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.
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.
Phone: (603) 862-2071
This form is only for prospective students who are not already enrolled at UNH. If you are a current UNH student and interested in this program, please reach out to the contact on this page.
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. Majors must earn a grade of B- or better in SPST 580 Sport Industry, and a grade of C or better in an approved statistics course as well as each required University and Sport Management and Leadership course. 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, 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.
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’.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| SPST 580 | Sport Industry | 4 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPST 564 | Introduction to Sport Marketing | 4 |
SPST 565 or SPST 562 |
Principles of Coaching or Sport Media Relations |
|
| Credits | 4 | |
| 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 | ||
| Credits | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPST 645 | Leadership in Sport | 4 |
| Focus Area Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPST 650C | Internship in Sport Studies | 4 |
| SML Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| SML Elective OR | ||
| SPST 741 | Social Issues in Contemporary Sport | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPST 761 | Senior Seminar in Sport Studies | 4 |
| SPST 650C | Internship in Sport Studies | 4 |
| OR SML Elective | ||
| Credits | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPST 741 | Social Issues in Contemporary Sport | 4 |
| OR SML Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements 1 | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| SPST 580 | Sport Industry | 4 |
| SPST 645 | Leadership in Sport | 4 |
| SPST 741 | Social Issues in Contemporary Sport | 4 |
| SPST 650C | Internship in Sport Studies | 4 |
| SPST 761 | Senior Seminar in Sport Studies 2 | 4 |
| PSYC 402 | Statistics in Psychology 3 | 4 |
| 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 | ||
| SPST 564 | Introduction to Sport Marketing | 4 |
| Select 8 credits from the following: | ||
| SPST 630 | Sport Facility and Event Management | 4 |
| SPST 634 | Sport Sponsorship and Sales | 4 |
| SPST 738 | Sport Finance | 4 |
| SPST 764 | Advanced Sport Marketing | 4 |
| SPST 643 | Social Media Marketing in Sport | 4 |
| Coaching/Athletic Administration | ||
| SPST 565 | Principles of Coaching | 4 |
| Select 8 credits from the following | ||
| SPST 565A | Clinical Practice in Coaching | 2 |
| SPST 560 | Sport Psychology | 4 |
| SPST 630 | Sport Facility and Event Management | 4 |
| SPST 780 | Psychological Factors in Sport | 4 |
| SPST 765 | Advanced Topics in Coaching | 4 |
| SPST 521 | Theory of Coaching Basketball | 2 |
| SPST 523 | Theory of Coaching Ice Hockey | 2 |
| SPST 525 | Theory of Coaching Soccer | 2 |
| SPST 528 | Theory of Coaching Track and Field | 2 |
| SPST 740 | Athletic Administration | 4 |
| Sport Media/Communication | ||
| SPST 562 | Sport Media Relations | 4 |
| Select 8 credits from the following: | ||
| SPST 643 | Social Media Marketing in Sport | 4 |
| SPST 631 | Sport Media Production | 4 |
| SPST 564 | Introduction to Sport Marketing | 4 |
| SPST 630 | Sport Facility and Event Management | 4 |
| Electives: Select 12 credit hours min. from the following: 4 | ||
| SPST 568 | Global Perspectives in Sport | 4 |
| SPST 764 | Advanced Sport Marketing | 4 |
| SPST 738 | Sport Finance | 4 |
| SPST 634 | Sport Sponsorship and Sales | 4 |
| SPST 564 | Introduction to Sport Marketing | 4 |
| SPST 565A | Clinical Practice in Coaching | 2 |
| SPST 560 | Sport Psychology | 4 |
| SPST 562 | Sport Media Relations | 4 |
| SPST 565 | Principles of Coaching | 4 |
| SPST 740 | Athletic Administration | 4 |
| SPST 521 | Theory of Coaching Basketball | 2 |
| SPST 522 | Theory of Coaching Football | 2 |
| SPST 523 | Theory of Coaching Ice Hockey | 2 |
| SPST 525 | Theory of Coaching Soccer | 2 |
| SPST 528 | Theory of Coaching Track and Field | 2 |
| SPST 561 | History of American Sport and Physical Culture | 4 |
| SPST 561W | History of American Sport and Physical Culture | 4 |
| SPST 630 | Sport Facility and Event Management | 4 |
| SPST 631 | Sport Media Production | 4 |
| SPST 643 | Social Media Marketing in Sport | 4 |
| SPST 693 | Teaching Assistantship | 2 |
| SPST 696 | Independent Study | 2-4 |
| SPST 765 | Advanced Topics in Coaching | 4 |
| SPST 780 | Psychological Factors in Sport | 4 |
| SPST 761 | Senior Seminar in Sport Studies 2 | 4 |
| SPST 798 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| 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 SPST 761 Senior Seminar in Sport Studies. Students must be enrolled as a sport managment and leadership major for one full semester before taking SPST 761 Senior Seminar in Sport Studies. 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 transfers 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 402, ADMN 510 or HHS 540 or another approved statistics course) and a minimum grade of B- in SPST 580 Sport Industry.
I. SPORTS INFORMATION
II. MANAGEMENT
III. MARKETING
IV. COACHING/PSYCHOLOGY
Admission decisions on internal transfer into Sport Management &n Leadership will be made by the Sport Management & Leadersip 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. Admissions will be granted based on space available. The faculty will consider overall G.P.A., grades in prerequisite courses, performance in other Sport Management & Leadership courses or activities, 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 Department Chair. All decisions must be considered final.
Prerequisites and procedures
Examples of application materials
Sport Management and Leadership Major Advising Requirements
Applications will be reviewed after final transcripts are received. Students who do not follow the procedures or who miss deadlines will not be admitted to the program.
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.
