Sport Management
Program Details
Xavier's location in Cincinnati, Ohio centers students in the middle of a vibrant sports community— and what goes on behind the scenes is just as exciting as what happens on the field.
As a student in the sport management major, you’ll learn to effectively organize, direct, control, budget, lead and evaluate organizations involved in the business of sports. As part of the program, you’ll explore different career paths within the sports industry and partner with professors for research opportunities. All students in the sport management major complete internships with official sport organizations, which include major regional sports teams like the Cincinnati Reds or Detroit Pistons.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 98 percent of our students, including those in the sport management major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2021).
Concentrations
Communications, economics, finance, field experience, law, marketing, exercise science
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Sport Management major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- SPMG 110 - Intro to Sport Management ............ 3cr.
- Mathematical Perspectives Elective ............ 3cr.
- THEO 111 - Theological Foundations or CORE 100 - First Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- PHIL 100 - Introduction to Ethics ............ 3cr.
- second language I ............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: GOA Co-curriculum Program I ............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG 195 - History of American Sport ............ 3cr.
- COMM 101 - Oral Communications ............ 3cr.
- THEO 111 - Theological Foundations or Core 100 - First Year Sminar............ 3cr.
- ENGL 101 – English Composition or ENGL 105 - Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- second language II ............ 3cr.
- CORE 102: GOA Co-Curriculum Program II ............ 0cr.
Fall
- SPMG 132 - Sociology of Sport ............ 3cr.
- ECON 200 - Microeconomic Principles............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspectives Elective ............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspectives Elective ............ 3cr.
- PHIL 200 - Philosophical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- second language III (201, if needed)............ 3cr.
Spring
- ECON 201 - Macroeconomic Principles ............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective ............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspective Elective ............ 3cr.
- MGMT 200 - Organizational Management ............ 3cr.
- MATH 116 - Elementary Statistics or MATH 156 - General Statistics............ 3cr.
Fall
- SPMG 322 - Facility and Event Management ............ 3cr.
- COMM 207 - Interpersonal Communication ............ 3cr.
- SPMG 410 - Sport Ethics ............ 3cr.
- MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing ............ 3cr.
- BAIS 220 - Management of Information Technology............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG 310 - Intro to Sport Marketing ............ 3cr.
- Communication Arts Elective ............ 3cr.
- ENGL 205 - Literature & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective ............ 3cr.
- ACCT 200 - Intro to Financial Accounting ............ 3cr.
Fall
- SPMG 348 Legal & Ethical Issues in Sport ............ 3cr.
- BLAW 300 - Legal Environment ............ 3cr.
- Sport Management Elective ............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective Elective............ 3cr.
- Communication Arts Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG - 495 - Internship in SPMG............ 9cr.
- Sport Management Elective ............ 3cr.
- Sport Management Elective ............ 3cr.
- Core 499 - Core Capstone............ 0cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that's both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the Sport Management major at Xavier:
Facility and Event Management (SPMG 322) - Planning and managing athletic, physical education, recreation and other sport facilities. Basic concerns in developing and organizing events in sports areas.
History of American Sport (SPMG 195) - The course provides an overview of the history, as well as the social, political, cultural, technological and economic trends that have shaped the sport industry in the United States. Particular emphasis is placed on the period from 1800 to the present.
Sociology of Sport (SPMG 132) - Impact of sport on society. The social structures. The integration of sport with other social institutions.
Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports (SPMG 348) - Basic legal principles affecting the management of physical activity and sports programs. Liability, negligence and risk assessment.
Career Outcomes
98% of Xavier students, including those in the sport management major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduating (Class of 2021).
Top Jobs: Account Executive, Athletics Trainer, Business Analyst, Program Director, Marketing Associate
Student Job Placements: Cincinnati Reds, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Major League Soccer, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Indianapolis Colts, Total Quality Logistics, Milwaukee Bucks, FC Cincinnati, Flying Pig Marathon
Student Clubs
The clubs below are popular choices for students in the sport management major.
Sport Business Club
Xavier Sports Business Club members meet biweekly to host speakers in the sports industry, including professionals from the Cincinnati Reds, FC Cincinnati, the Bengals and the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action is a group of student athletes who help one another become mentally, physically and spiritually strong through their connection to God.
Take the Next Step
Real Experience
Cincinnati's Flying Pig Marathon is one of the top marathons in the nation. Help manage the event each May with other Sport Management students.
Professional Connections
Whether it's the NCAA, Cincinnati Reds, Bengals or the Friday-night lights of high school football you crave, our alumni network and professors have connections that can open doors for you into the sports industry.
New Facilities
Xavier’s Sport Management program is housed in the brand-new Health United Building (HUB), a space designed to combine academic programs with a modern recreational center and student wellness services.
Faculty Spotlight: Dominique Kropp, Ph.D. - Sport Science and Management
Get to know Dominique Kropp, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Sport Science and Management.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Sport Management Major at Xavier University
Graduates of Xavier University's Sport Management program work in a variety of sport or sport-related settings. While many graduates go on to work with professional sports teams, many work in other exciting settings. Recent graduates are employed in intercollegiate athletics, specialized sport management and marketing firms, in high school athletic administration, in commercial sport, as well as with traditional businesses.
Xavier University's College of Professional Sciences prepares undergraduate and graduate students intellectually, morally and spiritually for careers and professions of service. CPS challenges students to strive for academic excellence and life-long learning through promoting collaboration and community partnerships, and incorporating research, scholarship and innovation.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."