Majoring in Sports

Sport management looks at how the sports world actually runs: how organizations plan, finance, market, and deliver sport experiences. It pulls from business, law, communications, data analytics, psychology, and event operations. Students explore how teams, leagues, college athletics, agencies, apparel companies, venues, and community programs create value. The field is much broader than “working for a team.” Common paths include sponsorship and sales, partnerships, marketing and fan engagement, operations and facilities, media and content, athlete services, compliance, analytics, and sport tourism.

Across the country, universities house sport management in different places, and that choice shapes what students study and where they intern. Some programs sit in colleges of business and emphasize core business training with a sport lens. Others grew out of education, kinesiology, or human performance and lean into leadership, athlete development, and sport in society. A third group operates as standalone sport management departments or schools that blend business, media, events, and venue management under one roof. A final group lives in areas like public health, social sciences, or hospitality, reflecting the industry’s reach into wellness and tourism. Knowing these academic homes helps clarify the skills students will practice, the internships they are likely to pursue, and the alumni networks they will join.

Why this matters for IECs working with student-athletes

Many student-athletes want to stay connected to sport after their playing years, often at higher rates than the general student body. Matching interests to program structure is key. Business-housed majors foreground revenue, strategy, and data. Education or kinesiology homes prioritize leadership, athlete care, and community impact. Standalone departments often provide cross-disciplinary depth with embedded industry projects. Programs in public health, hospitality, or social sciences open doors to sport tourism, venue and event management, and community sport. For IECs, aligning a student’s goals with a program’s home department, required internships, on-campus opportunities, and alumni pipelines can turn a generic “sports major” into a targeted launchpad for a specific corner of the industry.

Housed in a College of Business

• UMass Amherst — McCormack Department of Sport Management (Isenberg School of Management). A legacy program inside a full business school, McCormack leans into finance, marketing, analytics, and strategy. Students draw on a 5,000 plus alumni network for consulting projects, internships, and early-career roles. Isenberg School of Management

• Ohio University — B.S. in Sport Management (College of Business). The major blends a business core with sport coursework and structured experiential learning. Ohio reports strong early outcomes and runs a Center for Sports Administration that pipelines internships and jobs. Ohio University

• University of Oregon — Sports Business, Lundquist College of Business. Undergrads major in business and add a sports business concentration coordinated by the Warsaw Sports Business Center, with hands-on projects and a large industry network. The center highlights ties to the Olympic movement and regional sport brands. business.uoregon.edu

• UCCS (Colorado Springs) — Sport Management, College of Business. AACSB business training pairs with local access to Olympic and Paralympic NGBs, pro clubs, and events, with internships built into the path. The emphasis is applied experience across events, sponsorship, sales, and operations. business.uccs.edu

• Drexel University — BSBA in Sport Business (LeBow College of Business). Students complete the business core plus sport economics, law, sales, and facility management, then stack paid co-ops for up to 18 months of industry experience. Co-op options include one or three rotations depending on plan. LeBow College of Business

• University of Tampa — Sport Management (with Sykes College of Business coursework). The major sits in the college of Natural and Health Sciences, but requires 12 internship credits and capstone coursework in venue and event management and sales. Tampa’s curriculum clearly maps foundation, segment, and capstone classes so students can plan experiential work early. University of Tampa

Housed in a College of Education, Kinesiology, or Human Performance

• University of Michigan — Sport Management (School of Kinesiology). Michigan positions sport as both business and culture, with case-based classes and consulting projects. Its Partners Program formalizes employer relationships for internships and first jobs. Kinesiology at Michigan

• UT Austin — Sport Management (Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, College of Education). Students study law, analytics, leadership, and resource management in sport, and complete a semester-long internship as part of the degree. Program materials cap how many internship credits count toward graduation, which helps students balance field work and coursework. College of Education UT Austin

• Ohio State — Sport Industry B.S. (College of Education and Human Ecology). The major blends social science with management, and includes a for-credit internship course with defined hour requirements. OSU outlines clear admissions and major structures so students can pace experiences. College of Education and Human Ecology

• University of Florida — B.S. in Sport Management (College of Health and Human Performance). Students choose a 12-credit, full-time internship option or a non-internship track that substitutes approved SPM coursework. The internship runs 12 weeks at 40 hours per week. University of Florida Catalog

• University of Miami — B.S.Ed. in Sport Administration (School of Education and Human Development). Field experience and internships are core to the curriculum, with the department actively placing undergraduates in visible sport settings. Miami’s bulletin details required Kinesiology credits and suggests a business minor. University of Miami Academic Bulletin

