Sport Management
Bachelor of Science
Fall
- SPMG 110: Intro to Sport Management............ 3cr.
- PHIL 100: Philosophical Foundations: Ethics............ 3cr.
- Historical Foundations............ 3cr.
- Second Language I ............ 3cr.
- THEO 111: Theological Foundations or CORE 100: First Year Seminar............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG 195: History of American Sport............ 3cr.
- COMM 101: Oral Communication............ 3cr.
- Second Language II ............ 3cr.
- THEO 111: Theological Foundations or Core 100: First Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- ENGL 101: English Comp or ENGL 105: Rhetoric............ 3cr.
Fall
- SPMG 250: Professional Development in Sport............ 3cr.
- ECON 200: Microeconomic Principles............ 3cr.
- MATH 116: Elementary Statistics or MATH 156: General Statistics............ 3cr.
- MGMT 200: Organizational Management............ 3cr.
- PHIL 200-299: Philosophical Explorations............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG 232: Sociology of Sport............ 3cr.
- SPMG 345: Sport Governance............ 3cr.
- ECON 201: Macroeconomic Principles............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Integrations............ 3cr.
- THEO 200-499: Theological Explorations............ 3cr.
Fall
- SPMG 322: Facility and Event Management ............ 3cr.
- SPMG 365: Sport Communication & Public Relations............ 3cr.
- ACCT 200: Introductory Financial Accounting............ 3cr.
- MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing ............ 3cr.
- Scientific Explorations............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG 310: Strategic Sport Marketing & Brand Management............ 3cr.
- SPMG 410: Sport Ethics............ 3cr.
- SPMG 495: Internship in Sport Management............ 3cr.
- ENGL 205: Literature & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- BAIS 220: Management of Information Technology............ 3cr.
Fall
- SPMG 448: Legal Issues in Sport............ 3cr.
- Sport Management Elective ............ 3cr.
- SPMG 495: Internship in Sport Management............ 3cr.
- Quantitative Reasoning Choice............ 3cr.
- Humanities Integrations............ 3cr.
Spring
- SPMG 495: Internship in Sport Management............ 3cr.
- Elective ............ 3cr.
- Elective ............ 3cr.
- Creative Explorations............ 3cr.
- SPMG Capstone/Senior Seminar
- Core 499 - Core Capstone............ 0cr.
The sample course sequence above illustrates class offerings for the Sport Management major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Recent graduates are employed in intercollegiate athletics, specialized sport management and marketing firms, high school athletic administration and commercial sport, as well as with traditional businesses.
Recent Employers
Cincinnati Reds, Buffalo Bill, Cincinnati Bengals, Major League Soccer, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Indianapolis Colts, Total Quality Logistics, Milwaukee Bucks, FC Cincinnati and Flying Pig Marathon
Exclusive Access to Alumni Community
Our alumni network grows each year, and students have exclusive access to connecting with former students working across the globe in the sport industry.
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 232)
Impact of sport on society. The social structures. The integration of sport with other social institutions.
Legal Issues in Sport Management (SPMG 448)
Basic legal principles affecting the management of physical activity and sports programs. Liability, negligence and risk assessment.
Sport Marketing (SPMG 310)
Course explores marketing plans, current trends, sponsorships, event fundraising, public relations, promotions using the marketing mix applied to the sport industry.
Sport Ethics (SPMG 410)
Course is designed to provide an examination and discussion of ethical, managerial, and moral issues related to individuals who work and participate in the area of sport and physical activity.
Annual Sport Management Symposium and Career Fair
Students will participate in an annual symposium focusing on professional development and networking opportunities as well as a sport-specific career and internship fair
Conference Case Study and Undergraduate Research Competitions
Students will have the opportunity to attend and participate in conference case study and undergraduate research competitions
Faculty-led Study Abroad
Students will have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led study abroad trip. Past locations have included Australia, Belgium, France, and England.
