Blend Your Passion for Athletics and Business
Sport is more than a game – it’s a business. Lead it.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Sport Management (SPM) prepares you for the business side of sport, from professional and collegiate athletics to community recreation and sport tourism. You’ll explore marketing, event management, analytics, law, and leadership, all through the lens of sport and entertainment.
The sports industry is always changing and needs highly trained professionals to meet the ever-changing economic and lifestyle growth patterns in tomorrow’s marketplace. With more and more people getting into both playing and watching sports, the Sport Management discipline is growing increasingly complex. As a result, successful organizations in the sports industry are constantly searching for leaders with specialized training.
- Combined B.S./M.S. degree option, allowing students to fast-track an advanced degree, reducing overall cost and time
- Sport Management’s momentum is clear: degrees awarded have climbed nearly 80% since 2014, and faculty has expanded by 80% since 2015 to match growing enrollment and sustain a high-quality student experience
- Home to innovative research labs and the Institute for Coaching Excellence, Sport Management gives students direct access to the people and projects tackling the sport industry’s most pressing challenges
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady to strong growth across many careers connected to sport, recreation, entertainment, and business operations. Roles in event management, marketing, recreation leadership, and organizational administration are expected to grow as communities, universities, and professional organizations continue expanding programs, facilities, and fan engagement efforts.
Students with a B.S. in Sport Management can pursue a wide range of careers across professional sports, college athletics, community recreation, sport marketing, event operations, and sport-related business sectors. The percentages below reflect projected national growth rates from 2024 – 2034 according to the BLS.
- Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers (including sports marketing): plan programs to generate interest in products or services
- 6% growth (faster than average)
- Coaches and scouts: teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits.
- 6% growth (faster than average)
- Entertainment and recreation managers: plan, direct, and coordinate activities and operations related to fitness and leisure
- 8% growth (much faster than average)
- Event and facility managers: plan, coordinate, and oversee sport events, tournaments, and venue operations
- 4% growth (as fast as average)
- Lawyers: represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions
- 4% growth (as fast as average)
- Management analyst: recommend ways to improve a sport organization’s efficiency, strategy, and operations
- 9% growth (much faster than average)
- Meeting, convention and event planners: arrange all aspects of events , conferences, and sport-related experiences
- 5% growth (faster than average)
Sport Management is focused on using sport to improve the wellbeing of people and communities. Through world-renowned faculty, cutting-edge curriculum and engaged learning and outreach, we prepare next generation leaders in the sport industry.
With the proliferation of both recreational and spectator sports, the sport management discipline is growing increasingly complex. As a result, successful organizations in the sports industry are constantly searching for leaders with specialized training.
As a Sport Management student, you will learn to:
- Manage sport programs, events, and facilities to create safe, engaging, and efficient experiences
- Apply marketing and communication strategies to build fan engagement, strengthen brands, and support sponsorship efforts
- Use data and analytics to inform decisions, evaluate performance, and guide organizational strategy
- Navigate legal and ethical issues in sport, including contracts, compliance, and risk management
- Understand the economic, cultural, and social impact of sport, and how organizations operate within these systems
As part of the degree program, students must complete either an approved 12-credit internship or opt for the non-internship option. The 12-credit internship is an approved 12-week internship that takes place in a full semester of the student’s choice, after the student has earned at least 60 credit hours. Students who declare the non-internship option can replace the 12-credit internship with 12 credits of non-internship pre-approved SPM courses. Examples of past internship sites include:
- Baltimore Orioles
- Goodyear Ballpark
- iHeartMedia
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Madison Square Garden Entertainment
- NASCAR
- PGA (Southern Texas Section)
- Savannah Bananas
- Stephen C. O’Connell Center
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- TIAA Bank Field
- UF University Athletic Association
- U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport
- USA Rugby
Graduates of our program work in athletics, professional sport, e-sports, Olympic sport and recreation. They work in sales, marketing, sponsorship and promotions, human resources, athlete development, social media and events, among others. The employers below showcase the breadth and growing influence of the SPM alumni network, just a snapshot of the organizations where our graduates are shaping the future of sport.
- Adidas
- Disney Cruise Line
- Electronic Arts
- Florida High School Athletic Association
- Greater Orlando Sports Commission
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Madison Square Garden Sports
- Minnesota Vikings
- Nike
- Orlando Magic
- Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
- Silverback Gymwear
- Sports Info Solutions
- Tampa Bay Rays
- TNT Sports
- Washington Commanders
- Workiva
What is a Certificate?
