Majors, minors & more
Sport Management
College of Education
- Offered as:
- Major
- Minor
Overview
A sport management education provides students with the planning and administrative skills needed to contribute to the success of organizations that focus on sport activities, sport products, or sport services.
- Strengths of the program
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- Our faculty members are recognized authorities in sport law, sport governance, sport sociology, ethics, marketing, and finance.
- Pursue practical, hands-on experience with Pac-12 athletics and in the University's intramural sports program — one of the largest in the United States.
- Personalize your program with specializations in business or communication.
- WSU offers the only bachelor of arts in sport management degree in the Pacific Northwest.
- Requirements and core courses
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Bachelor of arts in sport management
In addition to 37 credit hours of general education requirements, sport management students take a series of core courses that provide a foundation in all aspects of sport management.
Core courses
ACCTG 230—Introduction to Financial Accounting
SpMgt 276—Introduction to Sport Management
SpMgt 290—Sport Programs
SpMgt 365—Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Sport
SpMgt 367—Sport in American Society
SpMgt 374—Sport Finance
SpMgt 377—Sport Law
SpMgt 379 - Media and Communication in Sport
SpMgt 394—Practicum in Sport Management
SpMgt 464—Sport Marketing
SpMgt 468—Managing Sport Organizations
SpMgt 489—Theory and Application in Sports Event Management
SpMgt 490—Internship Seminar
SpMgt 491—Sport Management Internship
Engl 402—Technical and Professional WritingBusiness or Communication specialization area—21 credit hours
Elective courses: 13-15 credit hours
Practicum and internship
The sport management major includes practicum hours and a final internship—so students graduate with not only with foundational knowledge, but professional skills and experience.
The practicum involves 180 hours (4 credits) of work experience with sport programs on campus or in the Pullman community. Programs may include intercollegiate athletics, campus recreation, community recreation, school/youth sport programs, private health clubs, non-profit organizations (Special Olympics, YMCA), and professional sport organizations as well as media outlets and sponsorship entities.
The 10- to 12-week internship is the bridge between course work and employment and begins after all classes have been completed. Internship possibilities include work with minor and major professional sports, college athletics or intramural programs, retail sales or services, and various youth sports organizations. Students choose the agency, which should provide an outgrowth of preparation in the major and the area of specialization.
Graduation requirements
See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.
- Scholarships and financial aid
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A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.
Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.
To get all the financial help WSU can provide, start by doing these two things:
- Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need.
Click here for more info about WSU scholarships and financial aid
- Career options in sport management
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- University athletic programs (alumni relations, marketing and promotions, athletic conference offices, event management)
- Community agencies (Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, recreational sports programs)
- Amateur sport programs (Special Olympics, sports clubs and camps, community sports programs)
- Professional sports (public relations, corporate sponsorships, group sales)
- Sport merchandising (team sales, regional sales)
- Radio/TV (sports production, sports broadcasting, public relations)