The sports management major focuses on preparing students with leadership, business, and operations training within a sports industry context. Students develop management skills, industry exposure, diverse career experience, and how to apply them to professional and amateur sports settings.
Sports Management may be the right degree for you if you
- Enjoy a variety of tasks and want a career where “no two days are the same”
- Enjoy working with others and collaborating together with team members to make a difference
- Enjoy working in a fast paced environment which necessitates flexibility and adapting quickly to change
Why study Sports Management at Northwestern?
Beyond equipping you with the knowledge needed to succeed in a sports management career, you will learn biblical principles like ethics and Christ-like leadership––things you won’t find at a secular institution.
Students are taught by faculty who can draw from their personal experiences from working in the industry and who can bring in top-notch guest speakers to help you network. Making these connections can provide excellent real-world experience for students through practicums and internships that allow them to apply what they have learned in the classroom. In addition, being in the heart of the Twin Cities metro area brings a wide range of opportunities to work with a wide variety of athletic companies and sports organizations that are not available at colleges and universities in smaller markets.
Because of the cost of a higher education degree, you will want to understand the job outlook for sports-related occupations. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of entertainment and sports occupations is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.”
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Graduating with a Kinesiology Major, the professors have encouraged, prayed, and equipped me with the foundational classes that I use and value in my daily job responsibilities with the Minnesota Wild. Northwestern has also taught me what it means to be a servant leader within the sports environment and to serve others in a Christ-like manner.
Myself and others with the Twins organization are impressed with the structure and quality of the sports management program at UNW. The professional experience of the instructors and classes offered do a great job of preparing students for potential careers in sports. I always welcome the opportunity to guest speak in classes at UNW and network with the students there.
Sports management at UNW truly was a game changer for my sports industry career. The “real world” experiences brought into the classroom through a multitude of guest speakers and my professors not only provided me with great connections, but also prepared me for life in the sports industry after college. I encourage all UNW students to invest in building relationships whenever possible in this industry. You never know when you will need a reference, mentor, or examples to follow. Thank you for these amazing experiences and continuing to serve as a mentor for my sports industry career throughout my post college career development.
Serving as an adjunct professor in the sports management program at UNW was rewarding and gave me the chance to grow professionally and personally. I was able to learn as much from my students as I hope they learned from me. The opportunity to freely talk and share about my relationship with Christ and how that translates to sports was a blessing and allowed me to grow even more in my faith.
We have had a number of sports management students on our game night staff with the Timberwolves and Lynx. It is exciting to watch the enthusiasm that they bring to their experience with us, and that is a direct reflection of the program that is being developed at UNWSP. It is always a good experience for me to come to campus and talk to the students in your program!
Careers in sports management
There are a variety of career and academic pathways that begin with a degree in kinesiology.
What types of work are related to this degree?
- Accounts Manager/Corporate Partnerships
- Athletic Administrator
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Director
- Business Development
- Financial Management
- Gameday/Event Coordinator
- Parks and Recreation
- Personnel Management
- Professor of Sports Management
- Public Relations
- Resort Management
- Sports & Health Club Staff
- Sports Agent
- Sports Camp Director
- Sports Content Producer
- Sports Information Director
- Sports Law
- Sports Marketing
- Sports Mediator/Arbitrator
- Sports Writer/Blogger
- Ticket Sales
- Tournament Planner
- Youth Sports Coordinator
What will I learn?
You will learn to analyze, think critically, and execute. No matter which major or track you choose, you will be prepared for a career.
KIN1065
Sport in American Society
Introductory course in sports studies dealing with sport and physical activity as a psychological and sociological phenomenon. Emphasis on career opportunities in fields related to sport in American society.
KIN1065
Principles of Sports Management
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the field of sports management. The course will examine the fundamental components of sports management, including personnel issues, the development of the industry, current state, and future trends in the discipline. Students will be introduced the basic tenets and principles of sports marketing. Through guest speakers and site visits, students will have the opportunity to see theory in practice at various events, venues, and businesses.
KIN 3035
Sports Marketing
The relevant areas of marketing are applied to sport applications for spectator and participative sport organizations. Special emphasis is placed on strategic planning, product analysis, and the development and presentation of marketing packages. It is important that sport management students understand the vital role of marketing within the sport industry. Marketing may take several forms in sport businesses. Students must be able to differentiate between use of marketing to sell sport products and/or services (marketing of sport) from the use of sport and sport personality marketing to sell general or sport-related products or services (marketing through sport).
KIN 3045
Sports Ethics
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop moral, ethical, biblical, and philosophical values and skills in the area of sports ethics. Through reasoning and case studies, students will explore and clarify their career goals and sharpen their critical thinking skills for analyzing ethical issues and generating possible solutions to those issues in sports management.
KIN3075
Sports Leadership
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop moral and ethical values and philosophical skills in the area of sports leadership. Sports management issues and organizational behavior are examined and students are presented with opportunities to develop and understand key leadership and management sills. Students will analyze management decisions and their impact as well as the process of how decisions are made. The course’s association with a local professional coach or front office executive will provide a unique perspective into topics relating to leadership and management in the sports industry.
KIN4055
Sports Facility and Game Management
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop an understanding of planning, funding, and operating sporting events and the operation of the facilities in which events take place. Topics that will be discussed include building a facility, financing a facility, operation of a facility, producing events, day-to-day operations of a facility, concessions, maintenance, franchise interaction, game night production, and the career paths to become a successful sports event and/or facility manager.
Still have questions about this program or how to apply?
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Discover the Department of Kinesiology, Sports Management, & Physical Education
Professors at Northwestern are focused on their students first. Our faculty include experts in their respective fields who want to help you grow in your faith while you earn your degree.