• UNC Chapel Hill — B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science, Sport Administration track. Coursework spans administration, finance, law, marketing, sales, analytics, and facility and event management, with at least one required internship before graduation. On campus clubs and weekly postings help students find sport administration roles. UNC Catalog

• Florida State University — Anne Spencer Daves College of Education. FSU frames the BS as an applied introduction to the industry with electives that let students target business, recreation, or related disciplines. The Career Center supports connections through career and internship fairs and centralized postings. Daves College of Education

• Indiana University Bloomington — Sport Marketing and Management, School of Public Health. A long-running program that mixes business exposure with public health context and requires for-credit experiential learning coordinated by dedicated internship staff. Students connect with IU Athletics and regional partners for placements. School of Public Health‐Bloomington

Standalone Sport Management Departments or Schools

• Rice University — Department of Sport Management, School of Social Sciences. Majors complete at least 300 internship hours and often work with Houston’s pro teams, supported by a robust course lineup and multiple internship courses. The department offers BA tracks in Sport Management and Sport Analytics. Sport Management | Rice University

• Syracuse University — Department of Sport Management, Falk College of Sport. A full-semester, 12-credit Senior Capstone anchors the program and places students with teams, agencies, venues, and media. The department’s industry ties show up in internships, visiting speakers, and capstone planning that begins in year one. Syracuse University

• Temple University — School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM). The BS in Sport and Entertainment Management pairs classroom work with individualized career coaching and urban internships across Philadelphia’s pro landscape. STHM highlights location and partner access as core advantages. sthm.temple.edu

• University of South Carolina — Department of Sport and Entertainment Management, College of HRSM. Undergraduates complete two internship stages, including a 13 week, 520 hour capstone. HRSM builds required work experiences across its majors to strengthen job readiness. University of South Carolina

Key Features of Strong Sport Management Programs

Regardless of the type or home of a sport management program, the best programs across the country share some common features that enhance student learning and career prospects. When evaluating sport management undergraduate programs, students should look for the following elements:

• Internships and Experiential Learning: Hands-on experience is crucial in sport management education. Top programs have strong internship placement rates and practicum opportunities, allowing students to work with sports organizations as part of their degree. In fact, practical experience through internships or project-based learning is often a required component of the curriculum. For example, UMass Amherst’s students can opt into an internship track and 100% of those students secure positions with sports organizations ranging from pro teams to media companies. Similarly, Ohio University reports a ~90% job and internship placement for its sport management seniors. Such experiences not only build real-world skills but also help students network their way into full-time jobs after graduation.

• Alumni Network and Career Outcomes: The strength of a program’s alumni network can significantly impact new graduates. Established sport management schools often boast alumni in prominent industry roles – and they leverage these connections for mentoring and job opportunities. For instance, the McCormack Department at UMass highlights a “worldwide alumni network featuring general managers, athletic directors, and executives from every corner of the industry”. Many programs track alumni success stories (like graduates working for the NBA, NFL, Nike, the NCAA, sports media, etc.) and involve successful alumni in speaking engagements or as internship sponsors. A strong alumni community can open doors for students in this very network-driven industry.

• Industry Partnerships and NCAA Connections: Look for programs that have formal partnerships or close ties with sports organizations – whether professional leagues, local teams, or NCAA athletic departments. Programs located at large Division I universities often take advantage of on-campus athletics; for example, students at Michigan and Texas can get “direct engagement” with their hugely successful NCAA athletic programs. Some schools partner with major events (Super Bowl, Final Four, etc.) to send students as volunteers or interns. Temple University’s urban location enables internships with Philadelphia’s pro teams and sporting events as part of the curriculum.

• Geography: A college in a sports-centric city or region (think New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, etc.) may have more opportunities in its backyard. Ultimately, programs that build relationships with the industry give their students a head start, whether through special projects with the NCAA, guest lectures from team executives, or collaborations with sport companies.

Sport management undergraduate programs are diverse – they may be housed in business schools, education/kinesiology departments, or stand-alone colleges, each bringing a slightly different academic flavor. Prospective students should consider which type aligns best with their interests and career goals. A business-housed program might be ideal if you want a traditional business education with a sports twist, whereas an education- or kinesiology-based program might appeal if you’re interested in the societal impact of sports or athlete development. No matter the type, the strongest programs blend classroom theory with real-world practice, have robust support systems and networks, and provide exposure to the broad $500+ billion sports industry. By carefully evaluating program structure and key features like internships, alumni outcomes, and partnerships, students across all parts of the country can find a sport management program that sets them up to turn their passion for sports into a successful profession.