Sport Management
If you have a passion for sports, a keen sense for business and a natural talent for promotions, a sport management degree from St. Ambrose will merge your ability and drive with the skills to manage a semi-professional league, run a golf course, or raise funds for an at-risk youth sports camp.
Our graduates work for the St. Louis Cardinals, Charlotte (North Carolina) Knights Triple-A baseball team, Columbus (Ohio) Bluejackets NHL hockey team, Gateway Grizzlies Professional Baseball, Iowa Cubs Triple-A baseball team, Short Hills Country Club, Wheels Up Charter Jets, and many more.
Ambrose Advantages
- Relevant Skills for Sports and Business
- Close Faculty Guidance
- Internships Match Your Interests
Our Sport Management program is unique, hands-on, and catered to your individual goals. SAU faculty have community connections on the ice rink, baseball field, arenas, and more. You can explore all the field offers. Become a roaring success.
See our fact sheet on the sport management major
New Wellness and Recreation Center
SAU students share in this video how the new Wellness and Recreation Center already has enhanced their St. Ambrose experience.
Come see for yourself
Our campus tour takes visitors through the facility!
Click here to see what's inside
Schedule your visit and take a campus tour
More Information About Sport Management
As a sport management major, you get a broad background in marketing, management, and sports, including courses in accounting, economics, sport sociology, marketing, finance, and law. You will learn marketing, public relations, business ethics, visual communications, and financing sport organizations.
Our Kinesiology and Business professors pull from diverse fields of expertise and research, and they focus on giving you a well-rounded education. You must be willing to engage in learning, and jump into opportunities to participate and serve, whether in the classroom, on campus or in the community.
You'll get to create and strengthen connections in the sport management industry, as well as show off your drive and initiative, during a culminating internship. The Quad Cities is one of the top minor league sports markets in the U.S., and your professors have strong relationships with regional fitness and sport organizations. You get a wide range of local internship and placement options, including with local professional teams, fitness facilities, athletic programs, and sport venues.
Read Why SAU Sport Management Interns Are Considered an Invaluable Resource.
Rasheed DeBord '18 enjoyed close faculty support throughout his educational journey at SAU. Today he works for the St. Louis Cardinals. Read his story here.
You've heard people say it before: "College will be the greatest time of your life!" With Study Abroad, you can add even more to your college years.
You can study in another country in a semester-long or short-term study abroad program (with a few offered during spring and winterim breaks). No matter the duration, these trips deepen your professional education while earning credit toward graduation.
There are also opportunities through an exchange program, an overseas internship, or volunteering. The limits for Study Abroad are only ones you set for yourself! SAU students have studied in Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, Korea, United Kingdom, Spain, Ecuador, Japan, Germany, Peru, Cyprus, Croatia, Belize, Canada, Chile, and more.
SAU students returning from their Study Abroad locations talk about their time away as life-changing – personally, emotionally, culturally, and academically.
Click here to search our Study Abroad programs, and for general information click here.
The Quad Cities is one of the top minor professional league sports markets in the U.S. and home to the Quad Cities River Bandits (minor league baseball), Quad City Steamwheelers (arena football), Quad City Storm (professional hockey), and TPC Deere Run (PGA Tour golf course).
Arenas, venues, and indoor/outdoor facilities abound, so there's no shortage of places to witness a major tournament or league championship.
If you're diligent and make the right connections through our well-connected professors, you can move from being a spectator in the stands to pulling the strings behind-the-scenes. Your trajectory in sport and event management will soar.
As a student, Kayla Crawford ‘19 helped plan the 2018 NAIA Golf Championships at TPC Deere Run, 2018 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament at the TaxSlayer Center, and the 2019 NAIA Competitive Cheer & Dance National Championships at the SAU Wellness and Recreation Center, and attended the 2019 Sport Business Symposium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Read more about Kayla's experience at SAU.
A Sport Management major can qualify you for a number of careers in the field of athletics and event management, including sport facility manager, scout, sports and entertainment agent, athletic director, sales, promotions, public relations, fundraising, event marketing and management, sport camp management and operations, and print or broadcast journalism.
Rasheed DeBord '18 is a Direct Sales Representative for the St. Louis Cardinals. Read about his educational and career journey at SAU.
David Francis '17 is the Facility and Aquatics Coordinator for Iowa State University's Recreation Services Department.
Justin Halloran '17 played basketball for the Fighting Bees and continues being involved with the game as an assistant basketball coach at Black Hawk College, Moline, Ill.
