University Catalog 2024-2025

Sport Management (BS)

The Sport Management degree provides students with high quality educational experiences to enable their success as managers in sport and sport related industries and organizations. NC State’s Sport Management program will provide students with a multidisciplinary perspective that includes sound management principles combined with a global understanding of sport and the impact of sport in social, economic, political and technological environments. Sport can be viewed as both an industry and an academic discipline. This program will educate students in the theoretical principles of sport management as well as the application of those principles. The interdisciplinary curriculum, including courses in recreation and accounting, will enable students to develop leadership, communication, evaluation and problem-solving skills in a “real world” environment.

The curriculum provides 38 hours of professional course work that includes recreation philosophy, management techniques and skills, sport finance and economics, sport law, programming, administration, and analysis and evaluation. Students can use the 30 hours of free electives in this program to pursue a minor or design a special track that will meet their career goals. Academic studies on campus are supplemented by a 10-week internship with an approved sport agency.

Plan Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
PRT 150 Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management Orientation 1
PRT 266 Introduction to Sport Management 1 3
Acad Writing Research 1 4
Mathematics Elective 3
PRT 238 Diversity and Inclusion in Recreation and Sport 3
 Hours14
Second Year
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Fundamentals of Economics
COM 110 Public Speaking 3
PRT 286 Writing and Speaking in Sports Organizations 3
PRT 277 Sport in a Changing Society 3
 Hours12
Third Year
PRT 366 Sport Programming 3
Select one of the following: 3
Economics and Business Statistics
Introduction to Statistics
Economics and Business Statistics
PRT 375 Professional Development and Internship Orientation 2
PRT 380 Evidence-based decision making in Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management 1 3
PRT 376 Leadership in Sport Administration 1 3
ACC 210
Concepts of Financial Reporting
or Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting
3
 Hours17
Summer
PRT 475 Recreation and Park Internship 8
 Hours8
Fourth Year
PRT 406 Sports Law 3
PRT 476 Sport Marketing 3
PRT 466 Sport Finance and Economics 3
PRT 478 Sustainable Sport Facility Management 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours63
1

A grade of C- or better is required.

GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Natural Sciences7
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives5
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 131
Total Hours57
1

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

Acad Writing Research

Acad Writing Research
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
FLE 101Academic Writing and Research4
Transfer Sequence
ENG 1GEP3
ENG 202Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing3

Mathematics Electives

MA 105Mathematics of Finance3
MA 107Precalculus I3
MA 111Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry3
MA 114Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications3
MA 121Elements of Calculus3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Critical Path Courses -Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
PRT 150 Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management Orientation 1
PRT 266 Introduction to Sport Management 1 3
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
Mathematics Elective 3
GEP Requirement 4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
GEP Requirement 3
PRT 238 Diversity and Inclusion in Recreation and Sport 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Free Elective 2 3
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
Select one of the following: 3
Fundamentals of Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Requirement 3
COM 110 Public Speaking 3
PRT 286 Writing and Speaking in Sports Organizations 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2-3
Free Elective 2 6
PRT 277 Sport in a Changing Society 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
PRT 366 Sport Programming 3
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
PRT 375 Professional Development and Internship Orientation 2
Free Elective 2 6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
PRT 380 Evidence-based decision making in Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management (CP) 1 3
PRT 376 Leadership in Sport Administration (CP) 1 3
Free Elective 2 6
ACC 210
Concepts of Financial Reporting
or Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting
3
 Hours15
Summer
10 Weeks Session
PRT 475 Recreation and Park Internship 8
 Hours8
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PRT 406 Sports Law 3
PRT 476 Sport Marketing 3
Free Elective 2 4
 Hours10
Spring Semester
PRT 466 Sport Finance and Economics 3
Free Elective 2 6
PRT 478 Sustainable Sport Facility Management 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or better is required.

2

A maximum of 12 credit hours of free electives can be taken credit only.

Career Opportunities

Career Titles

See below for potential sport management career paths: 

  • Community Athletic Director – General oversight, administration and promotion of the athletic program. Prepare budgets, schedules and trainings. Provide leadership to students and the outside community. Recent employers include the YMCA.
  • Sport Program Director – Responsible for team leadership, development and vision. Develop organize and implement high-quality classes, events and programs. Recent employers include Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.
  • Assistant Community Relations Director – Responsible for community initiatives, player outreach and youth football programming. Recent employers include the Atlanta Falcons.
  • Assistant Operations Manager – Oversee the production and provision of services to look for efficiency and places for improvement. Recent employers include NASCAR.
  • Youth and Senior Activity Coordinator – Create and implement activities for youth or seniors. Manage large group events, including coordinating all the details and recruiting participants. Recent employers include the U.S. Tennis Association.
  • Community Event Planner – Coordinates all aspects of professional meetings and events, from locations to transportation and logistics. Recent employers include the Jimmy V Foundation.
  • Facilities Manager – Oversee strategic planning and maintain daily operations for all buildings and premises. Recent employers include the New England Patriots.
  • Sports Information Assistant – Provide statistics, team and player notes and other information to news media and the general public. Recent employers include the Harlem Globetrotters.
  • Media Relations Assistant – Moderate information and communication between your organization and media outlets. Recent employers include Reebok.
  • Athletes Business Manager
  • Athletic Coach
  • Athletic Director
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Camp Director
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Fitness Trainer
  • Professional Sports Scout
  • Recreation and Fitness Studies Professor
  • Sports Agent
  • Sports Events Planner
  • Talent Agent

Learn More About Careers

NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.

Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.

North American Society for Sport Management