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The sports business industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics says demand – and salaries – for sports managers should increase as the industry grows.

The sports management concentration under the bachelor’s program in sports and health sciences prepares students to meet the demands of sports business industry. The master’s program in sports management covers the fundamentals of the sports industry with specific focuses in sports law, marketing, promotion, public relations, finance, and economics.

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  • Listening - Paying attention to what other people are saying, and taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Managing Money - Determining how much money is required to get a job done, allocating those monies, and accounting for all expenditures.
  • Managing Time - Allocating and budgeting your time for different tasks so that things get done when needed.
  • Reasoning - Using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of the reactions of others, and understanding why they react the way that they do.
  • Public Speaking - Talking, giving speeches, or speaking in group settings to convey information, explain ideas, or give instructions.
  • Teaching - Teaching others how to do something.
  • Persuasion - Persuading, encouraging, and motivating others to accept your ideas.
  • Decision Making - Weighing out the options in a situation or a problem and logically choosing the best course of action.
  • Helping - Actively looking for ways to help people.

To identify what education or training is typical for careers within the sports management field, use the O*Net hyperlinks below and click on “Job Zone.”

As with all majors, the education you receive serves as a foundation of knowledge that prepares you for what you may face in the professional world. The career field you chose may require additional education or experience.

Gaining real life experience is an ideal way to start a new career. The job board within CareerLink has an extensive list of internships. Browse through the internships organized by interest, location, or organization. Students with open elective credit in many programs can in an internship course for elective credit. To learn more about this option log-in to CareerLink and search Internship in the resources section.

Government Internship Programs

In addition to the organizations mentioned above, there are government-organized internship programs, many of which require students to maintain either a half-time or full-time student status. The best ways to identify potential opportunities such as these is to contact branch offices directly, to search USAJobs.gov, or to look at the agencies' career portals. Keep in mind that these positions are not always posted online, so direct contact with the agency is key.

Pathways

The Pathways Program is a federal initiative that offers internship programs for current students and training and career development opportunities for recent graduates. Recent graduates must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans, due to their military service obligation, will have up to six years to apply).The internship program for current students replaces the former Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).

The Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)

PMF is designed to attract to federal service outstanding men and women from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a graduate student completing or expected to complete, during the current academic year, an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university.

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)

WRP is coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, and aims to provide summer work experience, and in some cases full-time employment, to college students with disabilities. The program develops partnerships with other federal agencies, each of whom makes a commitment to provide summer jobs and a staff recruiter. Each year, recruiters interview about 1,500 students with disabilities at college and university campuses across the nation, and develop a database listing the qualifications of each student.

There are several government agencies and organizations that seek candidates with degrees in Sports Management. The list below provides examples of places one might find employment using his or her degree.

  • Athletic Associations
  • Athletic Arenas and Stadiums
  • Corporate Health Facilities
  • Sporting Goods Companies
  • Country Clubs and Resorts
  • Coach: Professional, College, or K-12 level teams
  • Administration - Professional athletic organizations
  • Recreation Departments

While many of the major job search engines will have positions in several fields to choose from, the list below is specific to the sports management field.

Involvement in professional organizations is a great way to stay up-to-date on new technology, tools, and best practices in your field. Professional organizations are also a great networking opportunity. Below are a few professional organizations you may be interested in as a sports management major.

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