B.A. in Sport Management

YOUR FUTURE IN SPORT MANAGEMENT!

Want a career working in sports? We can make it happen! Our graduates have gone on to work for professional sports teams as well as many other sports/recreation/fitness-related organizations. And it’s no wonder…we have a unique curriculum, boundless experiential opportunities, individualized attention, and faculty who are passionate about seeing you succeed.

The sport industry is one of the largest in the United States with an annual valuation of $400+ billion; globally, this figure nearly doubles. The explosive growth of sport is reflected in the expansion of professional, semi-professional, amateur, and youth sport leagues; sport marketing, advertising and promotional firms; community recreation centers and country clubs; increased sports opportunities for all populations; and around the clock use of facilities for school, community, and corporate sport and entertainment activities.

At Otterbein, you’ll gain real-world experience in sport through numerous practicums and internship opportunities throughout all four years. You’ll integrate your formal academic preparation with a semester-long work experience at home or abroad. You’ll learn to communicate, problem solve, collaborate, and lead! With so much hands-on experience before you graduate, you’ll be strongly positioned to land a sports industry job in areas such as: marketing, public relations, sales, arena management, retail, law, media, broadcasting, event management, finance, athletic management, and many more. And, we’ve got the graduates to prove it! Our students have gone on to work for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Columbus Crew, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Mets; the NCAA and OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association); Turner Sports, IMG, and the PGA; Oakley, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Under Armor; Lucas Oil-NASCAR and Summit Motor Speedway Park; The Ohio State University Athletic Department and Jerome Schottenstein Center Arena; and many other recreation centers, country clubs, sportsplexes, stadiums and arenas, colleges/universities, and high schools.

YOU, TOO, CAN HAVE A CAREER WORKING FOR:

  • Professional Sports Organizations
  • Sport Marketing Companies
  • Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Retailers
  • Sport Governing Bodies
  • High School and College Athletic and Recreation Departments
  • Stadium and Arena Operations
  • Sports Law Firms
  • Sports Communication
  • And More!

About the Program

The goal of the Sport Management program is not only to prepare students to be leaders in the sport industry, but to provide them with the competencies that will allow them to lead in any industry. It focuses on experiential learning with students being actively engaged in the sport industry and building a professional network.

Otterbein’s Sport Management program is listed on the North American Society for Sport Management’s website. It has been reviewed and analyzed according to 10 core content areas in sport:

  • Management and Organizations Skills
  • Ethical and Reasoning Skills
  • Legal Aspects and Governance
  • Marketing
  • Communication
  • Effective Communication through written means and public presentations
  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Governance
  • Internship Experience
  • Globalization; Living in a Diverse Society

An interdisciplinary knowledge base with the practical application that knowledge through field practicums, internships, classroom activities and team projects, and case studies are emphasized. An internship in an approved setting, supervised by a specialist in the field is required.

Recommended Minors

  • Business Administration
  • Accounting
  • Public Relations
  • Sport Communication / Broadcasting
  • Legal Studies
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Marketing Analytics

Program Contact:

Dr. Teri Walter

Dr. Kristy McCray

Dr. Megan Chawansky

Sport Management Club

The Sport Management Club is open to any Otterbein undergraduate student who is interested in the sport and/or recreation business. The organization is totally student-run, under the supervision of sport management faculty advisors. The objectives of the SMGT Club are to provide professional development and networking opportunities within the sport industry, recruit incoming students, and further the knowledge of the sport management profession.

Resources

Interested in a career in Business, Accounting, and Economics along with Sport Management?  

The Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics (BAE) at Otterbein is dedicated to providing a personalized education of distinction that leads our graduates to inquiring, ethical, humane, and productive lives as global citizens. Our faculty are focused on action-oriented learning by integrating classroom knowledge with practice, through internships, research, service projects, study abroad, participation in professional associations, and networking with employers, faculty, alumni, community leaders and recruiters.

Visit our Department of Business, Accounting, & Economics page for more information.
Student Learning Outcomes University Learning Goals (KMERI*)
1. Students will be knowledgeable about management positions in a variety of sport/recreation/fitness-related career fields (by developing their understanding of societal and behavioral influences on sport and sport business, management and leadership within sport organizations; administrative, marketing, legal, economic, and financial principles and concepts; as they apply to diverse sport and sport organizations at the national and international/global levels). Knowledgeable, Inquisitive
2. Students will develop ethical business and administrative/managerial practices. Knowledgeable
3. Sport management students will obtain strong communication (written and oral) and organizational skills in preparation for the multi- faceted prospects of working with individual clients and/or large groups of interested constituents. Multi-literate, Engaged
4. Students will be provided opportunities where decision-making and critical thinking/analysis skills are called upon thereby preparing them for the uncertainties and demands of real-world circumstances. Engaged
5. Students will gain an understanding of the diverse roles “sports” play in society, both globally and locally. Responsible
6. Students will develop an understanding of the legal aspects of sport, as well as an overview of the variety of legal issues that surround the sport industry. In addition, students will develop a basic understanding and working knowledge of the U.S. legal system and understand the legal terms, concepts, and issues that influence sport management. Multi-literate
7. Students will be able to critically analyze a sport/fitness/recreation facility and make informed decisions regarding the techniques and strategies for planning, designing, promoting, equipping, operating, managing, and maintaining that facility. Multi-literate
8. Students will be able to develop and critically evaluate a comprehensive sport marketing plan by accessing and interpreting primary and secondary data sources, understanding key consumer behaviors, and integrating sport marketing concepts. Knowledgeable, Engaged
9. Students will be able to gain practical experience in career exploration. Students will complete and reflect on self-assessments and job performance evaluations, explore potential careers, network with professionals in the field, and participate in direct field experience(s).  A reflection and analysis of the results of the preceding experiences will enable the students to develop a professional resume, cover letter, and elevator pitch, as well as allow them to determine their preferred sport-related career and worksite setting. (SMGT 2900-Career Exploration option) Engaged, Inquisitive
10. Students will be able to effectively apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout the curriculum to real world settings. (SMGT 3920 & 3930) Engaged, Knowledgeable, Responsible
11. Students will be able to analyze situations and apply the principles of appropriate leadership skills and behaviors related to sport management and sport leadership responsibilities. (SMGT 4800 and 4900) Engaged

*NOTE: KMERI refers to Otterbein's learning goals. It stands for Knowledgeable, Multi-literate, Engaged, Responsible, and Inquisitive. To learn more about KMERI, visit our University Learning Goals page.

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