Why Elms for my Sport Management degree?
- Exceptional academics — our sport management program is IACBE accredited.
- Find the perfect internship — Western Massachusetts is home to the Basketball and Volleyball Halls of Fame, as well as numerous professional and amateur sports teams.
- Gain experience in sports journalism through a 70-hour/semester internship on campus.
- Study sports from the perspective of business management, and prepare for careers in journalism, advertising or marketing, coaching, youth programming, event planning and promotion, and more.
Turn Your Love of Sports Into a Career
Sport management majors at Elms College learn how to be multitalented leaders. In our program you will gain a broad understanding of business principles before focusing on your passion, whether that includes coaching and sport science, event promotion, marketing, or facilities and operations.
The sport management degree at Elms emphasizes interdisciplinary study to prepare you for the dynamic world of organized sports. By discussing the ethical, legal, and cultural aspects of athletics, you will gain a well-rounded understanding of the history of professional sports and the issues they face today.
Our graduates enter the workforce prepared to creatively respond to the demands of sports organizations at all levels. Sport management majors often choose to double major in business to further develop their skills in a specific discipline.
Gain Professional Experience
Whether you see yourself managing a front office one day or coaching a team to victory, internships give you the chance to fine-tune your skills and decide where you want your career to go. Western Massachusetts and the Connecticut Valley are home to many outstanding sports organizations that offer internship possibilities, including:
- The Western Mass Pioneers, a professional soccer club.
- The Springfield Thunderbirds, a professional ice hockey team.
- The American Hockey League headquarters.
- The Volleyball Hall of Fame.
- The Basketball Hall of Fame.
Sport management majors interested in athletics communications also have the option to complete a 70 hour/semester internship with the assistant athletic director for communications at Elms. Interns work closely with different sports teams on campus, assisting with media coverage, event promotion, and administration. Students can expect to learn the essentials of:
- Live web streaming
- Keeping official NCAA statistics
- Graphic design and layout
- News and feature story writing
- Sports photography
Mastering these skills will prepare you for graduate assistant or entry-level positions in athletics communications, athletics marketing, digital content creation, and event management.
Experiential learning opportunities help you network with local professionals and lay the groundwork for a career in account management, customer relations, coaching, athletics, public relations, or marketing.
Ryan Burgos ’17
“These two years of experience with this professional hockey team is a great thing to add to my resume. I was so very fortunate that Elms offered that.”
The Plaistow, N.H., native was a game and operations intern with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Sports Management (B.A.).
Minimum at Elms College: 27 credits/Minimum GPA: 2.25
64 credits
Business Core Requirements (40 credits)
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 2001 | Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 2002 | Accounting II | 3 |
| BUS 2201 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| BUS 2402 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BUS 2408 | Global Business Environment | 3 |
| BUS 2502 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| BUS 2600 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUS 3101 | Principles of Financial Management | 3 |
| BUS 3402 | Managerial Communication | 3 |
| BUS 4800 | Business Strategy | 3 |
| BUS 4801 | Career Development | 3 |
| BUS 4802 | Internship | 4 |
| ECN 2102 | Economics II | 3 |
Required Sport Management Courses (15 credits)
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPM 2001 | Introduction to Sport Management | 3 |
| SPM 3700 | Sport Marketing | 3 |
| SPM 4100 | Event Management & Promotions | 3 |
| LEG 3803 | Sport Law | 3 |
| PED 2004 | Sport Ethics | 3 |
Sport Management Electives (Choose 9 credits)
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPM 3005 | Facilities and Operations | 3 |
| SPM 4004 | College Athletics | 3 |
| PED 2000 | Foundations of Coaching Sport | 3 |
| PED 2001 | Psychology of Sport | 3 |
| PED 2002 | Sport Science for Coaches | 3 |
| PED 2003 | Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| PED 3002 | Coaching Methods | 3 |
| SOC 2100 | Sports in the American Culture | 3 |
| BUS 3303 | Sales and Sales Management | 3 |
| BUS 3401 | Gender & Diversity in Management | 3 |
Required courses that also satisfy college core requirements (9 credits)
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECN 2101 | Economics I | 3 |
| MAT 1009 | Statistics | 3 |
| SPM 3005 | Facilities and Operations | 3 |