Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Sport Management, Bachelor of Science (572)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/krs


Program Coordinator

Stacey A. Forsythe, stacey.forsythe@wku.edu, (270) 745-4238

The Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management prepares students for a variety of successful careers within the sport industry. Course work focuses on key content areas including sport management and leadership principles, operations, event & venue management, governance, ethics, marketing, legal aspects, financial aspects, and industry-related experiences.

Program Requirements (63 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

 The Sport Management Program also offers the Esports Management undergraduate certificate, a great option for WKU students wanting more experience in the field of Esports Management. 

Core Courses*
SPM 200Introduction to Sport Management3
COMM 145Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication3
ECON 202Principles of Economics (Micro)3
MGT 210Organization and Management3
MKT 220Basic Marketing Concepts3
SPM 290Sport Management Seminar3
SPM 300Governance and Public Policy in Sport3
SPM 310Sport Ethics and Moral Issues3
SPM 404Sport Facility Management3
SPM 402Fiscal Practices in Sport Management3
SPM 450Legal Issues in Sport3
SPM 452Sport Leadership and Management3
SPM 490Internship in Sport *12
Electives
Select 15 hours of the following:15
Sport Event Management
Sport Communication
Esports Management
Culture of Sport Through Film
Moneyball: Sport Analytics
Global Perspectives in Sport
Intercollegiate Athletics Administration
Special Topics in Sport Management
Advance Studies in Sport
Understanding the Nonprofit Sector
Recreation and Tourism
Campus Recreation
Travel-Based Learning in Recreation and Tourism
Sports Economics
Entrepreneurship
Sports Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Esports Marketing and Branding
Sport Psychology
Sociology of Sport
Total Hours63
*

Prior to enrolling in SPM 490, students must have completed all core courses. Students must earn a C or better in all core courses and must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in the SPM program. The remaining hours required to meet the university’s requirement of 120 hours should be used to either: 1) take other electives of interest to the student or 2) select a minor or certificate that best prepares them for entry-level positions related to their interest within the sport industry.  Complementary minors include, but are not limited to: athletic coaching, broadcasting, business administration, economics, marketing, finance, nonprofit administration, and facility and event management. ​

Finish in Four Plan

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
COMM 1453ENG 1003
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 116 or MATH 1233
SPM 200 (Colonnade - Social and Behavioral Sciences)3ECON 2023
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Major/Minor/Elective or World Language (if needed)3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 2003SPM 2903
MKT 2203SPM 3003
MGT 2103SPM 335 (Recommended for Colonnade: Connections - Local to Global)3
Major/Minor/Elective3Major/Minor/Elective3
Colonnade: Connections - Social & Cultural3Major/Minor/Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPM 4023SPM 3103
SPM 4043SPM 4523
ENG 3003Major/Minor/Elective3
ENT 312 (Recommended for Colonnade: Connections - Systems)3Major/Minor/Elective3
Major/Minor/Elective3Major/Minor/Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPM 4503SPM 49012
Major/Minor/Elective3 
Major/Minor/Elective3 
Major/Minor/Elective3 
Major/Minor/Elective3 
Major/Minor/Elective3 
 18 12
Total Hours 120