The sport management (SM) major is a four-year, full-time program of study that is designed to prepare students to excel in the sport industry. SM students are guided through coursework and hands-on experiences within the sport industry that allow each student to focus on the ever-changing intricacies of the sport environment from multiple contexts. Within the curriculum, students are encouraged to explore the area(s) of sport they are most interested in, ranging anywhere from local non-profits to national and international professional franchises.
The Program
The SM degree is designed to prepare students for employment in local, state, regional, national or international level sporting and recreation organizations. The curriculum covers 75 credit hours in total and includes a Minor in Business Administration (24 credits) to enhance the employment prospect for each student.
Career Opportunities
NDSU SM graduates are employed in a variety of sport and recreation occupations. Graduates should expect to work in local, state, regional, national or international level organizations, business, and nonprofits. Since the inception of the eSports lab in the Student (Memorial) Union on campus, we have worked closely to ensure students with an interest with eSports are able to explore the industry with professionally-outfitted equipment and through educational opportunities.
In light of the interdisciplinary nature of our program study options, career opportunities beyond the sport management or recreation management fields are feasible.
Sport Management Association
The Sport Management Association (SMA) provides students with an opportunity to build relationships with peers and industry leaders in sport and recreation. Organization members can take part in sports-oriented community projects, learn about different sport and recreation careers from area professionals and become further prepared for a career in the industry. The SMA holds meetings regularly, with dues-paying members eligible for the many planned activities, adventures, and feasts scheduled by the association.
Pre-SPORT MANAGEMENT Standing and SPORT MANAGEMENT Standing
The pre-sport management courses in the freshman and sophomore years are designed to prepare students for additional undergraduate work in the subsequent sport management courses during their junior and senior years.
To achieve sport management standing a student must:
-Have reached 50 credits in total,
-Have a grade of B or better in HNES 190,
-Successfully complete ECON 105 and ACCT 102 with a collective GPA of 2.5 or higher across both classes. A student CANNOT receive a D in either course,
-Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all classes by the end of the sophomore year (reaching 50 credits minimum).
An application for sport management standing will be accepted by the SM program coordinator as soon as requirements are met at the end of each academic semester. It is highly recommended all students review the student handbook and all communications from the SM program coordinator prior to applying for the program. If a student is accepted into the program, they will be required to meet with the program coordinator to review and sign that they have read the student handbook.
Internship
The SM internship is the capstone course for all SM majors. Students participating in an internship will complete 12 credits, with each credit requiring 43 hours of documented work at an internship site (totaling 516 hours of on-the-job experience). The internship can be repeated at various sites/organizations at their advisor’s discretion. Securing a host organization outside North Dakota or the United States is not only possible but encouraged.
Students have completed internship hours in several areas across sport, including but not limited to: Air Force Academy Athletics, Arizona State University Athletics, Bismarck Larks, Fargo and West Fargo Parks and recreation departments, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Fargo Youth Hockey, Great Rides Fargo, Iowa Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, NDSU Athletics, Oklahoma State University Athletics, Saint Paul Saints, Scheels Arena, Southern Texas PGA, US Olympic Committee, Vanderbilt University athletics, Washington Spirit, and the YMCA of Cass & Clay Counties.
Sequencing Courses for the Major
Courses in the SM major are laid out to ensure students are heavily involved with sport-related materials during their junior and senior years as sport management students. Our students are also educated on the general aspects of the business world as they complete their Minor in Business Administration. After all, sport is a business.
HNES 190 is our Introductory course that provides students with a detailed overview of the sport industry and provides students an opportunity to better understand what is expected of professionals in sport and recreation management. Future classes provide students a more detailed view of the many imperative elements that are part of the successful sport managers’ toolkit. The degree is capped with the student obtaining 516 hours of on-the-job experience working alongside experts and influencers within the sport industry.
Sample Program Guide
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: A Sample Program Guide provides an unofficial guide of program requirements and should be used by prospective students who are considering attending NDSU in the future. It is NOT an official curriculum and should NOT be used by current NDSU students for official degree planning purposes. Note that the official curriculum used by current NDSU students can vary from the Sample Program Guide due to a variety of factors such as, but not limited to, start year, education goals, transfer credit, and course availability.
To ensure proper program completion, enrolled students should utilize Degree Map and Schedule Planner in Campus Connection and consult regularly with their academic advisor to ensure requirements are being met.
