Sport Management
If you have a passion for sports and athletics and a knack for business and promotions, St. Ambrose will give you the skills to manage a semi-professional league, run a golf course, or raise funds and operate a sports camp for at-risk youth.
Our graduates work at 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 that match your interests
Our Sports Management major is not only unique, it's hands-on, relevant, and fits your needs. SAU faculty use their community connections to make sure you experience all the field offers and give you the skills to be a roaring success.
See our fact sheet on the sport management major
New Wellness and Recreation Center
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Our campus tour takes visitors through the facility!
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More Information About Sport Management
As a sport management major, you get a broad background in business and sports, including courses in accounting, economics, computer sciences, sport sociology, marketing, finance, and law. You will also learn marketing, public relations, business ethics, kinesiology, sports management, visual communications and technology, and financing sport organizations.
Our Kinesiology and Business professors represent diverse fields of expertise and research and focus on giving you a well-rounded education. Students must be willing to engage in their learning and take advantage of many service and participation opportunities.
Your education culminates with an internship, which gives you practical experience as you develop and strengthen connections in the sport management industry. The Quad Cities is one of the top minor league sports markets in the U.S., and your professors have strong relationships with fitness and sport organizations throughout the area which gives you a wide range of local internship and placement options. Internship sites include local fitness facilities, professional sports teams, athletic programs, and sport venues.
The internship is an important component of your education and development; the position, location, and duties you take on during the internship will allow you to connect your classroom learning with real-world situations. Don't worry: your professors will follow your progress and growth during the internship, and as always, will be a resource you can call on if needed.
Read Why SAU Sport Management Interns Are Considered an Invaluable Resource.
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 – without paying extra tuition – 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.
A Sport Management major can qualify you for a number of careers in the field of athletics, 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.
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.
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.
Sandy Lund, PhD, Assoc. Professor and Chair
Sarah Eikleberry, PhD, Asst. Professor and Assistant Chair
Rhiannon Seneli, PhD, Asst. Professor, MSEP Director
Darla Baumgarten, EdD, Assoc. Professor
Kyle Bohnert, MS, Asst. Professor
Michael Dahlinghaus, PhD, Asst. Professor
David Lantis, PhD, Asst. Professor
Bo Li, EdD, Asst. Professor
Chris Schwartz, PhD, Asst. Professor
Erica Thomas, MBS, Asst. Professor
Jason Vorwerk, MS, Clinical Asst. Professor
Suzanne Wiese, Administrative Assistant
Degree Requirements
Classes are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
Required (24 credits):
ACCT 201 Accounting Principles I
COMM 240 Principles of Public Relations
+ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics
MGMT 210 Principles of Management
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
MKTG 339 Professional Sales Strategies
+PHIL 305 Business Ethics
+SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
Including the following KIN classes:
KIN 101 Foundations of Kinesiology, 2 credits
KIN 190 Introduction to Sport Management
KIN 192 Practicum in Sport Management, 2 credits
KIN 225 Visual Communications and Technology in Sport, 2 credits
KIN 306 Sport Promotions and Marketing
KIN 307 Planning and Management of Sport Facilities and Events
+KIN 335 Sport in Society
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 (9-12 credits)
*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. KIN 273 Women and Sport may be substituted for KIN 401.
This is the suggested course of study for students majoring 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).
First Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| +ENGL 101 Composition | 3 | +SOC 101 Intro to Sociology | 2 |
| KIN 190 Intro to Sport Mgmt | 3 | MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| +STBE 137 Statistical Reasoning | 3 | +PHIL 100-200-level | 3 |
| +Humanities elective | 3 | +COMM 129, 132, 203, 228, 329 | 3 |
| Info Literacy 101 | 1 | Elective | 3 |
| KIN 101 Foundations of KIN | 2 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 credits | TOTAL | 14 credits |
Sophomore Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| *KIN 192 Practicum | 2 | COMM 240 Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| ACCT 201 Financial Accounting | 3 | +Humanities elective | 3 |
| KIN 307 Planning & Management of Sport Facilities and Events | 3 | +ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| WI-MGMT 310 | 3 | KIN 335 Sport in Society | 3 |
| +Foreign Language or Elective | 3 | +Foreign Language or elective | 3 |
| KIN 149 Wellness Concepts | 1 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 credits | TOTAL | 15 credits |
Junior Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| KIN 355/FNCE 300 Financing Sport Organizations | 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 | 3 | KIN 225 Visual Comm. and Technology in Sport | 2 |
| PHIL/THEO/Catholic Studies elective | 3 | 100-level +THEO | 3 |
| MKTG 339 Sales Principles | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| +Creative Arts elective | 2-3 | +KIN Activity | 1 |
| TOTAL | 17-18 credits | TOTAL | 15 credits |
Senior Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| KIN 408 Capstone | 3 | KIN 419 Internship | 9-12 |
| +PHIL/THEO/Catholic Studies elective 300-level | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 | TOTAL | 12-15 |
*Take in non-season semester
+=satisfies General Education requirement
WI=writing intensive
Required (9 credits):
KIN 190 Introduction to Sport Management
KIN 307 Planning and Management of Sport Facilities and Events
+KIN 335 Sport in Society
Choose 6 credit hours from the following courses:
KIN 192 Practicum in Sport Management, 2 credits
KIN 225 Visual Communication, 2 credits
KIN 306 Sport Promotions and Marketing
KIN 355 Financing Sport Organizations (3 credits) 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
Scholarships and Grants
For academic/merit-based awards, eligible students are matched to the qualifying award; some of them are listed below.
