• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The IU Sport Marketing and Management (SMM) Program, which began in 1985, is recognized as one of the top programs of its kind in the United States. Graduates of the program can be found in nearly all segments of the sport industry and are located around the world. The major uses an interdisciplinary approach that includes foundation courses in both sport and business. Upon completing core coursework in sports law, marketing, communication, business, management, psychology, and finance, students apply knowledge directly to the field through a required practicum or internship experience. Students gain strong preparation and skills in marketing, media relations, event planning/management, public relations, computers, and business organizational structures.

Degree Requirements

This four-year program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a major in Sport Marketing and Management. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of sport marketing and management major courses with a minimum grade of C- required in each course.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the portions of this degree entitled: sport marketing and management core, and sport marketing and management electives.
• No Pass/Fail except for free electives.

General Education (20–39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington General Education Common Ground Requirements. Visit gened.indiana.edu to review them.

Major (78 credits with a minimum grade of C- in each course)

Sport Marketing and Management Core (42 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-C 213 Introduction to Sport Communication (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• SPH-M 211 Introduction to Sport Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 318 Managing the Sport Enterprise (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 333 Sport in America: Historical Perspective (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 382 Sport in American Society (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 411 Legal Issues in Sport Settings (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 415 Sport Promotions & Public Relations (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 418 Sport Marketing (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 423 Financial Principles in Sport (3 cr.) (P: senior standing; open only to admitted SMM majors or declared minors)
• SPH-M 425 Sport Governance in the Global Community (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 426 Sales Management in Sport (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 428 Strategic Management in the Sport Industry (3 cr.) (P: senior standing; open only to admitted SMM majors or declared minors)
• Choose one option below for a minimum of 3 cr.
  • SPH-M 495 Practicum in Sports Studies (1-3 cr.) (P: minimum GPA of 2.0 required). Open only to admitted SMM majors and declared minors with approval from the practicum coordinator. 
  • SPH-M 497 Internship in Sport Management (1-6 cr.) (P: senior standing; minimum GPA of 2.0 required). Open only to admitted SMM majors with approval from the internship coordinator. 

Sport Marketing and Management Electives (18 cr.)
Complete six of the following courses:
(SPH-M 304 can be taken 4 times with different topics and SPH-M 404 can be taken 3 times with different topics)

• SPH-C 329 Issues in Sport Communication (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 405 Exercise and Sport Psychology (3 cr.) (P: junior or senior standing)
• SPH-M 304 Sport Industry Studies (3 cr.)
  • Repeatable for credit: M 304 can be taken up to 4 times with different topics.
  • Beginning Spring 2025, these SPH-M 304 topics will become their own courses as noted below. Topics previously completed as SPH-M 304 cannot be repeated as the same topic with the new course number (e.g., SPH-M 304 Sport Analytics cannot be repeated as SPH-M 310 Sport Analytics for credit).
    
    • SPH-M 310 Sport Analytics (3 cr.)
    • SPH-M 311 Diversity in Sport Management (3 cr.)
    • SPH-M 312 International Sport Management (3 cr.)
    • SPH-M 314 E-Sports Marketing & Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 328 Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 404 Sport Management Colloquium (3 cr.)
  • Repeatable for credit: M 404 can be taken up to 3 times with different topics.
  • Beginning Spring 2025, these SPH-M 404 topics will become their own courses as noted below. Topics previously completed as SPH-M 404 cannot be repeated as the same topic with the new course number (e.g., SPH-M 404 Sport Branding cannot be repeated as SPH-M 408 Sport Branding for credit).
    
    • SPH-M 405 Issues in Professional Sports (3 cr.)
    • SPH-M 406 Colts Gameday Experience (3 cr.)
    • SPH-M 408 Sport Branding (3 cr.)

Communication (6 cr.)
Complete two of the following courses:

• ANTH-A 122 (Formerly: CMCL-C 122) Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• BUS-C 104 Business Presentations (3 cr.)
• BUS-C 204 Business Communications (3 cr.) -or- BUS-C 205 Business Communications Honors (3 cr.)
• COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 103 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 cr.) +(A&H)
• SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.)

Business Electives (12 cr.)
Complete four of the following courses:

• BUS-A 200 Foundations of Accounting (3 cr.)
• BUS-F 260 Personal Finance (3 cr.)
• BUS-F 300 Introduction to Financial Management (3 cr.)
• BUS-G 300 Introduction to Managerial Economics (3 cr.)
• BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.)
• BUS-L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• BUS-M 300 Introduction to Marketing (3 cr.)
• BUS-P 300 Introduction to Operation Management (3 cr.)
• BUS-Z 302 Managing and Behavior in Organizations (3 cr.) -or- BUS-J 306 Strategic Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
• BUS-W 212 Exploring Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
• BUS-W 300 New Venture Management (3 cr.)
• ECON-B 251 Fund of Econ For Business I (3 cr.)
• ECON-B 252 Fund of Econ For Business II (3 cr.)
• ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.) +(S&H) (This course is no longer offered at IUB. It can be transferred from other schools or as dual credit. The IUB replacement is ECON-B 251.)
• ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.) +(S&H) (This course is no longer offered at IUB. It can be transferred from other schools or as dual credit. The IUB replacement is ECON-B 252.)
• SPH-R 220 Foundations of Public, Nonprofit, and Community Recreation (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 221 Creating Sense of Place Through Design (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 230 Recreational Sports Programming -or- SPH-K 206 Recreational Sports Programming (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 410 Event Planning and Program Development (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 302 Management of Food and Beverage Operations (3 cr.) (P: SPH-T 203)

+ Courses followed by an A&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education Arts & Humanities requirement.

+ Courses followed by an S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education Social & Historical Studies requirement.

P: denotes a required prerequisite

Suggested Courses for the First-Year Sport Marketing and Management Student

Fall Semester (15 cr.)
SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.) +(S&H)
SPH-M 211 Introduction to Sport Management (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd: English Composition (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd: Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd: Mathematical Modeling (3 cr.)

Spring Semester (15 cr.)
SPH-C 213 Introduction to Sport Communication (3 cr.)
SMM Major Elective (3 cr.)
SMM Communication Course (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd: Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd: Natural and Mathematical Sciences (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Majors are required to complete a practicum or internship experience and most often complete several varied experiences prior to graduation. The SPH-B Office of Career Services provides expert career advisement and services. Indiana provides many local opportunities for majors looking for internship study. In addition to the various sport entities in Bloomington and around the state, there are numerous opportunities in nearby Indianapolis, which is home to the Colts (NFL) in Lucas Oil Stadium, the Pacers (NBA) and Fever (WNBA) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, motorsports at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, swimming and diving at the Natatorium, the Indianapolis Indians (MiLB) at Victory Field, the NCAA Headquarters, as well as several sport national governing bodies.

Careers

Employment opportunities span the field of professional, amateur, and intercollegiate sports, including facility operations, corporate sport marketing/public relations, media relations, and event marketing and management. In addition, students are prepared for careers in sports equipment sales and other positions that require good communication, marketing, and management skills. Following their undergraduate education, some students seek admission to graduate programs in such areas as law, sport management, and public health administration.