
in business management with an orientation toward the world of sport.
The sport and leisure industry is one of the top three industries
in almost every state and currently generates more than $300 billion
nationwide. As sport has evolved into an integral component of American
culture, the operations of sport programs have become more sophisticated
and complex. Sports management, as a profession and academic discipline,
now includes a broad spectrum of career paths and physical activity
settings that range from professional sports to college athletics
to recreational sports to health clubs and fitness centers to sports
facility management to sport governing bodies and sport marketing
firms. People assigned the responsibility for the management of sport
programs and facilities must be familiar with the intricacies of
sport activities while also being effective leaders and business
professionals.
What Is Sports Management?
Sports management is the application of business and management
knowledge, leadership principles and skills to the daily arena of
sport. Over the past three decades, a variety of career paths have
emerged in sport that require managers, directors and employees to
possess knowledge and skills in both sport and business leadership.
How Do I Know If Sports Management
Is For Me?
- Does sport seem to be a main focus and interest in your life?
- Do you receive a great sense of fun, enjoyment or fulfillment
when involved with sports in some way?
- When you read the morning newspaper, do you go right to the sports
section?
- When you watch TV at night, do you tend to watch sporting events
or ESPN?
- When you go out with your friends, do you usually end up going
to a sporting event, watching a sporting event on TV, or just talking
about sports?
- Have you had a real interest in sports for a very long time?
- Are you interested in business and management and possibly knowing
how they apply to sports?
- Does the thought of working in or around sports as a career really
appeal to you?
If you answered "yes" to all of the above questions,
sports management may be the college major and career path for
you!
General Skills
Students within the sports management major typically develop these skills
through their prerequisite requirements:
- Effective communication skills
- Basic quantitative and technology abilities
- Background in history, social science and natural science
- Knowledge of human development and disabilities
- Critical thinking and the ability to problem solve
- Knowledge of management and leadership principles
Specific Skills
Additional skills typically developed by students in the sports
management major include:
- Programming and service delivery skills, to include planning,
implementation and evaluation
- Management and administrative aptitudes required for effective
leadership within the sports management industry
- Group and program leadership abilities
- Knowledge of facility and personnel management
- Knowledge of sport settings, services and legal issues specific
to sport and education settings
Additional Experiences
To further enhance the marketability of one's employment in the
field of sports management:
- Participate and take leadership roles in extracurricular activities
- Take elective courses relating to your career goals, or minor
in a supporting field
- Arrange for a part-time job related to the field
- Design applied professional experiences for credit through a
variety of internship experiences
- Attend professional conferences, workshops and conventions
- Interact with professionals in the field
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