Georgia Highlands College is now providing students an opportunity to enter the growing world of sports management by introducing the Sports Management Pathway this fall.

Students can start this pathway in August by applying before the July 15^th fall deadline.

“This program was developed to meet a growing need of professionals that are interested in a career in business and sports/fitness,” Department Chair of Kinesiology and Wellness Lisa Jellum said. “This pathway allows for graduates to pursue a career in sports taking on a multitude of roles, including a coach, booking agent, event coordinator, fitness professional, facilities manager, sport marketing professional, sales coordinator, or serving in guest relations.”

Sports management is more than professional athletes and ball games. It’s a big business full of huge budget decisions and complex negotiations in which managers will need to draw on their knowledge of health, fitness, business and law. Graduates of the Sports Management Pathway may go on to organize the Super Bowl, work for the New York Yankees, or build a facility plan for a major college or university. Other graduates, for example, may seek to oversee and manage their local city’s youth basketball league or recreation department.

“Getting a degree in Sports Management is a great move for people wanting to be involved with both the business side of the field, including marketing, management and ownership, as well as sports and recreation,” Jellum said. “There are lucrative job opportunities for people in this field of study.”

Sport management calls for the combination of skills related to planning, organizing, directing, controlling, budgeting, leading and evaluating within the context of an organization or department whose primary product or service is related to sport or physical activity.

Students who complete the pathway will be prepared to continue their education and expand their career opportunities by transferring into bachelor programs in areas such as Sports Management, Recreation Administration, Fitness Leadership, Outdoor Recreation Management, or Leisure Studies.

The pathway may be completed in two years.

For more information on the Sports Management Pathway, visit https://www.highlands.edu/areas-of-study/sports-management-pathway/