Sport Management

The University of West Georgia Sport Management program (SPMG) is designed to serve society by developing responsible leaders for the world of sport business. The program includes:

Action-oriented curriculum in which the students learn by practicing and performing the tasks they will be expected to do in their professional positions.

Student-centered teaching that is the product of the faculty's commitment to the holistic development of students.

Market-driven instruction that is cutting-edge and ensures that the knowledge bases, skills, and competencies in the curriculum are those that are demanded by industry employers.

Mutually beneficial partnerships with sport properties that are developed to further solidify the bond between industry and the university. 

The Sport Management program is an academically rigorous program geared to develop leaders for today's sport industry. Graduates of the program are prepared to compete for entry-level managerial positions in intercollegiate athletics, professional sport organizations, governing agencies, golf course administration, health and fitness, and sport marketing firms among others. The faculty is committed to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the sport industry through the creation and delivery of relevant educational programs, conducting and disseminating research, and working collaboratively with industry organizations.

  • Admissions Requirements

    The B.S. with a major in Sport Management consists of two phases, the sport management and the professional content phases. The sport management phase consists of introductory courses and the basic University Core Curriculum. The professional content phase consists of advanced coursework specific to the field of sport management.

    A soon as a student thinks he/she is interested in declaring Sport Management as a major, it is strongly recommended that he/she schedules an advising appointment. Click here to find the Sport Management advisor based on your last name.

    To be accepted into the professional content phase, students must meet the requirements as noted below. 

    1. Student must complete all of the Area A-E requirements prior to taking courses from the professional content area.
    2. Transfer students who lack up to two courses in Areas A-E may take specified courses concurrently during their first semester of enrollment at UWG.
    3. Student must complete at least 15 of the 18 hours required in Area F prior to taking professional content courses. This includes SPMG 2600, Introduction to Sport Management, that must be passed with a grade of C or better.

    Student must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 before taking any professional content courses.

    Once a student has met the requirements for admission, the advisor will change their status from pre-major to Sport Management. At this time the student may select a university approved minor and should receive separate advising in the respective department.

  • Sport Management Appeals

    While competitive academic standards have been established for admission and matriculation, the faculty do realize that there can be events in students' lives that hinder their ability to live up to their academic potential. The Sport Management appeals process provides students who do not meet the admissions criteria an opportunity to document significant circumstances that have negatively impacted their academic performance. Students should note that this is not an opportunity to appeal the admissions standards. Rather, the process is an opportunity for students to make the case that their prior academic performance, due to extenuating circumstances, is not indicative of their true potential. Further, the process allows the student to demonstrate that, if given the opportunity, they will be able to meet the standards soon after being granted admission into the program. Appeals will also be considered if a student has not fulfilled all of the admission requirements due to an extenuating circumstance.

    General Guidelines for Appeals

    It is the student's responsibility to initiate the appeals process.  This must be done by filing the Sport Management Appeals Form along with the supporting documentation required per the Appeals Form.

    Appeals applications must be delivered to an active faculty member in the Sport Management program. The nature of the appeal will be discussed with the student's academic advisor. The faculty member will present the appeal packet, information from the academic advisor, and any other pertinent details to the program faculty at the regularly scheduled program meeting. The faculty panel will deliberate and decide by majority vote whether the appeal will be granted or denied. The student will receive written notification from the faculty member to whom the appeal was submitted regarding the decision. The academic advisor and department chair will be notified accordingly and take action as necessary.

    Appeals Application Recommendations
    As noted earlier, the sport industry is extremely competitive to enter and the Sport Management program has an academically rigorous curriculum. Therefore, it is in the best interest of industry constituents, the academic program, and the students that the faculty be selective in the admissions process and in their consideration of appeals of admissions decisions. Below are some recommendations to guide students through the preparation of the appeals materials. Each case will be judged on its own merits and following these recommendations in no way guarantees that a student will be admitted to the Sport Management program.

    • Recognize that admission to Sport Management is a privilege and not a right.
    • The rationale for the student's deficient academic performance should be substantial and evidence should be presented that demonstrates the steps taken by the student to overcome the challenges faced.
    • The Sport Management faculty is going to take a comprehensive look at your complete academic record. It is highly recommended that the student take courses in a proposed minor or other career-supporting courses and demonstrate to the faculty that he/she is capable of high-level academic performance before applying for an admissions appeal.
    • The tone of the student's appeals materials should demonstrate that the student accepts responsibility for his/her past performance. Also, the student should remember that the admissions standards are not appealable.
    • The student should have a record that demonstrates that he/she is truly interested in Sport Management and is not merely seeking a degree. Volunteering at sporting events, membership and activity in the Sport Management Society and working with sport organizations are ways in which a student can help substantiate his/her interest. 
    • The student must convince the faculty that he/she has the ability to meet the 2.50 overall GPA requirement soon after being admitted to the program if his/her appeal is successful.
    • The student should not be under any investigation or penalty related to aberrant behavior as a student at the University (e.g., Honor Code violations, etc.) at the time of the appeal.


    Successful Appeals [These will also be included on any letters of successful appeals]

    1. Students who have been admitted without the minimum overall GPA of 2.50 must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.50 in all subsequent semesters. Students who fail to meet this minimum semester GPA standard will be dismissed from the program and will not be allowed to reapply for admission until they achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.50. All students must have a minimum overall GPA requirement of 2.50 in order to register for SPMG 4686 Internship in Sport Management. This includes students admitted with an overall GPA below 2.50.
    2. All students must have a minimum overall GPA requirement of 2.50 in order to graduate.  This includes students admitted with an overall GPA below 2.50.
  • Undergraduate Program Sheet

    B.S. in Sports Management Program Sheet [PDF, 112K]