The APSM program provides a rigorous curriculum for understanding the biological basis of health and fitness and the business background required of professionals in the sport, health, coaching and fitness industries. The program leads to a B.S. degree with concentrations available in applied physiology and health management, sport management, and sport performance leadership. Concentrations require coursework in the physiological sciences and business.
The core curriculum introduces the discipline; establishes the scientific basis of health, fitness and human performance; introduces the business principles and skills necessary to establish and maintain a sport- or fitness-related business; and familiarizes students with the legal and ethical aspects of the fitness, health, coaching and sport industries. Woven throughout the program are experiential learning opportunities as well as science courses structured in accordance with evidence-based practices and augmented by reviews of current research. The program culminates in a research methodology course and an internship. Students are ultimately prepared for a variety of career paths, including commercial health and fitness facility management; corporate fitness and wellness programming; graduate programs in the allied health professions (i.e., physical therapy, nursing, physician assistant); coaching; health management; sports marketing; management of professional, collegiate or amateur sport organizations; representation of professional athletes; sport public relations; and sport facility and event management.
All students must complete 12-16 hours of core courses and 24–32 hours of concentration courses to obtain the B.S. degree in APSM. The core courses and concentrations are described below.
Sport Management Concentration
Due to the explosion of interest in sport as a business, curricula to prepare management professionals are growing in number and prevalence. Further, as the business of sport becomes more complex, the preparation of professionals has become increasingly sophisticated, relying heavily on successful business theories and principles. The academic discipline of sport management draws on significant research and practices from organization and information management systems, including budgeting, accounting, managing events, managing personnel and facilities, controlling, directing, evaluating, leading, writing, selling, working with media, developing publications, keeping game notes and statistics, interviewing, promoting, advertising and fundraising.