SPM - Sport Management

This course will introduce the NASPE/NASSM academic content standards for sport management and discuss career paths in the sport industry. In addition, students will develop networking skills and partake in an experiential learning exercise.

This course will combine classroom instruction on careers in sport, utilizing organizational charts and job descriptions from the sport industry with a variety of service learning opportunities with sport organizations in the Tampa Bay area. It is recommended that the student take this course in the spring semester following successful completion of SPM 290 Introduction to Sport Management. You must be a declared sport management major to register for this course. Fall and spring practicums are expected to be completed by the end of the sophomore year and must be completed before registering for SPM 495 Internship in Sport Management.

This course will provide a framework for understanding the connection between the informational and commercial sides of sport information management. Emphasis will be placed on allowing future sport managers the opportunity to acquire and refine effective ways of communicating, both internally and externally, with all their constituencies.

An in-depth study of the administrative and financial policies, standards and procedures involved in the sport management profession and related fields.

Covers the various aspects and functions of managing a stadium and/or arena. Covers the basic considerations in planning these facilities and how proper planning facilitate their management.

Studies marketing, fund-raising and promotion techniques as they apply to the sports business.  The course is designed to provide students with a broad and contemporary overview of the sport marketing field. This course will compare and contrast the field of sport and entertainment marketing with the practices and applications of mainstream marketing. Sport marketing is designed for students to study sport marketing theories and practical applications and principles by specifically learning about marketing information systems, pricing strategies, media relations, promotional methods and endorsements.

This course is designed as an overview of the legal issues most often encountered in sport. The course emphasizes tort, contract and select areas of constitutional, statutory, labor and commercial law. Students become aware of the rights of participants, athletes, coaches, managers, teachers, referees and others engaged in amateur and professional sport.

Sport serves as a global language bridging many cultural and political barriers. As an industry, sport accounts for 2 percent of the worldwide economy. This is a travel course. Interested students enroll in an on-campus course during the spring semester and travel to Europe after the semester ends. While in Europe, the class tours sports venues, attends matches and visits historical sites. The travel component may last 10-14 days. This course examines strategic, operational, cultural and technological factors to prepare future business leaders for success in the competitive sport marketplace. The course's 4 credit hours may be substituted for SPM 475 History of the Modern Olympic Games in the sport management program.

This course will provide students with general knowledge of the most important topics involved in the management of sport.  An emphasis will be placed on the process of managing including planning, organizing, implementing and controlling and relating these areas to sport-specific context. Other topic areas such as motivation, leadership, decision making, problem solving, human resource management, communication, rewards and evaluation will be addressed.

This course focuses on promotion and sales of sport. Quite often, selling is a student's initial entryway into the sport business. This course will examine the relationship between rights holders and sponsors of sport teams and events. It will also examine how events sell tickets and the technology associated with ticketing. Presentation skills, prospecting and closing will be addressed. This course will utilize guest speakers from the Tampa sport industry and will culminate with the class being a part of selling tickets/sponsorship for a Tampa Bay area sport event.

The Olympics are the foundation of organized sport throughout the world. This course will explore the political, social, cultural and economic impact the games have had on society. It will also examine the administrative functions of governing bodies of professional and amateur sport across the world.

A seminar dealing with advanced problems in sport management. Issues include legal aspects, governance of athletics, eligibility standards and ethics in athletics.

This course takes advantage of many of the world class sport and event venues in the Tampa Bay Area. The course consists of lecture and numerous site visits to venues.  The course explores commonalities and differences in managing and marketing different venues and events.

Junior or senior standing with written permission of the instructor and department chair. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Offers practical experience in sport management within the sport business community.