Matthew Snider '16 is Regional Director of the Youth Sports Foundation in Muscatine, Iowa.
Katarina Kaczmarzyk '16 works as the Event Coordinator for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission-Explore St. Louis.
Sandy Lund, PhD, Professor and Chair
Sarah Eikleberry, PhD, Assoc. Professor and Assistant Chair
Rhiannon Seneli, PhD, Assoc. Professor, MSEP Director
Kyle Bohnert, PhD, Asst. Professor
Michael Dahlinghaus, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Chengming Hu, PhD, Asst. Professor
David Lantis, PhD, Asst. Professor
Chris Schwartz, PhD, Asst. Professor
Tyler Spencer, PhD, Asst. Professor
Erica Thomas, DHEd, Asst. Professor
Nick Voth, Lab Coordinator; MSEP Advisor and Recruiter
Jason Vorwerk, MS, Clinical Asst. Professor
Suzanne Wiese, Administrative Assistant
Degree Requirements
The following are requirements for a bachelor's degree in Sport Management. All Sport Management majors must also choose a Track option (below).
Courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
Required:
ACCT 201 Accounting Principles I
COMM 240 Principles of Public Relations
MGMT 210 Principles of Management
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
MKTG 339 Professional Sales Strategies
Choose One:
+PHIL 305 Business Ethics
+PHIL 310 Biomedical Ethics
+THEO 311 Environmental Ethics
+THEO 319 Bioethics and Health Care
+THEO 326 Disability Ethics and Theology
Required KIN Courses:
KIN 101 Foundations of Kinesiology, 2 credits -or- KIN 224 Origins of Sport, 2 credits
KIN 190 Introduction to Sport Management
KIN 206 First Aid/CPR
KIN 292 Practicum in Sport Management, 2 credits
WI-KIN 306 Sport Promotions and Marketing
KIN 307 Planning and Management of Sport Facilities and Events
+KIN 335 Inequality in Sport, Recreation, and Exercise
KIN 355 Financing Sport Organizations -or- FNCE 300 Principles of Finance
KIN 363 The Law in Sport, PE, Exercise Science, and Leisure
KIN 401 Seminar in Sport Management, 2 credits*
KIN 408 Capstone in Sport Management
KIN 419 Internship in Sport Management, may be repeated if at different sites
*Students can take KIN 401 up to four different semesters, as long as the topic is different each time. Rotating topics include: Advanced Sales Strategies in Sport, International Sport Business, Sport Communication, and Data Analytics in Sport.
All Sport Management majors must choose one of the Track options below. All courses are three credits unless otherwise noted.
Business Track
SLS 235/MKTG 339 Sales Principles
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
MGMT 210 Principles of Management From former requirements
Performance Track (Choose 3 courses)
KIN 217 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, 2 credits
KIN 258 Principles & Methods in Personal Training
KIN 275 Methods in Group Fitness Leadership
KIN 295 Intro to Officiating New, 2 credits
Communications Track
+AD 140 3 Computers in Art New option
COMM 234 3 Introduction to Sports Media New option
COMM WI-230 3 Media Writing New option
Combined Track
Choose 3 non-core courses from the above tracks, 6-9 credits
+KIN 273/WGS 310 Women in Sports
Required (9 credits):
KIN 190 Introduction to Sport Management
KIN 307 Planning and Management of Sport Facilities and Events
+KIN 335 Inequality in Sport, Recreation, and Exercise
Choose 6 credits:
+KIN 273 Women in Sports
KIN 292 Practicum in Sport Management, 2 credits
KIN 295 Introduction to Officiating, 2 credits
WI-KIN 306 Sport Promotions and Marketing
KIN 355 Financing Sport Organizations -or- FNCE 300 Principles of Finance
KIN 363 The Law in Sport, PE, Exercise Science & Leisure
KIN 401 Seminar in Sport Management (May be taken for credit up to 3 times if the topic is different each time.)
KIN 408 Capstone in Sport Management
+satisfies a general education requirement
Click here to read course descriptions for Kinesiology programs
This is the suggested course of study to graduate in four years with a major in Sport Management.
NOTE: This plan assumes the student has not met the foreign language requirement (three years of foreign language taken in high school).
