It may be sports, but it’s not a game – not for great managers.

University of the Cumberlands’ bachelor’s degree program in fitness and sport management takes you beyond sports, teaching you the fundamentals of fitness, health, and business and teaches you how to help people feel their best. From maintaining physical health and exercise, to making smart financial decisions, to marketing sports teams, this program prepares you for the business side of the fitness world. The knowledge you learn from this program will equip you to pursue careers in coaching, personal training, nutrition, fitness, sports, health and wellness, and more. By the time you graduate, not only will you know how to keep yourself in peak health, but you will also know how to guide others into achieving the healthiest versions of themselves. 

Anchor: Stats
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Fitness & Sport Management

Students in the Fitness and Sport Management program will learn a mix of both fitness and health information and business related information. A mix of both of this information provides an understanding of how business works in sports and wellness related careers, prepping students to be successful in their future career in the field. You can expect to take courses that go over the science of exercise, nutrition, the way the human body functions, managing sports, and general business information such as accounting, managing, and marketing.

After you graduate, you will then be eligible to take exams for certifications such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the National Council on Strength and Fitness, or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Course Requirements

  • ITSS 130     Introduction to Application Software   
  • BACC 131     Principles of Accounting I   
  • BADM 136     Microeconomics   
  • BADM 331     Principles of Management   
  • BADM 334     Principles of Marketing   
  • HESS 233     Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology   
  • HESS 330     Influences on Contemporary Issues in Health & Performance  
  • HESS 333     Nutrition   
  • HESS 439     Facilities Development & Management   
  • ESS 131     Introduction to Exercise and Sport Science   
  • ESS 230     Growth and Movement Development   
  • ESS 231     Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries   
  • ESS 235     Fitness and Sport Management   
  • ESS 330     Kinesiology   
  • ESS 334     Methods of Group Exercise   
  • ESS 336     Exercise Prescription   
  • ESS 435     Physiology of Exercise   
  • ESS 437     Tests and Measurements   
  • ESS 419     Senior Seminar -- Capstone 

A Bachelor of Arts requires all the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of four classes (12 hours) in a foreign language.

Choose one foreign language sequence:

  • FREN 131        Elementary French I
  • FREN 132        Elementary French II
  • FREN 231        Intermediate French I
  • FREN 232        Intermediate French II
     
  • SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I
  • SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II
  • SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I
  • SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II
Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The mission of the fitness and sport management degree program is to develop ethically responsible fitness and sport practitioners who are competent and prepared to promote lifelong fitness in a variety of careers in the health and wellness.

 Meet requirements for professional positions or graduate school in related fields.
 Effectively communicate, work in groups, and problem-solve.
 Administrate and organize procedures involved in management, facilitation, and intervention.
 Enact a healthy lifestyle and promote healthy living to others.
 Evaluate others’ fitness levels through a knowledgeable, responsible, and compassionate lens.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Fitness & Sport Management Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Coach or Scout: $38,970

Coach or Scout: $38,970

Teach athletes the skills they need to succeed in their sport or find possible recruits. 

Sports & Fitness Marketing: $133,380

Sports & Fitness Marketing: $133,380

Advertising and promotion work for sports teams or fitness related businesses.

Nutritionist: $61,650

Nutritionist: $61,650

Create healthy nutrition plans for others, to help them live a healthier life.

Athletic Trainer: $48,420

Athletic Trainer: $48,420

Help athletes by preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone illness or injury. 

Athlete Agent/Manager: $82,530

Athlete Agent/Manager: $82,530

Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.

Sports Video Editor: $63,520

Sports Video Editor: $63,520

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images. 

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

This degree is 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, this is the degree for you.

The fitness and sport management world is vast, meaning that someone with a degree in this field has a huge number of career options available to them. Every employer wants to hire someone who is hardworking, capable, and knowledgeable in their field. Beyond that, specific job choices may rely on your passion and previous experience. If you’re charismatic, consider sales or marketing. If you can pinpoint people’s strengths, scouting or coaching may be a good choice. Have video or sound experience? Media teams are always in need of experts to film games and create highlight reels and commercials. Really, the options are endless! 

Of course! You don’t have to be an athlete in order to care about fitness, health, and sports. Besides, there is more to sport management than playing or coaching sports. With the knowledge and skills you gain from a fitness and sport management degree, you’ll be ready for any number of careers in that industry. 

Yes – there are a number of positions available in our Department of Athletics for those who want to boost their résumés with extra hands-on experience in the field. We offer work-study positions for student photographers, game announcers, social media managers, team managers, and more. Visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com to learn more. 

If you want to be extra prepared for the workforce, it may be wise to pursue a minor or even a second major. Some areas that would enhance a degree in fitness and sport ministry would be business administration or accounting, coaching, psychology, public health, or human services. But you aren’t restricted to those options; feel free to choose any of our other 40+ programs! 

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation. For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in Fitness & Sport Management

Learn more about the fitness & sport management professors you'll interact with.

Cody Durbin

Assistant Track and Field Coach | Adjunct Professor
Athletics
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Cody Durbin

Contact Information

cody.durbin [at] ucumberlands.edu
Rollins Center

Kandace West

Adjunct Professor
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Kandace West

Contact Information

kandace.west [at] ucumberlands.edu
Remote
Julia Chaney

Julia Chaney

Adjunct Professor
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Julia Chaney

Contact Information

julia.chaney [at] ucumberlands.edu

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