BSEd in Sport Management

This interdisciplinary program will give you the knowledge and skills to manage sport and exercise programs.

The Sport Management program prepares students for careers in the global sport industry. Our curriculum blends business practices with the needs of the sport industry, studying the place sport has in society, examining the sociological and philosophical dimensions of sport, and governmental and industry policies that apply to it. Students will learn through hands-on, real-world experiential learning and case studies led by our esteemed faculty.

Upon graduation, many of our students will begin careers at sports organizations at the professional, collegiate, or secondary level, while others explore corporate businesses and sponsorships opportunities. Many students will pursue post-graduate studies in law, business, or kinesiology.

Our graduates work in a variety of industries that include the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS; with professional sports teams like the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United, Atlanta Falcons, Gwinnett Stripers, Dallas Cowboys; within agencies like IMG, Creative Artists Agency, Octagon, and Melt; and with industry-leading organizations like ESPN, the NCAA, Nike, and many more.

Highlights

Learn business skills as they relate to the sport industry that will prepare you for graduate or industry work in law, business, and kinesiology
Faculty are experts in marketing and consumer behavior, economics, finance, research and analytics, legal and ethical issues, organizational behavior, sales and strategy, diversity and social justice, and risk management related to sport
Experiential learning opportunities at the top sport business organizations across the world
Location proximity and relationships to every major professional sport league as well as University of Georgia Athletic Association, Augusta National, East Lake Country Club and other top sport venues
Ability to combine and use academic coursework and additional resources that the University of Georgia provides, especially through the Terry College of Business and Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Video: Study Sport Management at UGA

Understand the law, policies, marketing, economics, and social justice issues that drive the sport industry in the University of Georgia’s Department of Kinesiology.

Curriculum

Our program will help you develop a foundation in finance, economics, budgeting, marketing, law, governance and policy, facility design, event operations and human resources management, and you will learn how to apply these principles to the sport industry.

On the surface, our B.S.Ed. in Sport Management teaches the knowledge and skills to manage sport and exercise programs. But the breadth and depth of the program prepares you for diverse career opportunities in organizations such as:

Professional sport teams
College athletic departments
Sport marketing and public relations firms
Sports agencies
Health and fitness facilities

Courses

Sample SM Course Offerings:

Sport Economics and Policy
Sport Marketing
Sport Event Management
Managing the Legal Aspects of Sport
Social Aspects of Sport
Sport Finance
Sport Policy and Governance
Philosophy and Ethics in Sport
Sport Organizational Behavior
Introduction to Sports Analytics
Sport Sales, Fundraising, and Revenue Generation

As a sport management major, you must complete:

39 hours of required coursework covering the foundations listed above
12 hours of major-related electives
6 hours of general electives
At least 3 practicum hours, with the possibility for 3 more through elective choices

Electives allow you to pursue interests in a variety of focus areas, including delving into any of the foundation topics or exploring other areas such as:

Communication and public relations
Entertainment Law
Journalism and media
Kinesiology
Sports management history and issues including diversity and gender
Business (Marketing, Finance, Management, MSIT, Entrepreneurship)

For a full description, visit the UGA Bulletin

Many of our students pursue dual degrees with the Terry College of Business. Others extend their studies through graduate programs in sport management or in other areas including law, communications, journalism, or public administration.

Download 2023-2024 Four-Year Plan (PDF) Download 2024-2025 Four-Year Plan (PDF)

How to Apply

Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia

The UGA Office of Undergraduate Admissions oversees the application process required for the university. Therefore, a student must be accepted to UGA before entering a College of Education program.

Start UGA Application

Part 2: Apply to the B.S.Ed. in Sport Management

UGA Students are eligible to apply to the major when they have completed or have all classes in progress in Areas I-VI. There is an ongoing application process to the major. Students can go to their Athena account and select My Programs to add the major.

Deadline to Apply

Ongoing

Experiential Learning

The Sport Management program at the University of Georgia provides internship opportunities that provide valuable educational experiences for students. Students are required to fulfill experiential learning credits as a graduation requirement.

Download the Sport Management Internship Guide (PDF)

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UGA Alumni Sports Industry Council

The UGA Alumni Sports Industry Council is an external advisory board made up of sport industry veterans who foster important links between the program and the sports business community. The group also provides student support in the areas of professional mentoring, program services, such as guest lecturers and scholarship support, as well as internship and employment placement.

Alumni Spotlights

Josh Isom

I work in the University of Colorado’s athletic business office as the Procurement and Payable Services Accountant. In this role, I oversee all things purchasing and accounts payables. I also play an active role in contract management, including developing the solicitation and writing of contracts. UGA’s Sport Management program provided me with both a rigorous practical classroom experience with some of the best professors in the country and an opportunity to get my foot in the door by interning with the UGA Athletic Association. Having the program on my resume greatly helped me get into grad school and subsequently obtain my first full time position in sports. I’m confident the skills acquired from UGA’s Sport Management program will give me a competitive advantage in all my future endeavors in college athletics.

I would tell current UGA Sport Management Students to get involved early and often. Regardless of whether you want to work in college or professional athletics, there are ample opportunities with UGA Athletics or down the road in Atlanta to kick start your career. Reach out for internship/volunteer experiences and when you get them, focus on doing your job with excellence and building your network. Be intentional about getting better every day, always have a positive attitude, and cultivate healthy relationships.

Kathleen Rigsbee

I am currently working for the San Francisco 49ers as the Group Sales Consultant. My job is to sell groups of 20 or more to all 49ers games, as well as the PAC-12 Championship and the Redbox Bowl. I take my clients all the way through the sales process from the initial pricing and discovery conversation to servicing their account before the game. I am also responsible for renewing them for the next season. I run the entire department as one consultant with help from my manager. The UGA Sport Management program prepared me for this role by utilizing group projects where we tackled real life situations. I was able to learn leadership skills and accountability through these projects. I also gained many opportunities through the UGA Sport Management program, such as working for the UGA Athletic Department as a sales and marketing intern. This is where I began my career in ticket sales!

My advice to current UGA Sport Management students is take advantage of every opportunity to learn and network. I was able to get my first job out of college as a membership sales associate at the Atlanta Hawks through my internship experience. The Hawks then led me to my promotion to the 49ers. Every opportunity presented to you, whether it be an extra class or major or an unpaid internship, is a stop on your path to landing that dream job in sports. It is important to grow your network and meet people, but it is more important to continue to expand on those relationships with the people you have met. Never take for granted the unique opportunities you have as a sport management major or a sports professional! Go Dawgs!

Additional Resources

Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.

Faculty and Advisors

The College’s programs are taught by dedicated faculty who are experts in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students succeed both in their programs and professionally.

Meet the Faculty

All undergraduate students at UGA meet with an academic advisor each semester. This meeting is critical to student success and provides a chance to discuss courses and electives, certification criteria, and general graduation requirements.

Find Your Advisor

Tuition and Financial Aid

Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.

Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.

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