Plan of Study – Sport Management

Exploration and analysis of sport and recreation from philosophical, historical, and organizational perspectives. Introduction to the field of sport management, examining professional opportunities available, resume writing, and professional networking in the field.

The practical application of various techniques and strategies used in developing good public relations in and through sport. Communications and public relations theories and methods are presented and common public relations issues are analyzed in the professional, intercollegiate, and commercial sport industries.

Analysis of critical issues and controversies in sport including the influences that social attitudes, media, politics, and the economy have on various sports institutions from childhood play to professional athletes. Includes perspectives on religion, deviance, violence, race, gender, and social class in sport.

Hands-on work experience in the sport or leisure industry. Application of practical knowledge of introductory sport management principles in an approved, supervised sport- or recreation-specific assignment. Prerequisite: SM 1100 and 24 semester hours in major completed.

The processes for managing sport and event enterprises. Specific attention given to the design and management of a sport facility as well as the skills and processes associated with administration of a sport event, whether it be participant-centered or spectator-centered. Prerequisite: SM 1100.

An in-depth analysis of the various techniques and strategies of marketing in the sport environment. Basic marketing concepts examined, with applications to the uniqueness of the sport and leisure industry: event marketing, sponsorship, licensing, sport information, and public relations. Prerequisite: SM 1100.

An analysis of the legal and ethical aspects of the sport environment. Topics include negligence; liability; control of amateur, professional, and school sport; violence/crowd control; product liability; risk management; and selected current issues. Prerequisites: SM 1100 and BL 3330.

An analysis of financial concepts and theories and their application in the professional, intercollegiate, recreational, and commercial sport environments. Topics include revenues and expenses of professional, intercollegiate, and private sport industries; issues impacting these revenues and expenses; budgeting methods; economic impact; fundraising at the intercollegiate level; ownership in sport; and public and private funding for non-profit sport programs. Prerequisites: SM 1100 and ACC 2000.

Socially constructed categories of class, race, and gender, and their influence on perceptions of the body. The impact these categories have on institutionalization, practice, and representation of sport and leisure is discussed, with an emphasis on promoting unbiased and non-prejudicial sport and leisure environments. Prerequisites: SM 1100 and SM 2300.

On-the-job experiences with the application of principles and techniques that have been presented in coursework in the sport management program. 240 clock hours, including periodic consultation with a university supervisor. Prerequisite: At least 12 credits in Sport Management.

This capstone seminar focuses on preparing students for careers in sport management. Students synthesize their program coursework and field experiences, conduct self-assessments, and reflect critically on the field of sport management and their career potential within it. Prerequisites: Senior standing and at least 24 credits in Sport Management; pre- or corequisite: SM 4930.