Student Clubs
- Sports Business Club: Club members meet throughout the academic year to hear guest speakers from the sports industry, attend facility tours and networking socials, and more. Each year, the club plans a trip to a city in the region to explore the sport organizations in that area. Past trips include Cleveland and Indianapolis with future trips planned to Chicago, Louisville, and more.
- Women in Sport: Women in Sport is a chapter of the Sport Business Club. Members participate in guest speaking presentations, networking socials, watch parties, and additional activities supporting women in the sport industry and beyond.
There’s nothing like experiencing campus for yourself. Schedule a visit and earn a $1,000 grant.*
Why Xavier's Sport Management Major?
Our Advisory Board consists of top executives across sports management, media and athletics. They ensure your curriculum adapts to what modern sports employers are actually looking for.
Join the Sport Management and Marketing LLC to live, study and network with fellow sports business students while launching your career from day one.
Xavier puts you right in the middle of major league action, giving you immediate access to internships, networking, and career opportunities in one of the country's fastest-growing fields.
Our faculty combine academic excellence with deep, real-world sports industry experience to bring genuine insider insights straight to the classroom.
Alumni Making an Impact
Before he was organizing national sporting events and working with athletes like Peyton Manning – Ryan May was wanting to learn everything he could at Xavier.
Corey Hawthorne works with various community groups, non-profits, artists and major corporations to host some of the most elaborate and memorable events not only in the Cincinnati region but also nationally.
Read about Fritschner’s Xavier experience and how he positioned himself for success in a competitive professional landscape.
Together, Xavier and the Reds will enhance academic opportunities for students and create new pathways for hands-on learning connected to one of Major League Baseball’s most historic franchises.
Learn how Dr. Dominique Kropp is shaping the next generation of sports professionals through engaging teaching methods and a focus on student success.
Sport Management Major FAQs
Do you have questions about the sport management major? Our FAQ section covers everything from career paths to skills and more.
A sport management degree opens doors to a dynamic and exciting range of career opportunities. With a strong foundation in marketing, management and finance, graduates can pursue roles in various sectors of the sports industry.
- Sports Agent: Represents athletes and negotiates contracts.
- Athletic Director: Oversees an athletic department's operations.
- Sports Marketing Manager: Develops and executes marketing campaigns for sports teams or brands.
- Event Coordinator: Plans and manages sporting events.
- Sports Public Relations Specialist: Manages media relations and crisis communication.
- Sports Finance Manager: Handles financial aspects of sports organizations.
- Sports Facility Manager: Oversees the operations of sports venues.
- Sports Agent: Represents athletes and negotiates contracts.
- Sports Broadcast Producer: Creates content for sports television or radio.
- Sports Analyst: Provides expert commentary on sports events.
- Sports Lawyer: Provides legal counsel to sports organizations and athletes.
- Sports Information Director: Manages media relations for a college or university athletic department.
- Sports Development Officer: Raises funds for sports programs.
- Sports Merchandise Manager: Oversees the development and sale of sports merchandise.
- Sports Technology Specialist: Develops and implements technology solutions for the sports industry.
Sport marketing focuses on promoting and selling sports products and services. It involves creating strategies to attract and retain fans, building brand awareness, and generating revenue. If you're interested in advertising, promotions, sponsorships, and fan engagement, sport marketing might be the right fit.
Sport management is broader, encompassing the overall operations of sports organizations. It includes areas like finance, human resources, facility management, and event planning. If you're drawn to the business side of sports, such as managing budgets, staffing teams, or overseeing facilities, sport management could be your path.
Essentially, sport marketing is a subset of sport management. Both programs at Xavier University provide a strong foundation in the sports industry, but they offer different areas of specialization and career paths.
Yes. 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.
Located in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio is a city made for exploration. With parks, bike trails, and scenic riverbanks, there's more than just your dorm room to call home.
Sport Management Program 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 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."