Sport Management and Leadership Major (B.S.)

Sport Management and Leadership Major (B.S.)
UNH Sport Management and Leadership Major students at the Wildcat Sport Seminar

The Sports Management and Leadership major at UNH prepares you for a successful career in the sport industry. You'll balance academic coursework with hands-on experience in sport marketing, sport communication and media, event management, coaching, and administration. Our program emphasizes academic underpinnings, skill set development, practical experience and professional networking, ensuring you're ready for a dynamic career in sports management, driving the future of sports.


WHAT IS SPORT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP?

The sport management and leadership program at UNH prepares students for successful careers in the sport industry by balancing academic preparation through related coursework with extensive opportunities to gain experience in the sport industry. Analyzing and integrating the context and culture of sport provides the foundation of our curriculum and grounds our students’ preparation for careers in interscholastic, intercollegiate and professional sport, including sport marketing and event management, coaching and administration, and sports media and communications. It also prepares students for graduate study in areas such as sport business, law or sport psychology.

WHY STUDY SPORT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP AT UNH?

As a sport management and leadership student at UNH, you’ll be able to pursue one of three focus areas: sport marketing/event management; coaching/administration; or sport media/communications. You will gain practical experience and make professional contacts through internships in the sport industry. Careers in the sport industry are increasing rapidly as participation in high school, college and professional sport rises. Students in this major are expected to complete a cognate, minor or double major in a related field that ensures breadth and depth as well as appropriate knowledge and skills for entry into a sport-related career.

POTENTIAL CAREERS

  • Athletic director
  • Athletic fundraising and development
  • Athletic operations/facility director
  • Coach/talent scout
  • Events coordinator
  • Front office,professional sport teams
  • Marketing/social media manager
  • Ticket and sponsorship sales
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Curriculum & Requirements

The Sport Management and Leadership Major at UNH prepares students for successful careers in the sport industry. The SML major meets the needs of the ever-changing sport marketplace, by balancing academic preparation through related coursework with extensive opportunities to gain experience in the sport industry.  Analyzing and integrating the context/culture of sport is embedded throughout our curriculum and grounds students’ preparation for careers in interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional sport including sport marketing, event management, coaching, administration, and sport media/communication. SML also prepares students for graduate study in areas such as sport law, sport business, sport psychology, or sport communication.

Majors take a core of foundation courses, in addition to applied electives and choose one of three focus areas: Sport Marketing and Event Management, Coaching/Athletic Administration, or Sport Media/Communication. In addition, a targeted internship experience is required since it is critical to career development. Students in this major are expected to complete a minor, cognate or a double major in a related field (e.g. business, communication, english/journalism, psychology, education) that ensures breadth and depth as well as appropriate knowledge and skills for entry into a sport-related career. Interested students should consult with major coordinator, Gretchen Browne, Gretchen.Browne@unh.edu.

Recommended Major Sequencing of Courses

This list only includes major classes. Students should be registered for, and take an average of 16 credits per semester to be ‘on track’ to graduate in 4 years. In most semesters, this means a student will be taking Discovery or elective courses, to meet this 16 credit ‘load’.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
SML 580 Sport Industry 4
 Credits8
Spring
SML 564
or SML 565
or SML 562
Introduction to Sport Marketing
or Principles of Coaching
or Sport Media Relations
4
 Credits4
Second Year
Fall
PSYC 402
or SOC 402
or ADMN 510
or HHS 540
Statistics in Psychology
or Statistics
or Business Statistics
or Statistics for Health and Human Service Professionals
4
Focus Area Elective  
 Credits4
Spring
SML 645 Leadership in Sport 4
Focus Area Elective 4
 Credits8
Third Year
Fall
SML 650C Internship in Sport Management and Leadership 1-8
SML Elective 4
 Credits5-12
Spring
SML Elective OR  
SML 741W Social Issues in Contemporary Sports 4
 Credits4
Fourth Year
Fall
SML 650C Internship in Sport Management and Leadership 1-8
SML 761 Career Development in Sport Management and Leadership 4
OR SML Elective  
 Credits5-12
Spring
SML 741W Social Issues in Contemporary Sports 4
OR SML Elective 4
 Credits8
 Total Credits46-60

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements1

Majors must earn a grade of B- or better in SML 580 Sport Industry, and a grade of C or better in an approved statistics course as well as each required Sport Management and Leadership course.

