Concentrations
For More Information, Contact:
Admissions Office
Main Campus
Admissions and Visitor Center
admissionsoffice@rmu.edu
800-762-0097 phone
412-397-5200 phone
412-397-2425 fax
David P. Synowka, Ph.D.
Director, Sport Management and Professor of Sport Management
Sport Management
synowka@rmu.edu
412-397-3416 phone
412-397-2217 fax
Massey Hall 324
More Info
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| Robert Morris University boasts one of the oldest and most
respected undergraduate sport management programs in the
country. Studies lead to the Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration (B.S.B.A.) degree with a concentration in sport
management.
Overview
The sport and recreation industry is the 22nd largest industry in
the United States, accounting for over $60 billion in spending a
year. An exciting and fun industry in which to work, it requires
a large commitment of time and energy.
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For 30 years, the sport management program at RMU has prepared
graduates for successful careers throughout the sport and recreation
industry, including associations and leagues, athletic and fitness
clubs, facilities management, intercollegiate and high school
athletics, parks and recreation, professional sports (major and minor
league), resorts, special event management, sport communications,
sport marketing, sport travel and tourism and sporting goods
(wholesale and retail).
Objectives
The B.S.B.A. with a concentration in sport management enables
students to:
- Understand the depth, breadth and unique character of the sport and recreation industry;
- Comprehend the priority of networking abilities for employment and career advancement in the industry;
- Recognize the importance of characteristics such as initiative, industriousness and persistence;
- Integrate skills in the industry to design, implement and evaluate business strategies;
- Communicate effectively and professionally; and
- Employ leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively manage.
Curriculum
The 126-credit hour curriculum has six components:
- Robert Morris University Core - 42 credits
These are the traditional liberal arts requirements of the
University. Studies in humanities, communications skills, and
social, behavioral, natural and quantitative sciences are included.
- Non-Business Requirements - 6 credits
This component consists of required courses in statistics and ethics.
- Business Foundations Courses - 27 credits
These are required of all students earning a B.S.B.A. degree and
include courses in accounting, finance, marketing, management
and other business administration areas.
- Concentration (Sport Management) - 24 credits
This is the major field of study and includes courses in sport
management, sport marketing, coaching, sport media, facility
management, event management, sport law and the economics of sport.
- Business Electives - 12 credits
Students may select any four courses within the School of Business
offerings to broaden their skills in some business area of interest.
- Non-Business Electives - 15 credits
Students may select five courses offered outside the School of
Business to broaden their skills in some area of interest.
Opportunities for Students
The sport and recreation industry is a very competitive one.
Students must have a good educational background and solid
work experience to obtain an entry-level position. To have the best
chance of entering the sport industry, students should be prepared
to relocate.
Employers in the sport and recreation industry are particularly
interested in entry-level employees who are enthusiastic, willing to
work hard, have good oral communication skills and are problem-solvers.
The best way for students to demonstrate such skills is
through practical work experience, obtained through volunteer
work, internships or part-time jobs.
RMU sport management students can gain practical experience
by working with:
- The University's 23-sport, NCAA Division I athletic program;
- The University's intramural and club sports programs;
- The RMU Island Sports Center complex;
- Special events held on campus, such as a regional sports memorabilia show; and
- Community events, including the Great Race, the 84 Lumber
PGA Classic, the Western Pennsylvania Special Olympics, the
Extra Mile Foundation Golf Event, the NCAAWomen's
Basketball Regionals and high school playoff events.
Internship Opportunities
Internships are an important element of the sport management
concentration. Each term, students are involved in doing
internships with sport organizations for credit. These internships
provide students with an opportunity to apply knowledge gained
in the classroom, to demonstrate skills, and to make contacts.
Study Abroad
Sport management students at RMU have studied abroad in
Australia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Monaco.
Faculty
RMU's sport management faculty members bring practical
backgrounds to the classroom. Full-time faculty members have
held positions in professional baseball, intercollegiate athletics,
tennis club management and special events.
Faculty members make presentations at professional meetings,
including the North American Society for Sport Management,
Resort and Commercial Recreation Association, Sport Marketing
Association and Sport Marketing Interest Group of the American
Marketing Association. They also attend conferences dealing with
such issues as building new stadiums and arenas, resort trends
into the next century and issues in intercollegiate athletics.
Faculty members have been involved with research projects such as
the economic impact of an LPGA Golf Tournament, the examination
of fans attending major league baseball games and the marketing
of new stadiums in Pittsburgh. Students are frequently asked to
participate in such projects.
Full-time faculty members are frequently cited by local and
national media as experts in the sport industry.
Bachelor-Level Internship Employers
Altoona Curve; Baltimore Ravens; Clear Channel Sports; Dick's
Sporting Goods; ESPN Radio; Family Circle Cup; Hilton Grand
Vacations Resort; Innisbrook Resort; Koeberle & Associates;
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa; New Jersey Devils; North Hills
High School; Pittsburgh Penguins; Pittsburgh Pirates; Pittsburgh
Steelers; Robert Morris University; Sewickley Heights Golf Club;
SMG-Mellon Arena; Spectacor Management Group; University of
Pittsburgh; U.S. Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs;
U.S. Open; Wake Forest University; Washington Wild Things.
Bachelor-Level Hiring Organizations
Altoona Curve; Baltimore Ravens; Carolina Hurricanes; Cleveland
Cavaliers; Cleveland Indians; Dick's Sporting Goods; ESPN Radio;
Florida Gulf Coast Sports Commission; Indianapolis Colts; KDKATV;
Marshall University; Mellon Arena; Memphis River Kings;
Nationwide Arena; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort; New Jersey
Devils; New Orleans Hornets; NBA; NFL Japan; NHL; Ohio State
University; Oklahoma State University; Orlando Magic;
Philadelphia Flyers; Philadelphia Phillies; Pittsburgh Penguins;
Pittsburgh Pirates; Pittsburgh Steelers; San Diego Padres; Special
Olympics; Ticketmaster; University of Alabama; Washington
Capitals; Wilson Sporting Goods; YMCA.
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