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Sport Management

Certificate

The Sport Management certificate combines coursework in areas such as risk management, sports marketing, facility management and event planning which will help you learn the ins and outs of athletic administration and what it takes to manage and produce events from small-scale recreational events to larger commercial sport competitions.

Program Overview

A group of students cheer for the women's basketball team after an exciting play.

Create the energy and manage the logistics behind sport organizations and events large and small.

The Sport Management Certificate is a fully-online, stackable 12-credit certificate that includes four upper-division RESS courses. The curriculum provides you with targeted instruction in foundational areas of sport management such as event and program planning, facility and risk management and sport marketing and serves as a valuable degree enhancement for students in any ESS pathway, as well as any student who has an interest in pursuing a career in the sport industry.

Where athletics meets business

The Sport Management certificate prepares you to take on a behind-the-scenes but incredibly important role in athletic administration and event management.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

The Sport Management Certificate offers a series of courses focused on providing foundational knowledge and skills required of successful sport management professionals in areas such as sport marketing, facility management, event/program planning, leadership, social issues, and risk management. Students must complete five courses taught by the Exercise & Sport Science (ESS) and Recreation and Outdoor Education (ROE) faculty. Credits completed within the Certificate program may also be applied towards the completion of Emphases and Minors offered in the ESS and ROE programs. 

The Sport Management Certificate is a 15 credit, online opportunity open to all students and may be completed in as few as two semesters. Select courses are offered each fall and spring, and during the summer sessions. 

Course List
Code Title Credits
ESS 282Principles of Sport and Fitness Management3
Two of the following:6
ESS 382
Management of Sport and Fitness Facilities
ESS 450
Risk Management in Physical Activity Settings
ESS 490
Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity
Two of the following:6
ROE 333
Recreation and Sport Marketing
ROE 398
Program Planning (with laboratory)
ROE 468
Leadership and Administration
Total Credits15

Careers


Top Skills

  • Athlete Management & Representation
  • Business Management
  • Effective Communication
  • Leadership and Teamwork
  • Marketing & Promotion
  • Sports Industry Knowledge



Career Pathways

  • Athletic Director
  • Sports Agent/Player Representative
  • Sports Analyst
  • Sports Development Officer
  • Sports Information Director
  • Sports Marketing Coordinator

Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.

Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.

Scholarships

Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works

Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works is Western’s tool for searching for, applying for and managing over 300 scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students.

Western’s Adult Degree Completion program is unique in many regards, and scholarship opportunities may be different to students in this program. Contact your academic advisor to see which opportunities you qualify for and begin your scholarship application process today.

Find your Scholarships

Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works

Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works is Western’s tool for searching for, applying for and managing over 300 scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students.

Western’s Adult Degree Completion program is unique in many regards, and scholarship opportunities may be different to students in this program. Contact your academic advisor to see which opportunities you qualify for and begin your scholarship application process today.

Find your Scholarships

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.

Get Involved

Sport Management

Make your time at Western a transformative experience.

  • Graduate Research: Collaborate on research projects with students in the High Altitude Exercise Physiology master’s program.
  • High Altitude Performance Lab: Take classes and conduct research in our state-of-the-art facility.
  • Publish Research: Publish your work in the Center for Wellness and Human Performance Health & Fitness Journal.
  • Wellness Elevated: Work with clinical populations and their exercise programming for a semester or more.
  • Association for Students of Exercise Sports Science: This club is specifically tailored to ESS majors. Outings and events provide social support, professional development and networking opportunities.

Get your game on

The Sport Management certificate provides the groundwork for you to take your love of athletics and turn it into a fulfilling career.

Department Chairperson

Gary P. Van Guilder, Ph.D.

Professor of Exercise & Sport Science; Chair, Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science Department

Administrative Assistant

Terri Stinson

Administrative Assistant

Contact Information

970.943.7129

970.943.7125

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Paul Wright Gym 209
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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