Core Courses
SML 580Sport Industry4
SML 645Leadership in Sport4
SML 650CInternship in Sport Management and Leadership1-8
SML 741WSocial Issues in Contemporary Sports4
SML 761Career Development in Sport Management and Leadership 24
PSYC 402Statistics in Psychology 34
or SOC 402 Statistics
or ADMN 510 Business Statistics
or HHS 540 Statistics for Health and Human Service Professionals
Focus Areas
Students must select one of three focus areas-12 credits- 1 required four credit course/8 advisor approved credits from within the focus area.
Sport Marketing and Event Management
SML 564Introduction to Sport Marketing4
Select 8 credits from the following:
SML 630Sport Facility and Event Management4
SML 634Sport Sponsorship and Sales4
SML 764Advanced Sport Marketing4
SML 738Sport Finance4
SML 643Social Media Marketing in Sport4
Coaching/Athletic Administration
SML 565Principles of Coaching4
Select 8 credits from the following:
SML 565AClinical Practice in Coaching2
SML 560Sport Psychology4
SML 630Sport Facility and Event Management4
SML 765Advanced Topics in Coaching4
SML 780Psychological Factors in Sport4
SML 521Theory of Coaching Basketball2
SML 523Theory of Coaching Ice Hockey2
SML 525Theory of Coaching Soccer2
SML 528Theory of Coaching Track and Field2
SML 740Athletic Administration4
Sport Media/Communication
SML 562Sport Media Relations4
Select 8 credits from the following:
SML 631Sport Media Production4
SML 643Social Media Marketing in Sport4
SML 564Introduction to Sport Marketing4
SML 630Sport Facility and Event Management4
Electives: Select 12 credit hours min. from the following: 4
SML 568Global Perspectives in Sport4
SML 764Advanced Sport Marketing4
SML 738Sport Finance4
SML 634Sport Sponsorship and Sales4
SML 564Introduction to Sport Marketing4
SML 565AClinical Practice in Coaching2
SML 560Sport Psychology4
SML 565Principles of Coaching4
SML 562Sport Media Relations4
SML 740Athletic Administration4
SML 521Theory of Coaching Basketball2
SML 522Theory of Coaching Football2
SML 523Theory of Coaching Ice Hockey2
SML 525Theory of Coaching Soccer2
SML 528Theory of Coaching Track and Field2
SML 561History of American Sport and Physical Culture4
SML 561WHistory of American Sport and Physical Culture4
SML 630Sport Facility and Event Management4
SML 631Sport Media Production4
SML 643Social Media Marketing in Sport4
SML 650CInternship in Sport Management and Leadership1-8
SML 693Teaching Assistantship2
SML 696Independent Study2-4
SML 765Advanced Topics in Coaching4
SML 780Psychological Factors in Sport4
SML 798Special Topics1-4
SML 761Career Development in Sport Management and Leadership 24
1

All students are required to complete an advisor approved minor, cognate or double major or 20 credits of coursework in a related field and approved in advance by faculty adviser.

2

Majors must complete a minimum of 150 hours of industry experience before they can take SML 761 Career Development in Sport Management and Leadership. Students must be enrolled as a sport managment and leadership major for one full semester before taking SML 761 Career Development in Sport Management and Leadership. See adviser for details.

3

All students are required to have a minimum grade of C in Statistics, PSYC 402, SOC 402, ADMN 510 or HHS 540, or an approved Statistics course.  

4

Electives can include any courses listed within any focus area or the two additional courses listed below, including an additional 4 credits of internship.  Credits applying to a declared focus area cannot also count as elective credits.

Internal transfer applicants to Sport Management and Leadership must have at least a 2.5 GPA as well as a minimum grade of C in Statistics (PSYC 402, SOC 402ADMN 510 or HHS 540 or another approved statistics course) and a minimum grade of B- in SML 580 Sport Industry.

  • SML students will understand the socio-cultural components of sport integrated throughout the curriculum while translating theory to practice in order to apply classroom knowledge in the sport setting.
  • SML students will distinguish and employ effective leadership principles, management styles, and decision-making skills in sport organizations.
  • SML students will identify and understand major issues in sport and how they can reflect as well as bring about change in society relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • SML students will understand the importance of working collaboratively in order to effectively solve problems and reach organizational goals.
  • SML students will be exposed to the basic operating principles in the sport industry in order to gain an understanding of the potential career paths.
  • SML Students will be able to organize, apply and synthesize information and ideas while effectively expressing these in both oral and written form (critical and technical) through various contexts, technologies and platforms.
  • SML students will develop, utilize and reflect on professional skills while demonstrating an ability to self-advocate in their career development.
  • SML students will apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop and analyze research data on issues related to the sport industry.

Explore Program Details

I.  SPORTS INFORMATION

  • cognate: Communications, English, Marketing

II. MANAGEMENT

  • school or college athletic director
    cognate : Admin, Education
  • school or college intramurals
    cognate : Admin, Education, RMP
  • events management
    cognate: Admin
  • conference/association administration
    cognate: Admin

III. MARKETING

  • college sales and marketing
    cognate: Marketing, Admin, Communications

IV. COACHING/PSYCHOLOGY

  • coaching at all levels
  • athlete advising
    cognate: Psych

Transferring into Sport Management & Leadership

Admission decisions on internal transfer into Sport Management & Leadership will be made by the Sport Management & Leadership faculty. Space is limited by available faculty and staff resources. Applications may be submitted for admission to either the fall or the winter semester. All decisions will be made between semesters after a review of grades for the latest semester. The faculty will consider overall G.P.A., grades in prerequisite courses, performance in other Sport Management & Leadership courses, activities, experience and resume.  Attitude and commitment will play a major role in consideration. Only completed applications will be considered. Applicants will receive a letter of acceptance, deferral, or denial from the major coordinator. All decisions must be considered final.

SML students enjoy an event

 

Prerequisites and procedures

  • Complete SML 580 with a grade of B- or better
  • Complete Stats with a grade of C or better
  • Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Submit the following: 
    • signed Transfer Application Form 
    • screenshot of WebCat transcript
    • resume, must include references and contact information for two sport industry professionals who can speak to the candidate’s work (paid or volunteer) during the candidate’s college years.
    • personal plan (see the six questions in the application) that speaks to career interest in school or college athletics or coaching at any level.
  • All materials must be emailed as one PDF file to Gretchen.Browne@unh.edu by December 1, 2024 (for fall admission).

 Applications will be reviewed after final transcripts are received. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

All majors are required to present updated resumes, personal plans, and portfolios for preregistration each semester. The field is highly competitive; simply "loving sports" means little. All majors are expected to begin volunteering with one or more of the following prior to seeking an internship: UNH Athletic Department, UNH Campus Recreation; Oyster River Youth Association, the Whittemore Center; Seacoast United Soccer Club. Without experience and a portfolio, students cannot expect to land internships. For more information about jobs and careers in sports see materials in the Sport Management & Leadership Lab.

Students interested in our Sport Management and Leadership major may also be interested in these advanced degree offerings:

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