Sports Management

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Assistant Professor Roger Kerfoot

The Sports Management major prepares students for a variety of career paths connected to professional and collegiate sports, as well as the organizations that surround pro/college sports. Problem solving, data analysis, hard work, and creativity are critical skills emphasized within the major.

Majors & Programs

Courses

SM 280: The Business of Sport

An overview of the business aspects of professional and amateur sports. Topics covered include league structure and operation, sports marketing, pricing, media, agents and contracts.

SM 305: Athletic Administration

This course emphasizes the aims, objectives and problems involved in managing athletics and a physical education curriculum. Students study and analyze the strategic planning process in athletic departments. Assignments require real-life applications relevant to field settings.

SM 325: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Sports

This course examines legal and ethical concepts related to sports management, including, but not limited to participation and eligibility issues, negligence, Title IX, torts, and sports contracts. This course will also help students conceptualize concepts, models, and techniques to use when managing ethical dilemmas. Career opportunities and field experiences will be investigated. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to describe the basic principles of law, the different areas of concern for sport managers and opportunities in the field.

SM 355: Sports Promotion

An examination of the field of promotion, with a focus and applications into the sports industry. Topics covered include advertising, sales promotion, ticketing, sponsorships, and social media.

SM 410: Fitness Management

An application of business principles to the health/fitness/recreation area, with an emphasis on starting and running a successful fitness business. Students will be introduced to various types of fitness opportunities, including health and fitness clubs, athletic training facilities, indoor and outdoor recreation, and online/virtual fitness. Topics include legal/financial/budgeting issues, creating high value customer experiences, staffing/ training, organizational structure. The emphasis is NOT on training but on how to run a fitness-related business.

SM 461: Independent Study in Sports Management

Advanced independent study in the field of sport management. Open to senior majors seeking advanced study in their areas of specialization. May be repeated with different subject matter for a maximum of 6 hours.