Year One
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| +ENGL 101 Composition | 3 | SLS 235 Sales Principles | 3 |
| KIN 190 Intro to Sport Mgmt | 3 | MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| +STBE 137 Statistical Reasoning | 3 | +PHIL 100, 201, 207, 208, 210, or 217 | 3 |
| +Humanities elective | 3 | +COMM 129, 132, 203, 228, 329 | 3 |
| Info Literacy 101 | 1 | Elective | 3 |
| KIN 101 Foundations of KIN or KIN 224 Origins of Sport | 2 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 credits | TOTAL | 15 credits |
Year Two
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| *KIN 292 Practicum | 2 | COMM 240 Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| ACCT 201 Financial Accounting | 3 | +Elective | 3 |
| KIN 307 Planning & Management of Sport Facilities and Events | 3 | +Humanities elective | 3 |
| MGMT 210 Principles of Mgmt | 3 | KIN 335 Inequality in Sport, Recreation, and Exercise | 3 |
| +Foreign Language or Elective | 3 | +Foreign Language or elective | 3 |
| KIN 149 Wellness Concepts | 1 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 credits | TOTAL | 15 credits |
Year Three
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| KIN 355/FNCE 300 | 3 | WI-KIN 306 Sport Promotions and Marketing | 3 |
| +PHIL 305 Business Ethics | 3 | KIN 363 (must take at SAU) The Law in Sport, PE, Exercise Science and Leisure | 3 |
| KIN 401 Seminar or KIN 273 Women in Sports | 3 | KIN 225 Visual Comm. and Technology in Sport | 2 |
| PHIL/THEO/Catholic Studies elective | 3 | +THEO 101, 102, 103, 107, 110, 120, 130, 132, or 160 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| +Creative Arts elective | 2-3 | +KIN Activity | 1 |
| TOTAL | 16-17 credits | TOTAL | 15 credits |
Year Four
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| KIN 408 Capstone | 3 | KIN 419 Internship | 3 |
| +PHIL/THEO/Catholic Studies elective 300-level | 3 | Electives | 12 |
| Electives | 9 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 | TOTAL | 15 |
*Take in non-season semester
+=satisfies General Education requirement
WI=writing intensive
Scholarships and Grants
St. Ambrose offers excellent scholarships and grants, work-study and other financial aid options! Full-time students may be eligible based upon your strong academic performance in college, your talent in fine arts or athletics or your demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code for the FAFSA is 001889.
There is no need to apply for the scholarships or grants below; students automatically are eligible if they meet specific criteria. The Admissions Office calculates the award amount by using unweighted high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Please note, while St. Ambrose University has a test-optional admissions policy, standardized test scores are required for both admission to specific programs and/or eligibility for top academic scholarships. Scholarships and grants are renewable for four years of undergraduate study.
Your scholarship will automatically renew each year of your undergraduate studies - up to four years - as long as you maintain satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree, achieve certain GPA requirements (see below), and remain a full-time student.
Download helpful PDFs of this information here: First-Year Iowa Resident or First-Year Out of State Resident
IOWA RESIDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS
Iowa Resident On Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Trustee Scholar
Criteria: unweighted 3.9 GPA and minimum 29 ACT or 1340 SAT score. Must maintain 3.25 cumulative GPA in successive years.
Award: $25,000/year and invited to compete for an Ambrose Scholar full-tuition award
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $15,000-$21,000/year
University Grant
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $13,000/year
Iowa Resident On Campus Additional Institutional Aid
Ambrose Advantage (more information here)
Criteria: Iowa resident, Federal Pell Grant eligible, 2022 high school graduate, min. unweighted GPA 2.5, admitted to SAU, and FAFSA filed by Mar. 15. To remain eligible in subsequent years, students must maintain 2.5 GPA and qualify for the Federal Pell Grant.
Award: Full tuition
Athletic Scholarships
Criteria: performance and ability
Award: varies
Fine Arts Scholarships
Criteria: performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Award: varies
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $1,000/year
Minority Scholarship
Criteria: ethnically diverse student, FAFSA required
Award: $500-$1,000/year
Catholic Traditions Scholarship
Criteria: graduate from Catholic high school
Award: $2,000/year
Menke Parish Scholarship
Criteria: Diocese of Davenport parishioner, additional application required
Award: $1,000/year
IOWA RESIDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS
Iowa Resident Off Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $13,000-$16,000/year
University Grants
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
Award: $11,000/year
Iowa Resident Off Campus Additional Institutional Scholarships
Criteria: Iowa resident, Federal Pell Grant eligible, 2022 high school graduate, min. unweighted GPA 2.5, admitted to SAU, and FAFSA filed by Mar. 15. To remain eligible in subsequent years, students must maintain 2.5 GPA and qualify for the Federal Pell Grant.
