Sport Management Bachelor’s Degree
Work in the business of sport. Shawnee State's Sport Management bachelor's prepares you for the behind-the-scenes side of college and professional athletics, fitness, esports, and recreation — with two required internships and three concentration tracks to match where you want to go.
Program Overview
The Sport Management bachelor's degree at Shawnee State University is a non-certification concentration designed to equip students for diverse roles within the dynamic sports industry. This program focuses on the business and operational aspects of sport, preparing graduates for positions in corporate fitness centers, health clubs, college and professional sports organizations, governing bodies, media, and various recreation fields. You will learn about the "behind-the-scenes" work that keeps the world of sports running smoothly, from marketing and ticket sales to facility management and compliance.
You will gain a comprehensive understanding of critical business skills essential for success in the sport and exercise industry. The curriculum emphasizes financial management, marketing strategies tailored for sports, and navigating the legal landscape associated with the field. Beyond these practical skills, the program also builds a strong foundation in sport management philosophy, principles, and objectives, ensuring graduates are not only capable professionals but also ethical and knowledgeable contributors to the industry.
What makes Shawnee State's Sport Management degree unique are its distinctive learning opportunities. You will benefit from smaller class sizes, fostering a more personalized and engaging educational experience. A crucial component of the program is the requirement of two internship experiences. These hands-on, credit-bearing opportunities allow you to work directly within sports-related organizations, providing priceless real-world experience across a variety of fields and significantly enhancing your marketability during the job search process. This practical application complements classroom learning, ensuring you are well-prepared for their careers. Plus, in the Sport Management degree program, you will have opportunities to network with graduates from the program who are working both in and out of the sports industry.
Beyond the academic benefits, the Sport Management degree at Shawnee State University offers exceptional value. The university boasts one of the lowest tuition rates in the state of Ohio, making a high-quality education more accessible. Our small campus environment is complemented by a continually expanding sports program, currently featuring 20 intercollegiate sports with more on the horizon. This growth, coupled with ongoing new facilities expansion, provides students with a vibrant athletic environment and potential avenues for practical experience right on campus, further enhancing the overall value of the degree.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
At A Glance
Sport Management Bachelor’s Degree
Degree
B.S.B.
Format
On Campus
Length
4 years
Class Size
12:1
Location
Advanced Technology Center, Main Campus
Why Study Sport Management Bachelor’s Degree at Shawnee University
You'll do two internships, not just one. Two required practicum experiences put you directly inside sports organizations — and give you a track record before you graduate.
Pick a concentration that matches your goals. Choose from Business, Marketing & Communication, or Esports Business — and shape the degree around the part of the industry you want to work in.
You'll learn the business side, not just the sport side. Coursework covers sport-specific marketing, financial management, legal questions, and the ethics of the industry — the things that actually run an organization.
An active advisory board keeps the program current. A diverse board of industry professionals weighs in on curriculum changes so what you learn maps to where the field is going.
Tuition is among the lowest in Ohio. The Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years.
Beyond General Education Program requirements, the Sport Management degree includes 43 hours of Sport Management core, 18 hours in one of three concentrations (Business, Marketing & Communication, or Esports Business), and 21 hours of electives.
- Sport Management core (43 hours): management, marketing, finance, law, ethics, and operations applied to sport
- Concentration (18 hours): Business, Marketing & Communication, or Esports Business
- Electives (21 hours): tailored to your interests
You'll complete two required practicum experiences with sports-related organizations — college or professional teams, fitness facilities, recreation centers, governing bodies, or media outlets. That hands-on time builds the resume and the contacts that get you hired.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Explain the role of sport of society as a whole, and the role of sport in specific societal segments;
- Demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of management and leadership and describe the various skills, roles, and functions of sport managers;
- Apply fundamental marketing concepts to the sport industry, understand the unique aspects of the sport product, sport consumer, and sport product markets;
- Explain legal concepts and applications within the sport industry, and evaluate the role of sport governing bodies, including their authority, organizational structure, and functions;
- Explain concepts of morality and theories of ethics as they apply to sport.
The Sport Management B.S.B. is offered through the C. H. Lute School of Business in the College of Business and Engineering Technology. Classes meet in the Advanced Technology Center on SSU's Main Campus in Portsmouth, Ohio. SSU currently fields 20 intercollegiate sports with more on the horizon, giving you a vibrant athletic environment right on campus.
Graduates of this program go into roles like:
- Athletic department coordinator or manager
- Sports marketing or PR specialist
- Facility or operations manager
- Compliance officer (collegiate athletics)
- Esports event or league coordinator
- Recreation or fitness program director
- Ticket sales or sponsorship specialist
Hiring sectors include college and professional sports, recreation, fitness clubs, governing bodies, sport media, sports retail, and esports.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State’s tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
Sport Management Bachelor’s Degree Frequently Asked Questions
College and professional team operations, sport facilities, fitness clubs, recreation centers, league administration, sports marketing, and esports. The degree also opens doors in business management and higher education.
College and professional sports, retail sports business, corporate fitness, esports, and other sport-focused sectors.
Yes. A diverse industry advisory board provides ongoing input on the curriculum, and IACBE accreditation keeps the program aligned with the field's standards.
Yes. Two practicum experiences are required for graduation.
Mission Statement
The Sport Management program at Shawnee State University is a non-certification concentration designed to prepare students for employment in corporate fitness centers, health clubs, college and professional sports organizations, federations and governing bodies, media, and many areas of recreation.
The student enrolled in the Sport Management concentration will focus on business skills such as financial management, marketing, and legal questions associated with the sport and exercise industry. The curriculum provides a foundation of sport management philosophy, principles and objectives. Required practicum experiences serve to complement classroom learning and provide valuable experience which will facilitate the job search process.
Program handbook
For information about the Sport Management Bachelor's Degree, including policies, learning expectations, and requirements, contact:
Accreditation
The Sport Management Bachelor's Degree program is fully accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
