Sport and Fitness Management

Overview

Sport and fitness management programs prepare people to run health clubs and manage sports teams.

Sport and fitness management programs include topics such as:

Business management
Marketing
Program planning and development
Facilities management
Health and safety standards
Public relations

Schools

Many community colleges and two-year schools offer associate degree programs in sport and fitness management. An associate degree program usually takes two years of full-time study.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in sport and fitness management. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

Many universities offer graduate degrees in sport and fitness management. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

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Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Some programs require you to take courses in statistics, economics, and calculus before you can be admitted. A personal interview may be required as well.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Accounting
Anatomy and Physiology
Biology
Business and Applied English
Business Computer Applications
Business Law
Business Math
Chemistry
Economics
Fitness and Conditioning Activities
Health and Fitness
Introduction to Business
Leadership
Marketing
Physical Education
Psychology
Public Speaking
Recreation Sports
Safety and First Aid
Sociology
Sports Physiology
Team Sports

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree and good grades. You also need to submit letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

Some programs require that your bachelor's degree be in a related major such as exercise science, kinesiology, or physical education teacher education. If you don't major in such a program, you should take several courses in those departments.

Additional requirements at many schools include:

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Academic writing sample
Personal interview
Related work or volunteer experience

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

In this undergraduate program, you typically take courses such as the following:

Accounting Principles
Foundations of Sport and Fitness Management
Human Resources Management
Interpersonal Communications
Introduction to Business
Law and Ethics in Sport and Fitness Management
Macroeconomics
Managerial Accounting
Marketing Principles
Microeconomics
Organizational Behavior and Management
Personnel Administration
Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
Public Relations
Sociology of Sport and Fitness
Sport and Fitness Marketing
Sport Facilities
Theory and Practice of Individual and Team Sport

Graduate Program Courses

Course work in graduate programs tends to vary. However, the outline of a typical graduate curriculum looks like the following:

Required core courses
Thesis and thesis defense (master's degree only)
Comprehensive oral and written exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree only)

Many programs, both undergraduate and graduate, require you to complete an externship as part of their curriculum. This is a hands-on opportunity to apply what you've learned in the classroom to real-life sport and fitness management settings.

You could help design classes for people of all ages at a fitness club. You could train the instructors for a summer sports camp. These are just a couple of examples of projects on which you might work.

Whatever the setting and whatever the application, you benefit from the guidance and direct supervision of an experienced sport and fitness management professional.

Things to Know

Many schools allow you to combine sport and fitness management degree programs with degree programs in other fields according to your specific interests. These other programs include business administration, teacher education, kinesiology, and athletic training.