Award: Full tuition
Athletic Scholarships
Criteria: performance and ability
Award: varies
Fine Arts Scholarships
Criteria: performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Award: varies
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $500/year
Minority Scholarship
Criteria: ethnically diverse student, FAFSA required
Award: $500-$1,000/year
Catholic Traditions Scholarship
Criteria: graduate from Catholic high school
Award: $2,000/year
OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS
Out of State On Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Trustee Scholar
Criteria: unweighted 3.9 GPA and minimum 29 ACT or 1340 SAT score. Must maintain 3.25 cumulative GPA in successive years.
Award: $25,000/year and invited to compete for an Ambrose Scholar full-tuition award
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $17,000-$23,000/year
University Grant
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $13,000/year
Out of State On Campus Additional Institutional Aid
Athletic Scholarships
Critieria: performance and ability
Award: varies
Fine Arts Scholarships
Critieria: performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Award: varies
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $1,000/year
Minority Scholarship
Criteria: ethnically diverse student, FAFSA required
Award: $500-$1,000/year
Catholic Traditions Scholarship
Criteria: graduate from Catholic high school
Award: $2,000/year
Menke Parish Scholarship
Criteria: Diocese of Davenport parishioner, additional application required
Award: $1,000/year
OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS
Out of State Off Campus Merit-Based Scholarships
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $14,000-$17,000/year
University Grants
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
Award: $11,000/year
Out of State Off Campus Additional Institutional Scholarships
Athletic Scholarships
Criteria: performance and ability
Award: varies
Fine Arts Scholarships
Criteria: performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Award: varies
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $500/year
Minority Scholarship
Criteria: ethnically diverse student, FAFSA required
Award: $500/year
Catholic Traditions Scholarship
Criteria: graduate from Catholic high school
Award: $2,000/year
Grants are money that you don't repay, and they can come from government or private sources. SAU receives all financial aid funds directly - including loans and grants - then applies them to your account: once in the fall term and once in the spring term. Grants can be used to cover your tuition, books, and housing costs. You must apply for grants each academic year. If you have any loan funds in excess of your costs, you may receive a refund. If you are a first-time borrower, there is a 30-day hold on your first disbursement. For all of these grants, you must complete the Free Application Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1.
Iowa Tuition Grant
To be eligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant, you must be a resident of Iowa as defined by the State Board of Regents and currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at an eligible Iowa college or university (SAU is eligible). Iowa College Aid administers need-based college financial aid for Iowans, such as the Iowa Tuition Grant. FAFSA deadline is July 1.
Award: $6,800
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to students of the highest need based on how much your family can contribute to your education. The U.S. Department of Education sets a Expected Family Contribution (EFC) threshold. Then, when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it computes where you land within that threshold and determines if you qualify for the grant and for how much.
Award: $6,345 maximum
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
To qualify, you must file a FAFSA by the priority deadline of March 15 and you must qualify for a Pell Grant. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students who have submitted all required documents for review and in time for the review to be complete. If you are eligible for a Pell Grant or SEOG, the awards will appear on your financial aid award letter. Award: $400 maximum
Federal Work Study
Criteria: based on financial need. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1.
Award: $1,850
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Provides aid to students intending to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education or a state education agency). Review criteria and all details here.
Award: up to $4,000
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:
- Fastweb
- College Board Scholarship Search
- Scholarships.com
- Peterson's Award Database
- Scholly (app download)
Another tip: Next time you're on campus, check out the bulletin board outside Bee Central where we post more flyers and applications for outside scholarships.
Rasheed DeBord '18
As part of his Sport Management major, Rasheed completed a practicum with the Quad City Raiders, a minor league football team, and worked with the Quad City Mallards mid-level pro hockey team. He also completed an internship with the Quad Cities River Bandits, a Class A baseball team affiliated with the Houston Astros. Those experiences, coupled with a leadership work-study position in the Wellness and Recreation Center and four years of participation in Track and Field, taught him so many skills. "It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get to this point. I see this as a reward; all of my hard work paid off," he said.
Read Rasheed's Story
Kayla Crawford
Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management,MBA student at St. Ambrose,Class of 2019
Kayla Crawford's drive to achieve and build on her strengths was elevated at St. Ambrose. When encouraged by faculty to explore a different major, she found a new career field overflowing with opportunity. The skills and experience she gained managing and coordinating sporting events as a student will take Kayla anywhere she chooses to go.
Contact
Sandra Lund
Kinesiology Department
Hayes Hall 229
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6042
LundSandraT@sau.edu