If you want to work in the sports industry, but don’t know in what area, then being in a Sport Management program would be beneficial. These degree programs usually offer a diverse range of coursework that can show you the different things you can do in sports outside of the typical careers of an agent or front office employee.
However, if you already have an idea of what you want to do in sports, getting a degree in Sport Management is not necessarily a requirement to work in sports, but an added bonus. For example, if you want to work in Marketing, it may be more beneficial to study it to get a better grasp of the concept as your coursework will focus more on that. Where as in a sports class you will take one Marketing course. The experiences you may receive in that degree program may be more beneficial to marketing positions in sports that are not entry-level. A good option would be to instead minor in sports.
The only downfall to not studying Sport Management is that it may be more difficult to get internships. Priority can usually go to a student studying sports because that’s their course of study and they typically need an internship to graduate, where as a student in another degree program may just be seeking an internship because of their interest rather than a requirement.
The good thing about not studying Sport Management in undergraduate school, is that there are a lot of one year Sport Management graduate programs that can provide with you excellent resources to start your career in sports with a Masters degree to boast. These are also recommended to those who do have a degree in sports, however you may find that a lot of the coursework is repetitive.
Another plus about not studying Sport Management in undergraduate school, is that you have more job options available to you. This year the world has seen two professional sports leagues locked out. Many professionals in these businesses were laid off. Having a degree in another field may be of greater assistance in finding a new job than a person who only has a sports background both in education and work experience. Many people with a degree in sports find it more difficult to get jobs out of sports because managers believe they are higher risks for turnover because they show a greater desire to work in the sports industry than others.