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The Sport Management Option within the B.S. in Recreation prepares students for careers in a variety of roles in the sports industry, including, but not limited to, professional sports, intercollegiate athletics, parks and recreation departments, health and fitness clubs, and small and large businesses which operate in or partner with sports enterprises.

COURSEWORK

Students in the Sport Management Option are required to take the following courses (semester offered):

SPMG 2600 Introduction to Sport Management (Spring)
SPMG 3660 Moral and Ethical Issues in Sport (Fall)
SPMG 3661 Sociology of Sport (Spring)
SPMG 3662 Management and Leadership in Sport Organizations (Fall)
SPMG 3663 Sport Facility and Event Management (Spring)
SPMG 3664 Economics and Finance in Sport (Fall)
SPMG 3665 Communication in Sport (Spring)
SPMG 3670 Practicum (Fall, Spring, Summer)
SPMG 4665 Sports Marketing and Promotion (Spring)
SPMG 4667 Legal Issues for Sport Management (Fall)
SPMG 4668 Human Resource Management (Fall)
SPMG 4686 Internship (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Additionally, students can choose to take electives in Sport Management through the various course offerings in the program under one of the following two course titles:

SPMG 4681 Independent Study (Fall, Spring, Summer, provided existence of a cooperating professor)
SPMG 4685 Special Topics (Fall, Spring, Summer)

FACULTY:

Dr. Frank Butts
678-839-6193
fbutts@westga.edu

Dr. Laura Hatfield
678-839-6191
lhatfiel@westga.edu

Dr. Lance Hatfield
678-839-6186
lanceh@westga.edu

GOALS:

The Sport Management program of the State University of West Georgia supports the University "Bread and Butter Goals." As such, it has designated goals the following program goals, in keeping with the University's goals:

1. Sport Management Program's commitment to UWG's mission and goals. The Physical Education and Recreation faculty support the University and College of Education on the University's direction and goals, and will work together to achieve them.
   
   
2. Enrollment management for the Sport Management Program. The undergraduate recruitment and retention of Sport Management students has been maintained, while raising admission standards.
   Recruitment:
   
   1. Extend the focus of recruitment for the Sport Management program among high school guidance counselors,
      teachers, and college-bound students. (See "Public Relations" below.)
      
   2. Focus recruitment plans on qualified and diverse college freshmen and sophomores, as well as high school students
      on campus visitation days with available booths and information.
      
   3. Build stronger ties and articulation agreements with the two-year colleges of the University System of Georgia
      (USG).
   
   Retention:
   
   1. Coordinate with the College of Education Academic Advising Office to communicate a comprehensive strategy
      for academic advising Sport Management students.
      
   2. Develop students' ties to UWG so that they want to stay until they earn their degrees rather than transfer to other
      USG institutions. (See "The University Experience" and "Campus infrastructure" below.)
      
   3. Increase undergraduate admissions standards as the academic integrity of the Sport Management program increases
      
      
3. Academic Programming for Sport Management. Academic excellence is the essential goal of the Sport Management program. Academic programming will be shaped by the mission of the Physical Education and Recreation Department and by national Sport Management (NASSM/NASPE) curricular standards.
   
   1. Use of periodic program reviews to ensure that the Sport Management program is mission and goal driven.
      
   2. Allocate resources for the improvement of the existing Sport Management Program in the Recreation major, and for
      the development of the newly proposed Sport Management program as a new Major.
      
   3. Give high priority to obtaining and maintaining NASSM/NASPE approval (termed "approval" as no nation
      "accreditation" standards/protocols exist for sport management; NASSM/NASPE's "approval" process in
      generally recognized as the national standards) for the Sport Management Program.
      
   4. Include faculty-directed student experiential learning, research, creative, or professional
      activities in academic programs whenever possible.
      
   5. Ensure that the general education coursework required in the core is consistent with the University core
      requirements and appropriate for the preparation of sport management students.
      
      

4. Public relations for the Sport Management Program. Public relations for the Sport Management program must reflect an accurate perspective of the opportunities for prospective graduates in the sport industry workplace.
   

   1. Create a Department and College linked website to define and promote the Sport Management program as a quality
      program, targeting achievements of the faculty and students and visionary goals for the program defined in the strategic planning process.
      
   2. Use campus Public Relations Office resources to maximize the effectiveness of public relations activities for Sport
      Management.
      
   3. Encourage faculty and staff members, administrators, and students in the Physical Education and Recreation
      Department to participate in public relations initiatives for Sport Management.
      
      

5. The University experience for Sport Management students. To improve recruitment and retention, Sport Management students must engage in academic-related activities on campus that enhances the reason they attend classes.
   

   1. Give Sport Management students a reason to stay at UWG on weekends by planning Sport Management sponsored
      events in which students are involved.
      
   2. Improve the facilities for programs in the Physical Education and Recreation Department.
      
   3. Continue to encourage cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in students, faculty, and staff, and to work to
      ensure that equal opportunities and resources are available to all.
      
      

6. Student, faculty and staff morale for the Sport Management Program. A positive academic climate must be continually monitored to enhance the morale of students, faculty, and staff members in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation.
   

   1. Develop Departmental policies that address student and faculty concerns about class size to ensure that we can offer
      each student educational excellence in a personal environment.
      
   2. Develop and review clear faculty and staff workload, promotion, and tenure policies that are consistent with the
      University mission.
      
   3. Promote faculty governance through the Department and College committees.
      
      

7. External relations for the Sport Management Program . Off-campus connections are important to Sport Management faculty and students.
   

   1. Increase the engagement of Sport Management alumni in recruitment, fundraising, and public relations.
      
   2. Forge stronger and broader town/gown relations through Sport Management marketing activities.
      
   3. Emphasize regional service to sport organizations in Sport Management academic and extracurricular activities.
      
   4. Promote an understanding of cultural diversity in the sport industry within this region.
      
      

8. Regional collaboration for economic and community development. The Sport Management program must form partnerships with government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations that let us apply the resources of the University to the solution of our community's economic and social problems within the sport industry.
   

   1. Establish and maintain sport industry sites for practicum and internship placements for Sport Management students.
      
   2. Formulate partnerships with regional sport organizations and businesses to coordinate sport marketing, sport event
      management, and other opportunities for students and faculty in Sport Management.
      
      

9. Information technology for Sport Management. Appropriate information technology must be available to Sport Management faculty and students to enhance learning, to provide access to internet education resources, and to ensure communication functions for the Sport Management program.
   

   1. Plan for contemporary internet-linked computers and software programs specific to Sport Management functions to
      be available to faculty and students.
      
   2. Educate Sport Management students in electronic communication systems used in contemporary organizations and
      businesses in sport industry.
      
      

10. Capital campaign. The Sport Management program supports the University's capital campaign, as the program expects to attract financial support for program activities. Therefore, in conjunction with the University's new centenary date of 2006, the Sport Management faculty and students will contribute their sport marketing expertise and commitment of time toward the University's multi-million dollar capital campaign.