Sport Management

Sport Management Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

About Sport Management

Prepare for a career in the multi-billion-dollar sport industry.

Get in the game with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management from PennWest California. The four-year, on-campus program at PennWest California blends theoretical knowledge of sport management with practical, hands-on experience, so you'll acquire the skills that employers in today's sport business environment demand.

The bachelor's degree in sport management from PennWest California prepares students for careers in many arenas, including:

  • Interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics.
  • Sport marketing.
  • Facility and event management.
  • Sport sales.

Recent graduates have job titles including inside sales representative, food and beverage supervisor, merchandise assistant, ice rink manager, soccer program coordinator, site manager and athletic operations assistant.

Practical experience builds skills - and a strong professional network.

Students in PennWest California's sport management program apply their classroom learning to multiple real-life experiences in the business of sport. Volunteer opportunities and a full-time capstone internship give students practical experience and opportunities to network with sport industry professionals.

Throughout the program, students begin building a resume while learning the importance of effective communication, professional development, networking and leadership - precisely the skills that future sport business professionals need.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: SPORT MANAGEMENT

Fast start: Beginning with their very first semester, students in the sport management degree program get volunteer work experience while completing the Practica in Sport Management course. Volunteer opportunities are provided at a variety of on-campus and off-campus sites that offer a wide range of sport business experiences. For example, students may volunteer with PennWest California athletics, local high school athletic programs, area YMCAs, the Pittsburgh Marathon, Special Olympics and more.

Strong finish: After completing all required coursework for the sport management major, PennWest California students undertake a 12-credit internship that mirrors a full-time position in the sport business industry. Students select the site for this capstone experience, which in many cases leads to career growth opportunities, including full-time employment. Students also are encouraged to attend conferences, workshops and other professional development events within the sport management field.

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19:1 
Student-to-faculty ratio at PennWest California.
120 
credit hours for the on-campus bachelor's degree in sport management can be completed in eight semesters or four years.
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Degree Benefits

Students in the bachelor's degree program in sport management at PennWest California develop skills that employers within the current sport business environment are seeking. Unique courses such as Sales Techniques in Sport and Sport Communications meet the industry's latest technological and hiring demands; courses such as Sport Law and Finance and Economics of Sport provide a solid foundation for employment in a variety of settings.

 
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Graduate Outcomes

Graduates of PennWest California's sport management studies program have found employment within all sectors of the sport management profession, including professional sports, minor league sports, amateur sports, community and recreational sports, and for-profit and nonprofit organizations. For example, recent graduates have found jobs with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, Johnstown Tomahawks and Washington Wild Things; the IceoPlex at Southpointe and Colorado Rapids Soccer Club; Nike and GNC; Pittsburgh Sports League; and the Soccer Shots children's program, British Swim School and St. Albans School.

 
Sport Management Studies - Bachelor's Degree
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Faculty and Alumni Support

Students in the sport management program learn from faculty members who combine teaching expertise with a broad range of sport and business backgrounds. In addition, the program embraces a strong corps of sport management alumni who serve as mentors and networking partners for current students and recent graduates. Since its inception in 1999, the B.S. in Sport Management has been one of PennWest California's most popular majors.

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Beyond the classroom

Membership in the Sport Management Club offers opportunities for students to meet others with similar interests, and to offset some costs that might be associated with networking and professional development activities. The program also works closely with the Career and Professional Development Center to help students secure job shadowing experiences and internships, and to participate in mock interviews, resume reviews, job fairs and other career development activities.

Sport Management Studies Bachelor's Degree

Students who complete the 100% online B.S. in Sport Management Studies learn practical approaches and results-focused strategies to meet the changing needs of organizations throughout the sports industry.

Curriculum

Course Credits
General Education Courses 40 or 41
Building a Sense of Community
UNI 100  First-Year Seminar
1
Composition
ENG 101  English Composition I
3
Public Speaking
Any Public Speaking Course
3
Mathematics and Quantitative Literacy
Any Mathematics and Quantitative Literacy Course
3
Health and Wellness
Any Health and Wellness Course
3
Technological Literacy
Any Technological Literacy Course
3
Humanities
Any Humanities Course
3
Fine Arts
Any Fine Arts Course
3
Natural Sciences
Any Natural Sciences Course
3 or 4
Social Sciences
Any Social Sciences Course
3
General Education Options
  • SPT 305  Ethics in Sport
  • Any ACC, BUS or ECO Courses (three courses)
12
   
Required Major Courses 60
SPT 100  Introduction to Sport Mgt. 3
SPT 101  Practica in Sport Mgt. 1
SPT 300  Psychology of Sport 3
SPT 310  Sport Marketing 3
SPT 311  Sales Techniques in Sport Ind. 3
SPT 312  Practica in Sport Sales 1
SPT 315  Facility and Event Management 3
SPT 316  Practica in Fac. and Event Mgt. 1
SPT 320  Admin. Intercolleg. Ath. Pgm. 3
SPT 330  Globalization and Intl. Sport 3
SPT 400  Legal Aspects of Sport 3
SPT 405  Finance and Economics of Sport 3
SPT 410  Governance in Sport 3
SPT 425  Org. and Admin. of Sport 3
SPT 430  Sport Mgt. Senior Seminar 3
SPT 499  Internship in Sport Management 12
SOC 309  Sociology of Sport  OR  SPT 325  Sport and Society 3
HIS 348  History of American Sport  OR  SPT 340  Hist. Persp. Of American Spt.   3
CDC 305  Spt. Comm. and Media  OR  SPT 360  Sport Communications 3
   
Free Electives 19 to 21
   
Total 120

Additional requirements, not counted toward the General Education requirements, include:

  • Special Experience Course (1 course required): SPT 430 Sport Management Senior Seminar
  • Writing-Intensive Component Courses (2 courses required): SPT 310 Sport Marketing AND SPT 425 Organization and Administration of Sport
  • Laboratory Course (1 course required): Any Laboratory Course

Program Notes:

  • Dev. Math and Eng. course do NOT count towards graduation.
  • Once a student matriculates into the program, they may not transfer major courses into Cal U.
  • Students must have a 2.0 GPA prior to enrolling in SPT 499.
  • A business minor is strongly encouraged.

B.S., Sport Management Studies

Undergraduate Concentrations
Graduate Concentrations

 

Master of Science in Sport Management Studies

View admissions requirements

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