For need-based support, eligibility is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code is 001889.
You may also qualify for a scholarship or grant due to your talent in the fine arts or athletics. Give us a call or send an email so we can get to know you and find the best package for you. (You're also encouraged to seek outside scholarships and begin that search early.)
Amounts are for first-year students entering St. Ambrose in the 2019-20 academic year. 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.
Your scholarship will automatically renew each year of your undergraduate studies, for up to four years, as long as you maintain satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree, a minimum 2.0 GPA, and remain a full-time student.
On Campus (Merit-Based Scholarships)
Trustee Scholarships
Criteria: unweighted 4.0 GPA and minimum 30 ACT or 1390 SAT score
Award: $23,000/year and invited to compete for a full tuition scholarship
Presidential Scholarships
Criteria: minimum unweighted 3.8 GPA and 28 ACT or 1310 SAT score
Award: $20,000/year
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
Award: $14,000/year, $15,000/year, $16,000/year, or $17,000/year
University Grants
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
$12,000/year
On Campus (Additional Institutional Scholarships)
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $1,000/year
Fr. Menke Catholic Parish Scholarships
Criteria: member of a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Davenport
Award: varies
Freeman Pollard Diversity Awards
Criteria: diverse student
Award: $1,000/year
Off Campus (Merit-Based Scholarships)
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
Award: $11,000/year, $12,000/year, $13,000/year, or $14,000/year
University Grants
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
Award: $10,000/year
Off-Campus (Additional Institutional Scholarships)
Fr. Menke Catholic Parish Scholarships
Criteria: member of a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Davenport
Award: varies
Freeman Pollard Diversity Awards
Criteria: diverse student
Award: $500/year
At SAU, our international students can qualify for university scholarships and grants based on academic achievement, merit, and their performance and abilities in fine arts and athletics. Below, you'll find a quick summary of some awards and we continually look for ways to make an Ambrosian education even more affordable and attainable. Recently, we began offering athletic scholarships for Marching Band and Esports. If you have any questions or want to apply, please contact the International Student Admissions office.
Institutional scholarships (2018-19)
There is no need to apply for the scholarships or grants below; students are automatically are eligible if they meet specific criteria, although some may require a certain GPA to stay eligible.
Academic Scholarship
$14,000-17,000/year
University Grant
$12,000/year
Athletic Scholarships
We have many international student-athletes who are contributing and growing their skills as valued team players. As a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), St. Ambrose can award athletic scholarships to student-athletes. The amount varies and is based on performance and ability. These scholarships allow you to earn a college education while competing in the sport that you love. At Ambrose, we embody the value of developing both the mind and body.
To qualify for an athletic scholarship you must be eligible to play a sport at St. Ambrose. You can read about those qualifications here. The NAIA also has a complete website on how to register for eligibility at playNAIA.org
To learn more about all of our athletic teams and opportunities -- including esports -- click here.
Fine Art Scholarships
These scholarships are based on your performance and ability in art, music, or theatre, and you may qualify for the Michael Kennedy Theatre Scholarship. Audition or portfolio required. Contact the Admissions office to apply or for more information.
See below to learn more about outside scholarships and we encourage you to begin your search early.
Amounts are for transfer students entering St. Ambrose in the 2019-20 academic year.
St. Ambrose scholarships are awarded for fall and spring semesters only and renewable up to 120 credits of undergraduate study, which includes credits transferred to St. Ambrose from prior attendance. For example: If you transfer in with an AA/AS degree, you would receive a scholarship for two additional years at St. Ambrose.
Scholarships
Phi Theta Kappa
Criteria: awarded to all Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society members transferring from a community college
Award: $14,000
OR
Transfer Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on GPA
Awards:
3.5-4.00 GPA $13,000
3.0-3.49 GPA $12,000
2.5-2.99 GPA $11,000
2.0-2.49 GPA $9,000
Out-of-State Grants
Criteria: non-Iowa resident
Award: $2,000 per year
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate; on-campus students only
Award: $1,000 per year
Dual Admission Scholarships
Criteria: participant in SAU/community college dual admission program
Award: $1,000 per year
Freeman Pollard Diversity Awards
Criteria: diverse student
Award: $1,000 per year on-campus; $500 per year off-campus
Federal and State Aid
Federal Pell Grant
Criteria: based on financial need; file FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1
Award: $6,095 maximum
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Criteria: based on financial need, priority to Pell Grant recipients. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1.
Award: $400 maximum
Federal Work Study
Criteria: based on financial need. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1
Award: $1,850
Iowa Tuition Grant
Criteria: based on financial need, Iowa residents only. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1, deadline July 1.
Award: $5,650
As a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), St. Ambrose can award athletic scholarships to student athletes. These scholarships allow you to earn a college education while competing in the sport that you love. At Ambrose, we embody that value of developing both the mind and body.
How do I qualify for an athletic scholarship?
You must first be eligible to play a sport at St. Ambrose. You can read about those qualifications here. The NAIA also has a complete website on how to register for eligibility at playNAIA.org
How do I qualify for a fine arts scholarship?
Scholarships are awarded based on performance and ability in art, music and theatre. Review the various requirements below:
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.
Contact
Sandra Lund
Kinesiology Department
Hayes Hall 229
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6042
Fax 563-333-6488
LundSandraT@sau.edu