Sport management BS

The bachelor of science (BS) program in sport management is for students who are interested in working with professional, collegiate, or community sports and athletic organizations. Students will gain knowledge and experience in the many aspects of sport, enabling them to find a career path that will excite and challenge them.

The sport management major has dedicated faculty who are experts in sport. Their expertise ranges from leadership in sport, to marketing, to policy and administration. Our faculty also have experience in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. They excel in connecting research and academics to hands-on experiences. With this type of faculty support, students get diverse experiences in and outside of the classroom.

Advising

CEHD students

Call or email CEHD Student Services to schedule an appointment with your student services advisor.
Phone: 612-625-3339
Email: cehdinfo@umn.edu

Sport management BS majors

Major advisor: Tracey Hammell
thammel@umn.edu

Learn more about the sport management BS program from a student's perspective.

Why study sport management at the University of Minnesota?

The sport management program at the University of Minnesota is:

Located in a major sport market home to professional teams, top advertising and sport marketing organizations, and the National Sports Center.
Taught by world-renowned faculty and scholars committed to student success.
Offers major-specific advisors and career counselors who will support students throughout their program.
Focused on experiences inside and outside the classroom to prepare students for their future career.
Designed to provide a robust foundation that will prepare students to be successful in any business environment.
Enhanced by supporting coursework to tap into individual interests and passions.

About this program

Core courses

Core courses (34 credits) provide students with a broad and diverse understanding of the industry. Students engage in diverse topics, work in small groups, and hear from industry experts to further their understanding of the industry. In addition to traditional classroom credit, all majors will participate in a practicum internship experience. Read more about the practicum experience under internship and career exploration.

See the University Catalog for information on the current core courses and their descriptions.

Focus electives

Focus electives (23 credits) allow students to learn about topics of interest and support their future career goals. Students can take courses from the approved list, or choose their own focus elective courses after discussing their course ideas with their departmental advisor.

Students may also want to consider a complimentary minor program when deciding on their focus elective courses. Minor courses can also fulfill focus elective requirements with advisor approval.

See the University Catalog for information on the current approved focused electives.

Practicum field experience

To graduate, sport management students participate in an eight-credit field experience practicum. This practicum provides students with hands-on experience in the industry. Students apply their coursework to the industry, build their resumes, and network with others. To begin the practicum, students complete at least half of the major requirements.

Students are encouraged to think about this early and often! Thoughtful preparation helps students decide what type of internship experience(s) best fit with their career goals. To help guide students through the process, advisors, faculty members, and career services professionals will be available.

For more information, see the practicum learning agreement form.

Degree competencies

Students in the sport management program learn about the business of sport through many outlets:

Ethics and law
Management and organization
Diversity in sport
Sales and fundraising
Marketing and business
Facilities and event operation

Outside of the classroom, students gain hands-on experience that prepared them to enter the workforce through:

Job shadowing and networking
Study abroad and national student exchange
Research and involvement
Practical experience/practicum

Become a sport management major

In order to enter the sport management major, students must complete specific prerequisites and have a total of 45 college level credits completed. Current CEHD students should contact your Student Services Advisor. Students who are either U of M students in a different college or transferring from outside the U of M should review the transfer credit information below.

Transfer credit

To declare a sport management BS major, students must enroll in the College of Education and Human Development. The resources below are for all transfer students. Transfer students include current U of M students who need to transfer colleges and non-U of M students who need more information regarding how their non-U of M credits will transfer.

What our students have to say

Make sure to take the opportunity to work—your name and work will stay with you throughout your career, and each experience is important. And just, whatever you do and whomever you encounter, make a positive impact.

Name Kara Kawakami Sport management BS

Manager of premium sales for the Minnesota Vikings. Read more about Kawakami's sport management experiences.

Internships and career exploration

What graduates do

A degree in sport management prepares students to become leaders in the sport industry. With this degree, there are a wide variety of career options to explore, including but not limited to:

Account management
Community relations
Facilities management
Coaching
Sales and marketing

Career Services

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a career counselor in CEHD Career Services to work on developing their marketing materials (resume and cover latter) and their preparedness to find jobs and experiences: