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Bachelor's in fitness and sport management degree students in gym.

Bachelor's Degree in Fitness & Sport Management

What is “Sport Management?” How does it fit into fitness? Or health? Or a potential career opportunity? Bottom line: It’s about helping others do their best while feeling their best. If you’re interested in the business of helping others improve and maintain their health and fitness, or if you enjoy sports, you may want to compare fitness degrees and consider a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in fitness and sport management.

 

Mission and Goals 

The mission of the Sport Management degree program is to develop ethically responsible fitness and sport practitioners who are competent and prepared to promote life-long fitness, as well as implement administrative and organizational procedures involved in management, facilitation, and intervention.

This bachelor in fitness and sport management degree program seeks to prepare students for a fitness management career in fields such as sports marketing and promotion, corporate fitness, fitness management, or health club management. Students graduate from UC well-equipped for the workforce, whether they choose to teach, continue in graduate school sport management programs, or begin a career in the multibillion-dollar fitness and sports industry.

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Sports Management Tailored for You

At Cumberlands, fitness majors study with caring, experienced faculty members who can help tailor sport management programs of study to students’ specific interests. As you build a strong academic foundation through our sport management degree program, you will learn a variety of skills necessary to help individuals live healthier lives, including the use of technology and communication skills.

Upon successful completion of a program with a fitness and sport management major, you will be eligible to take a national certification examination from organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

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WHAT CAN I DO WITH A SPORT MANAGEMENT DEGREE?

Just what can you do with a sport management degree anyway? A lot, actually. There are a number of sport management jobs ready for the right person with the right education. At the University of the Cumberlands, our interdisciplinary Kentucky sport management programs emphasize a liberal arts approach to education and career preparation. Our fitness degrees seek to prepare students for all kinds of career opportunities. 

Careers with a sport management degree can be found in areas such as:

POSTSECONDARY INSTRUCTOR1

If you’re interested in the big picture of sports, health, fitness, conditioning and so on, then you may want to consider a position as a fitness-related college professor – where employment is expected to grow 12 percent by 2030.

FITNESS MANAGEMENT2

Or you could pursue a career in sports fitness – whether it’s as a trainer or in management. Though some certification is often required, job prospects are looking good with the need for qualified fitness trainers and instructors projected to grow 39 percent by 2030, higher than the average of all other occupations.

COACH OR SCOUT3

You could also pursue a coaching position in the field or sport you love.  By 2030, the growth rate for coaches and scouts, as a field, is expected grow 26 percent. This is faster than the average of other occupations combined.

CAREERS

  • Health and Wellness
  • Corporate Fitness
  • Sports and Athletic Administration
  • Community Recreation
  • Personal Training
  • Sports Marketing and Promotion
  • Health Club Management
  • Community Program Directors-YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Sports Information Director
  • College Intramural Director
  • Sport Facilities Management
  • Hospital-Based Fitness Centers
  • Fitness Manager
  • Fitness Program Coordinator
  • Fitness Equipment Sales

*** Certification or additional education is needed for some careers

"$79,640" Median Annual Pay for Postsecondary Instructors1

1Postsecondary Instructors  
2Fitness Trainers
3Coaches and Scouts

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Degree Requirements for Sport Management Degree

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH A MAJOR IN FITNESS AND SPORT MANAGEMENT–57 semester hours as follows: 

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More Information on Sport Management Degree

TUITION

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees. 

ACCREDITATION 

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

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Whether you choose to teach, continue in graduate school sport management degree programs, or begin your career in the multibillion-dollar fitness and sports industry, you can be confident you will be prepared. Let’s talk about our test-optional college admissions process, scholarship opportunities, and more! Fill out the form on this page and find out what UC can do for you!

Admissions Office

Contact Us

Phone:  606.539.4240
Toll-Free:  877.713.8767
Fax:  606.539.4303
Email:  admissions@ucumberlands.edu

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6178 College Station Drive
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Career Path

A University of the Cumberlands degree prepares you for the rigors of the professional world.  Click the button to learn more about the exciting career opportunities you can pursue with this program.