Turn your passion for athletics into a rewarding career. Wayne State University’s sport management major combines in-depth coursework with real-world internships, giving you the skills and experience you need to thrive.
Work with faculty who have extensive experience and networks in professional, collegiate, interscholastic and amateur athletics. Whether your career goals include front-office management, facilities, operations or coaching, the B.S. in sport management empowers you to excel in the field.
Get real-world experience with an internship
Complete your bachelor's and master's degrees in as few as 5 years with our AGRADE option
Rolling admission - Apply when you are ready
Test optional - skip the ACT and SAT
What is sport management?
The field of sport management combines a focus on athletics with the business skills you need to promote sporting events, manage or coach teams, run sports facilities and operations, and much more. A bachelor of science in sport management gives you the tools and insights to work on the business end of the sports industry in everything from school-based athletics to professional leagues.
What will you learn in the sport management major?
You’ll start with a strong foundation in the basics, including the history of sport and the role of ethics in athletics. You’ll engage in industry-specific training in management, marketing, communication, finance, and governance.
You will also have the opportunity to choose from advanced courses on specialized topics such as collegiate and interscholastic sport, event management, and sport psychology. As a capstone experience, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to field experiences and professional internships.
Program curriculum
The sport management bachelor's degree requires you to complete 120 credits, including major requirements, electives and the university’s General Education Program. Your advisor will work closely with you to design a course of study that meets your specific goals.
A minimum of 120 credits are required for completion of this degree: satisfaction of the University General Education Program. All coursework must be completed in accordance with academic procedures of the College of Education and the University governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees. All courses and course electives must be completed with grades of "C" or better and an overall 2.5 grade point average, to meet College graduation requirements. Courses changes may occur through periodic curriculum revision and students are urged to consult assigned advisors prior to each registration period to ensure that all requirements are met. Students in this program complete a Plan of Work with their advisor and the Sport Management Advising Guide.
Sport Management (required courses, min. 42 credits)
Courses
Cr. Hrs.
Total major credits
42
SAM 2100 Foundations of Sport Management
3
SAM 2020 History of Sport
3
SAM 3010 Ethics in Sport
3
SAM 3020 Sociology of Sport
3
SAM 3030 Sport Promotion
3
SAM 4020 Sport Governance
3
SAM 4030 Sport Finance
3
SAM 4040 Sport Communication
3
SAM 5000 Professional Practicum (prereq: SAM 2100)
3
SAM 5700 Sport Leadership
3
SAM 5750 Internship in Sports Management
6
Select at least one of the following (prereq: SAM 2100)
SAM 6560 Media Design and Communication
3
SAM 6531 Sport Event Management
3
SAM 6570 Sports Marketing (prereq: SAM 2100)
3
Select at least one of the following (prereq: SAM 2100)
SAM 5510 Principles of Coaching
3
SAM 6300 Interscholastic Athletic Directing
3
SAM 6530 Professional Sport Administration
3
SAM 6310 Collegiate Athletic Administrator
3
SAM 6320 Youth Sports and Recreation
3
Build your resume with internship experience
As part of the sport management major, you take on at least one internship, affording you a chance to gain valuable work experience in the field and connect you with professionals who can help you building your network - and your resume.
Our students have interned with community programs, sports arenas, and professional teams. What's more, our career services team can help you find the right internship for you.
Join club sports and participate in student organizations
Get involved on campus! Joining a club or organization is a great way to meet people, explore your passions and let off steam. Sports opportunities include everything from the tennis club and the rowing club to the equestrian team and Midnight Golf.
Save time and money by enrolling in a graduate program while you’re still an undergraduate. As a junior or senior at Wayne State, you may qualify for the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program, which allows you to apply up to 16 credits to both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. We even offer scholarships for qualified participants.
What can you do with a bachelor's degree in sport management?
A sport management major leads to rewarding careers in any part of the sports industry, from community sports leagues to powerhouse organizations like Nike and the Detroit Pistons. Here are some common career paths and median salaries for sport management graduates:
"I am interning at Pacers Sports & Entertainment in the marketing department this semester. Most of my role focuses on game day preparation, set up, and tear down. Additionally, I have been researching potential concourse activations we can utilize for upcoming games. Getting to learn firsthand what all goes on behind the scenes to create the NBA game experience has been invaluable. Obviously, what happens on the court still matters, but the in-arena atmosphere is a huge contributor to selling tickets and filling seats. PS&E is not only the entity responsible for the Pacers, but also the WNBA's Fever. Even though it is Fever off-season, marketing initiatives for the upcoming season are being created and finalized. With a new coach, the league's youngest team, and a guaranteed lottery pick, the Fever are in a rebuilding phase. The focus has been on giving the team as much exposure in the community as possible. I hope to work for a WNBA team post-graduation and so this internship has been an amazing opportunity for me."
Annie Treharne, current SM student
Tuition and financial aid
We want to invest in you. We keep costs as affordable as possible, and we offer generous financial aid to bring a great education within reach. Here’s how:
Flat-rate tuition. Whether you take 12 credits or 18, you’ll pay the exact same tuition. This approach can help you graduate faster — and with less debt.
Merit-based scholarships. Based on your academic achievements, you could be eligible for a scholarship — money that you won’t need to pay back.
Other financial aid options. We'll help you create a unique aid package based on your needs and qualifications.
Admissions requirements
Our admissions process is simple, and we’re here to help. Here’s what you need to know:
You don’t have to take the ACT or SAT (but you can if you want!)
Admission is on a rolling basis, so you can apply any time of the year
