Sports Management, Bachelor of Science
Purpose
The Bachelor of Science degree program in Sports Management provides students with the knowledge and practical experience necessary for a career in sports management. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to seek employment in a variety of organizations, including professional sports organizations, collegiate sports, business, and non-profit organizations.
Program of Study
Students receive a broad-based, personalized education in sports management. The program, which integrates theory with practical internship requirements, develops students for the opportunities available in sports management. In addition to the sports management curriculum, the program includes a strong business management component, providing students with the skills necessary to succeed in the corporate areas of this field. The degree program offers students a variety of hands-on experiences which enhance their opportunities for career choices. Also, the general education requirements provide a well-rounded academic foundation.
Program Competencies
In addition to achieving the Wilmington University undergraduate graduation competencies given in the Academic Information section of this catalog, upon completion of the Sports Management program, the graduate will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective information literacy and communication skills with valid and reliable research.
- Apply ethical standards as required by sports management professionals.
- Evaluate differences between sports management, sports marketing, and sports finance within the firm.
- Differentiate between the legal system and sports compliance and its impacts the areas of amateur and professional sports.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the use of strategic planning, marketing, facilities management, and sports analytics in college, professional, and recreational sports.
- Recognize the diversity and societal impact of sports in the past and present day society.
Curriculum
General Education Requirements (27 credits)
| CTA 226 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| ENG 131 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| HUM 360 | Human World Views: 3500 BCE–1650 AD | 3 |
| HUM 361 | Human World Views: 1650 AD–Present | 3 |
| MAT 121 | College Math I | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
Humanities Elective (6 credits)
Natural Science Elective (3 credits)
Social Science Electives (6 credits)
Select two courses from the following:
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| | History/Political Science Elective | 3 |
Business Core (33 credits)
Choose one of the following:
| BBM 411 | Operations and Systems Management | 3 |
| HRM 311 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
Sports Management Program Core (30 credits)
The College of Business programs require a minimum grade of “C” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C” in any required program core course must retake that course.
| SPM 301 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports | 3 |
| SPM 302 | Sociology of Sport | 3 |
| SPM 305 | Sports Management I | 3 |
| SPM 306 | Sport Media Relations | 3 |
| SPM 405 | Sports Management II | 3 |
| SPM 406 | Sport Facilities Management and Planning | 3 |
| SPM 407 | Sports Marketing and Promotions | 3 |
| SPM 408 | Financing Sport Operations | 3 |
| SPM 490 | Sports Management Internship I | 3 |
| SPM 491 | Sports Management Internship II | 3 |
Sports Management Business Electives (6 credits)
Recommended electives in this category are as follows:
Free Electives (9 credits)
Note: Spanish fluency can be of great value in a number of sports management positions. Students should consider the following courses as their elective choices:
Suggested Program Sequence
Freshman
1st Semester
| CTA 226 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MAT 121 | College Math I | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
| | | |
| | Social Science Elective | |
| | OR | |
| FYE 101 | First Year Experience Seminar | 3 |
2nd Semester
| BBM 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| SCI | Natural Science Elective | 3 or 4 credits |
| | Social Science Elective | |
Sophomore
1st Semester
2nd Semester
Junior
1st Semester
2nd Semester
| HUM 361 | Human World Views: 1650 AD–Present | 3 |
| SPM 406 | Sport Facilities Management and Planning | 3 |
| SPM 490 | Sports Management Internship I | 3 |
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Humanities Elective | 3 |
Senior
1st Semester
| BBM 301 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| SPM 407 | Sports Marketing and Promotions | 3 |
| | Social Science Elective | |
| | SPM/Business Elective | |
| | SPM/Business Elective | |
2nd Semester
| BBM 402 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| SPM 408 | Financing Sport Operations | 3 |
| SPM 491 | Sports Management Internship II | 3 |
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | SPM/Business Elective | |
Sports Management with a Concentration in Nonprofit Management
The nonprofit industry is one of the fastest growing employers. The industry is seeking out marketers, HR professionals, and managers with an interest in strategic planning within the nonprofit industry. This nonprofit concentration will focus on the following content areas: Introduction to nonprofits, fiscal management, advocacy and public policy, and one specific identified nonprofit course in the student’s program. There are four core courses in the concentration and one specific program course or an internship. Two of the courses are shared between the College of Behavioral Science and the College of Business. This is a concentration for bachelor’s degrees in Business Management, Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Sports Management.
Core requirements (12 credits)
| NFP 301 | Intro to Nonprofit Agencies | 3 |
| NFP 302 | Management of the Nonprofit Organization | 3 |
| NFP 303 | Foundations of Fiscal Management for Nonprofit | 3 |
| NFP 304 | Advocacy and Public Policy | 3 |
Program specific requirements (3 credits)
Students can choose ONE of the following 5 courses:
| BMK 339 | Marketing for Nonprofits | 3 |
| FIN 331 | Finance for Nonprofit | 3 |
| HRM 361 | HRM in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| NFP 307 | Fundraising for Nonprofits | 3 |
| SPM 309 | Sports and Athletics Fundraising | 3 |
Students may substitute any program specific course for an alternate NFP course of their choosing or an internship.
Total concentration courses are five courses equaling 15 credits.
Sports Management Completion Degree
What is a Completion Degree
A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Curriculum
Transfer students who hold an associate degree from a partner institution are required to take the following Sports Management courses.
Sports Management Core