valmom

DS has been accepted to the honors college and is interested in majoring in sport management. Do any current students have any information about the program?

JRWriter

I have a few friends that went through the program and now have jobs with major sports teams. I really dont know much about it other than that they hold a convention type thing for sports management students with a bunch of companies and you can go around and talk to them and all that.

cathymee

valmom
S is a Sports Management senior who is also in the Honors College.I'll PM you later in the day,doing an airport run momentarily!

Knights09

I'm a SM major. PM me with any questions you may have!

lastminutemom196

I was extremely impressed with the program when we visited. Our orientation session was led by the Head of the Department because the academic adviser was out sick. If my DS attends, that is what he plans to major in.

Riggo

I just want to devil's advocate this subject for the sake of discussion as I am truly undecided on Business versus Sports Management. I have been counseled that Sports Management jobs are limited and low paying and that you would be better off with a general business degree. With a general business degree, you would have an equal opportunity in working in sports management as well as many other business fileds. Even most sports management MBA's and doctorates are working outside their field.

Many of these points are made in the following thread:

Sports Management Major

Please feel free to weigh in on this subject. I love the degree, but am concerned about its practical value upon graduation.

P.S. I was surprised that USC's Sports Management program was not accredited by The Commisssion on Sports Management Accreditation (COSMA)

cathymee

Riggo
I would really advise you to get in touch with a faculty member of the dep't. Frank Roach is the Interim Chair presently,I'm sure he would be agreeable to speaking to you..They would be happy to discuss the merits of the degree with you vs a general business degree.This is probably a question that comes up frequently. You may also consider a Sports Management Minor along with the business degree.What it seems to come down to is contacts and networking and those all important internships.The dept at USC does its own counseling, and keeps its own listings of opportunities.I'm not sure if that info is available to non majors.
As far as the accrediting agency (its a part of NASSM-North American Society for Sports Management) it seems that the accredidation process is voluntary,some programs go through it and some don't. And NASSM must like the faculty/program at USC, they just held their annual conference there in Columbia,co-sponsored with the dep't in Nov of 2009.
Students in the dep't are told over and over that intro level jobs will be long hours for little pay.But you pay your dues (like at any job) and work your way up the ladder.And at least you love what you do!

Riggo

Cathymee:

I can't thank you enough for your thoughtful contributions to this forum.

cathymee

riggo
I'm serious when i say call the dept and ask to speak to someone on the faculty.they are quite helpful and will help you sort out what's best for you.

cathymee

One mistake I made:the NASSM conference was in May 2009, the dept industry conference (SEVT) was in Nov 2009.

eadad

At many schools the sports management majors are taught through the school of education as a precursor to coaching and athletic director positions. At USC the approach and curriculum is about the business of sports and has a very strong concentration of business and law classes. In fact at orientation they tell you "if you are interested in being a coach, go to Clemson...this program is about the business of sports..."

There is a fairly high number of required courses and two practicums/internships required for graduation. The large number of requirements results in many students needing an extra semester or graduating in August rather than May.

The Sports Management program is consistently ranked number 1 or 2 nationally depending on the ranking service its grads are highly regarded in the sports world as well as in post grad and professional schools.

valmom

eadad, I have looked for rankings of sports management programs and have been unable to find them. Can you tell me where you have come across them? S plans to major in sport management and will most likely be attending USC (hoping for scholarship and the instate tuition that goes with it!)

cathymee

valmom
when we were looking at Sports Management programs, i couldn't find formal rankings either. We were given guidance and an informal ranking from a Professor in the U Mass Sports Magmt program during a visit there,it's usually considered the #1 Program( UMass that is). S also got advice from a Prof at UMiami at a Summer Program in Sports Management as a Career that he attended.That Prof is now going to be on faculty at USC starting Fall 2010.