Sport Management

This course acquaints students with sport as a reflector and transmitter of values incorporated into the nature of sports in our society. Topics include sport and mass media, violence in sport, deviant behavior and sport, issues of race and culture in sport, and gender in sport.

This course will seek to provide you an overview of the sport industry and cover the basic fundamental knowledge and skill sets required of a sport manager. This course introduces topics such as management; leadership and governance; communications and media; sport marketing and sales; sponsorship; sport finance and economics; facility and event management; legal principles; ethics; and global sport. You will explore the aforementioned topics in order to make links between the segments, delineate larger concepts and issues within each, and draw conclusions related to overreaching policy implications. Offered fall.

This course will examine the history of sports in the United States and the world from the colonial period to the present. During the semester, you will learn how various types of sports emerged, how views and functions of sports changed over time, and how the world of sports often transcends athletic competition. Throughout the course you will be asked to consider how sports has mirrored and sometimes shaped issues around race, ethnicity, gender, class, amateurism, professionalism and politics. Offered fall. Exploration area: History.

The philosophy of sport course explores metaphysical, axiological, ethical, epistemological, and aesthetic questions about sport. Critical thinking, writing, and reasoning skills are developed though the examination of topic areas within the philosophy of sport. Topics covered involve aspects associated with foundations of philosophy, exploring the meaning of sport and games, theories of ethics, rights and responsibilities, concepts of morality, questions of social responsibility, equity and fairness in sport, and application of critical reasoning skills. Offered fall. Exploration area: Humanities

The primary focus of this course is the multifaceted aspects of facility and event management. Course materials are designed to explore the many aspects of sport event and facility management including sport event operations, facility design and construction, human resource management, risk management, liability and negligence, revenues and expenses, ticketing and box office management, alcohol and food management, and contracts. Offered fall.

Students are introduced to moral and ethical issues related to sport leadership.  The development of a personal code of ethics and an understanding of social responsibility in the sport management setting are specific goals of this course.   In addition, the course focuses on the skills, roles and functions of sport managers as they relate to leadership and governance of sport organizations.  Students will be challenged to integrate management and leadership theories with governance and policy practices.  Specifically, this course concentrates on the governance structure, organization, and policy issues of various amateur and professional sport organizations. (WI) Offered spring.

This 80-hour minimum experience (2 credits) for exercise science majors and 120-hour minimum experience (3 credits) for sport management majors is organized to allow for student participation in programs relevant to the student’s major and professional interests.  Graded Pass/Fail. 

Gender issues and sport will be examined through a multidisciplinary approach utilizing theoretical constructs. Biophysical, sociocultural, political, sexual, and legislative perspectives will be explored.

This course is intended to prepare students to successfully organize, administer, and facilitate athletic programs at the interscholastic, intercollegiate, and recreational levels. Topics include leadership, organizational design, hiring, staff development, performance evaluation, compensation strategies, scheduling, programming, fundraising, fiscal management, legal issues, health and safety issues, and equipment and facility maintenance. Challenges and standards associated with administration and programming are considered.

This course will provide students with an understanding of financial theories and principles utilized in the sport industry. Topics will include the preparation of financial plans, strategic budgeting, capital and operating budgets, sources of revenue, supply and demand concepts in the sport industry, and other financial theories pertinent to sport industry professionals.

This course is an overview of current theory and practice in coaching education. Topics include sport pedagogy, physiology, psychology, administration, and risk management. This course addresses issues common across all levels of performance and competition as well as issues specific to child, youth, and collegiate coaching. Principles of coaching are applied in a laboratory setting. Offered fall of odd-numbered years. Prerequisite: ESS 100

This is an integrative experience course (IE) designed to examine sport from a global perspective.  The purpose of an IE course is to examine a central topic from the perspectives of multiple disciplines.  In this course we will use the phenomenon of sport to explore its political, socio economical, historical, cultural, ethnic, gender and racial impact on the world around us. We will also explore the relationship of sports in the context of nationalism, capitalism, business and corruption.

This course extends student understanding of basic marketing principles and applies that understanding to sales and marketing in sport business. Topics include sales and marketing aspects of sport, economic research and feasibility studies, data collection, segmentation, analysis, consumer behavior, public relations, sponsorships, media, promotion, placement, networking, and cultivating sales opportunity.

This course examines the legal aspects of sport (i.e., coaching; administering fitness; instructional, recreational, and athletic programs; sport marketing). Areas of study include but are not limited to:  constitutions; legislative enactments; case law related to administrative, constitutional, contract, labor, product liability, and tort law; and risk management techniques.

This course brings together all aspects of sport management building on the foundation and specialized course prerequisites in the Exercise and Sport Sciences and Business Administration programs. Course content includes organizing, motivating, planning, staffing, and supervising.  Emphasis is on the practical application of the sport management knowledge base.

This 200-hour minimum experience in exercise and sport sciences is organized to allow for student participation in programs relevant to the student’s major and interests.  This final required internship experience serves as an opportunity to apply and more fully develop those professional competencies necessary for a successful work experience.  Graded Pass/Fail.

In this first semester of the capstone students explore a topic of their choosing.  This exploration involves reviewing and synthesizing the primary literature in the area as well as developing an original area of inquiry and the methods necessary to complete the investigation. Throughout the process, students review, learn, and incorporate basic techniques and procedures associated with the research process. (WI)

In this course students complete the investigation of the topic they designed in SM 487 and present the results and analysis of their findings. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of various types of data and information as well as the interpretation of the findings. (WI)