Sport Studies
Work in the business of sport. Shawnee State's Sport Management bachelor's prepares you for the behind-the-scenes side of college and professional athletics, fitness, esports, and recreation — with two required internships and three concentration tracks to match where you want to go.
Program Overview
If you know you want to work in the world of sports but are not sure exactly where you fit yet, Sport Studies at Shawnee State is where you start.
Sport Studies is not a single degree. It is a focused area of study within the C.H. Lute School of Business that leads to two distinct bachelor's degrees: Sport Management and Exercise Science. Each program is built around a different side of the sports industry, so whether your goal is running the business of a sports organization or working directly with athletes and clients on their physical performance, there is a path here for you.
Both degrees are built around hands-on learning from day one. Small class sizes mean you will work closely with faculty who have real experience in their fields and who stay invested in where you end up after graduation. You will also have access to SSU's growing athletics program, which currently fields more than 21 intercollegiate sports and has just recently transitioned to NCAA Division II, giving you a front-row seat to the kind of organizational growth happening across the sports industry right now.
Whichever degree you choose, you will leave Shawnee State with more than a diploma. You will leave with real experience, a network of alumni working across the sports world, and the skills to back it up.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
At A Glance
Sport Studies
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Business (B.S.B.)
Format
On-campus
Length
4 years (full-time)
Class Size
12:1
Location
Advanced Technology Center, Main Campus
Why Study Sport Studies at Shawnee University
Why Study Sport Studies at Shawnee University
You'll do two internships, not just one. Two required practicum experiences put you directly inside sports organizations — and give you a track record before you graduate. Pick a concentration that matches your goals. Choose from Business, Marketing & Communication, or Esports Business — and shape the degree around the part of the industry you want to work in. You'll learn the business side, not just the sport side. Coursework covers sport-specific marketing, financial management, legal questions, and the ethics of the industry — the things that actually run an organization. An active advisory board keeps the program current. A diverse board of industry professionals weighs in on curriculum changes so what you learn maps to where the field is going. Tuition is among the lowest in Ohio. The Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years.
Beyond General Education Program requirements, the Sport Management degree includes 43 hours of Sport Management core, 18 hours in one of three concentrations (Business, Marketing & Communication, or Esports Business), and 21 hours of electives.
- Sport Management core (43 hours): management, marketing, finance, law, ethics, and operations applied to sport
- Concentration (18 hours): Business, Marketing & Communication, or Esports Business
- Electives (21 hours): tailored to your interests
You'll complete two required practicum experiences with sports-related organizations — college or professional teams, fitness facilities, recreation centers, governing bodies, or media outlets. That hands-on time builds the resume and the contacts that get you hired.
- Explain the role of sport in society and across societal segments
- Apply the concepts of management and leadership to sport organizations
- Apply marketing concepts to the unique aspects of the sport product, consumer, and market
- Apply legal concepts and evaluate the authority and structure of sport governing bodies
- Apply ethical reasoning to the issues sport managers face
The Sport Management B.S.B. is offered through the C. H. Lute School of Business in the College of Business and Engineering Technology. Classes meet in the Advanced Technology Center on SSU's Main Campus in Portsmouth, Ohio. SSU currently fields 20 intercollegiate sports with more on the horizon, giving you a vibrant athletic environment right on campus.
Graduates of this program go into roles like:
- Athletic department coordinator or manager
- Sports marketing or PR specialist
- Facility or operations manager
- Compliance officer (collegiate athletics)
- Esports event or league coordinator
- Recreation or fitness program director
- Ticket sales or sponsorship specialist
Hiring sectors include college and professional sports, recreation, fitness clubs, governing bodies, sport media, sports retail, and esports.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State’s tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
Sport Studies Frequently Asked Questions
College and professional team operations, sport facilities, fitness clubs, recreation centers, league administration, sports marketing, and esports. The degree also opens doors in business management and higher education.
College and professional sports, retail sports business, corporate fitness, esports, and other sport-focused sectors.
Yes. A diverse industry advisory board provides ongoing input on the curriculum, and IACBE accreditation keeps the program aligned with the field's standards.
Yes. Two practicum experiences are required for graduation.
Program handbook
For information about program expectations, policies, and requirements, contact Department Chair Jason Lovins at jlovins@shawnee.edu or (740) 351-3215.
Accreditation
The Sport Management Bachelor's Degree program is fully accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
Ready to take the next step?
Request more information about the Sport Studies program at Shawnee State.