A certificate is a shorter, more specialized program that focuses on a specific industry or skill set, typically 9-12 credit hours. Certificates often provide hands-on, career-focused knowledge and can be a great way to gain expertise in a targeted area without committing to a full minor or major. It can be combined with a major/degree program or pursued as a stand-alone option. A certificate is noted on your official UF transcript.
Why Add a Sport Management Certificate?
Undergraduate certificates are a smart way for students to deepen their expertise, stand out in a competitive job market, and tailor their education to their career goals. Certificates allow you to build focused, industry‑relevant skills without committing to a second major—making them an efficient, high‑impact addition to your degree. They’re designed to complement any major and help you graduate with a clearer professional direction and a more versatile skill set.
- Sport & Entertainment Law + Risk Management Undergraduate Certificate: enables students to apply and evaluate fundamental legal and risk concepts to the area of sport
- Sport & Health Leaders Undergraduate Certificate: prepares future professionals to support the mental, physical and social well-being of athletes and sport participants
- Sport Management Undergraduate Certificate: examines the interdisciplinary nature of the study of sport management while applying the fundamentals of business to the area of sport
The Sport Management faculty and staff go above and beyond to ensure each student succeeds not just academically, but personally. What stands out most is how they consistently prioritize the student as a whole, placing genuine care and support above everything else.
– Grace D., Sport Management Undergraduate Student
Explore Undergraduate Certificates
Did you know?
The B.S./M.S. Sport Management combination degree program allows qualified students to complete both degrees in 5 years, instead of the usual 6 years.
Institute for Coaching Excellence
The Institute for Coaching Excellence is committed to the education and development of athlete facing professionals who are responsible for training elite athletes and teams. We believe that educating coaches is a critical component of promoting athlete development and the sustainability of the coaching profession.
Visit the InstituteInnovative Research Initiatives in Sport
The I-Rise initiative increases the impact of sport event research for mega and small-scale sport events through dissemination and strategic alliances in the State of Florida, the USA and globally.
More About I-RiseLooking for an online option?
Bachelor’s degrees in sport management are also available online.
Sport Management Undergraduate Admission Information
Incoming Freshman
Freshman admissions are administered through the UF Office of Admissions. There’s no separate Sport Management (SPM) application for freshmen. Students transition into SPM once they’ve completed the foundational prerequisites.
If you have recently been accepted as a freshman to UF, congratulations! You will select a major at your Preview session (regardless of what was listed on your UF application). We encourage you to explore the SPM section of our website and attend one of our info sessions at Preview to learn more about the SPM program and HHP.
If you’ve already attended Preview and wish to change your major to SPM or want to connect with an advisor, you can reach out to one of our SPM advisors.
Change of Major to SPM
For a student to be considered as a change of major, the following criteria must be met accordingly:
Lower Division Students
- Minimum UF GPA
- Minimum UT GPA as designated by the Department curriculum
- No deficit points
- Must have the ability to complete all tracking requirements by the required UT term (based on desired major)
- Completion of the Change of Major form
Upper Division Students
- Minimum UF GPA
- Minimum universal tracking (UT) GPA as designated by the Department curriculum
- No deficit points
- Must be able to complete degree within 132 hours or 8 semesters (not including summer) without exceeding the maximum credit hours per semester. (Excludes AP/IB courses not needed for HHP degree program)
- Must have completed 75% of universal tracking courses for desired major
- Must have all writing and math requirements met
- Must have a minimum of 27 hours of General Education requirements met
- Completion of the Change of Major form
Additional Notes:
- Students admitted to UF as transfers are not able to change majors into the College.
- Current HHP students may not change into another HHP major unless they currently meet the major’s criteria.
- Students who were dismissed from a college major cannot change out of HHP and then be accepted back into the College as a change of major.
SPM Transfer Students
Review the transfer admission requirements for Sport Management.
For application information, transfer students should refer to the admission as a transfer section of the UF Undergraduate Catalog. Within space and fiscal limitations, applicants from other institutions who have satisfied minimum requirements will be considered for admission at the junior level.
Add an SPM Certificate
If you’d like to apply for an undergraduate certificate, visit UF admissions.
Meet our Sport Management Advisors
