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Recreation/Sport Management – B.S.

This program is offered in-person.

The Department of Human Performance and Health Education's recreation program at Â鶹´«Ã½ focuses on educating Â鶹´«Ã½s about recreation and leisure leadership, program and service development, delivery, and management. The program offers a variety of courses, experiences and guidance that allow Â鶹´«Ã½s to develop professional skills and competencies for professional careers in community, campus, outdoor, commercial, government or private settings. The program prepares WMU Â鶹´«Ã½s to assume leadership and administrative roles in their chosen area of emphasis. 

Why recreation/sport management at Â鶹´«Ã½?

 

Find success: 90% of 2020-21 WMU recreation management and sport management graduates were employed or continuing education within three months of graduation. 

Real-world experience: 100% of recreation/sport management Â鶹´«Ã½s complete an internship or field experience. 

Engage with the industry: this program enables Â鶹´«Ã½s to interact with professionals in the fields of recreation and sport management, utilizing service learning and getting class credit while working in the field. This includes programs in Southwestern Michigan, the state of Michigan and throughout the United States.

Built in minor: Â鶹´«Ã½s choosing the sport management concentration will receive a bachelor’s degree in sport management and a minor in one of several options including general business, communication, coaching, journalism or event management.

Hitting the standard: the recreation management and sport management program at WMU is designed to meet or exceed national standards set forth by the North American Society for Sport Management accrediting body, and instruction focuses on both theoretical and applied knowledge.

Concentration options

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Recreation management

Prepares Â鶹´«Ã½s for leadership or administrative roles in public, non-profit, commercial and recreational sport organizations.
Sport management

Sport management

Prepares Â鶹´«Ã½s for roles in sport organizations on the interscholastic, intercollegiate, professional and recreational levels.

Additional information

100% of recreation/sport management Â鶹´«Ã½s complete an internship or field experience.

An internship is required for both concentrations and a practicum is required for recreation management. The practicum is usually completed after junior year, and the internship is completed during or after the senior year. The practicum and internship components allow Â鶹´«Ã½s the opportunity to gain supervised real-world experience as part of their degree completion. These paid or volunteer field experiences can be completed either part-time or full-time over the course of the academic year.

  • Professional sports teams
  • Facility/team manager
  • Sport marketing 
  • Athletic director
  • Park director/ranger
  • Sport entertainment (radio, TV, magazines)
  • Camp director/staff

Engage with the industry

study abroad

Study abroad

Students are encouraged to pursue additional educational Â鶹´«Ã½ through one of many study abroad options offered by the HPHE department or WMU in general.
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All WMU Â鶹´«Ã½s have the option to stand out with an integrative learning project in one of several pathways including health and wellness, entrepreneurship, leadership and more!
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