Sport Management

Department of Kinesiology and Health Education

Sport Management prepares you for a career in the management, marketing, and administration of sport programs in educational, sport business, or the entertainment industry. In addition to the required courses, you will complete a semester-long internship. You will learn analytical skills in business and marketing, resource management, law, ethics, and leadership within sport organizations.

Connections with Austin FC, Longhorn Athletics, and other local sport organizations offer many opportunities for first-hand experience in professional sport settings. We also have connections to the entertainment industry, including ACL Music Festival, SXSW Music and Film Festival, and the Circuit of the Americas. You also may decide to continue your education through graduate studies in sport management, law, business, or physical culture and sport studies.

Preparing for this Major

If you are still in high school, take as many statistics and business-related courses as you can. We also recommend shadowing a professional in your field of interest.

If you are currently attending another college or university, contact an academic advisor to make sure the classes you are taking will transfer.

Getting Started

You should apply to the university as a Physical Culture and Sports major and complete the following prerequisite courses once you’re on campus:

Core writing class (Communication 010, not RHE 306). Offered in-residence or via transfer.
Three semester hours of Economics (301, 304K or 304L). Offered in-residence or via transfer.
KIN 312M Management of Physical Activity & Sports Programs with a minimum grade of B-. In-residence required.
KIN 347 Historical & Ethical Issues in Physical Culture and Sports with a minimum grade of B-. In-residence required.
Maintain a university GPA of 2.5000 or higher
Prerequisite class GPA of 2.5000 or higher. Only counts in-residence courses.

Application Instructions

In order to apply to the Sport Management major, you must complete the internal transfer application during the next open application period after you have finished your prerequisites. Application deadlines are May 1 and December 1.

Please note that completion of the above does not guarantee acceptance into the major as enrollment is capped at 150 students. Admission is based on the number of available spaces, academic performance, your resume’s quality, and previous volunteer and work experiences.

After You’re Admitted

When you start the program, talk to your academic advisor. They will review your degree requirements and help you choose a certificate, track, minor, or specialization. Your advisor will help you identify and choose the option that best aligns with your career goals.

Learn more about certificates, minors, specializations, and tracks

Program Overview

As a Sport Management major, you will take more than 30 hours of Kinesiology and Health Education classes, including core courses that give you the foundation you will need to do well in the cognate classes specific to the. Some of the course options include:

KIN 312 Sport Industry in America
KIN 312M Management of Physical Activity & Sport Programs
KIN 347 Historical & Ethical Issues in Physical Culture & Sports
KIN 350 Sociological Aspects of Sport & Physical Activity
KIN 352K Race and Sport in African American Life
KIN 352K Women and Sport
KIN 353 Sport Law
KIN 354 Sport & Event Marketing
KIN 355 Media & Public Relations in Sport
KIN 356 Revenue & Budgeting in Sport
KIN 357 Strategic Management of Sport Organizations
HED 311 Intro to Health Promotion & Behavioral Science
KIN 310 Physiological Basis of Conditioning

You also will be able to take elective courses that supplement your major. Be sure to talk to your academic advisor about the best options.

Degree Plans

2024-2026 2022-2024 2020-2022 2018-2020

Internships

You will be required to choose one of two internship options in order to graduate. Internships are typically done at the end of the program during your final semester. Students planning on enrolling in the required Sport Management internship during Spring 2020 should contact Tolga Ozyurtcu for the required information and documents.

Study Abroad Opportunity

Experience the world and change it. Studying abroad goes beyond the classroom. You also can intern, conduct research, and gain hands-on experience internationally – all of which look great on your resume.

Maymester in Denmark: Sport, Society, and the International Olympic Movement

Led by Professor Thomas Hunt and Associate Professor of Instruction Matt Bowers, this course is held in the beautiful city Copenhagen, Denmark. Students in the program visit organizations such as the Danish Olympic and the Danish Anti-Doping Agency in order to gain insight into the international political dimensions of sport and the Olympic Movement. Students will also explore the distinct culture of Copenhagen via bike tours of the city. Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and home to many Danish national sport organizations, providing ample opportunity for professional networking.

A number of other study abroad opportunities exist at UT. Reach out to Texas Global and your academic advisor to learn more.

Research Opportunities

You may have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork with the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture in Sports. The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education is home to more than 20 well-funded research labs working to promote and understand physical activity, health, movement, behavior, and physical culture and sport. Many of these labs welcome undergraduate students, so take a few minutes to learn more about the ground-breaking research happening in our department and find out if you would be interested in working with our top-notch faculty and graduate students.

Learn more

Possible Career Paths

A Sport Management major prepares you for positions in various areas of the sport and entertainment industries, including marketing, event management, sponsorship, and finance. You will graduate as a competitive candidate for positions in