Applied Physiology and Sports Management Pathway Guide

Preparation for Transfer as an Applied Physiology and Sports Management Major

The following sequences are suggested courses to take in your semesters prior to transferring to SMU as an applied physiology and sports management major. For students attending a Texas public community college or university, Texas Common Course Numbers (TCCNS) are listed.  If you are transferring from a college or university outside of Texas, click on the SMU course for a course description which may be used to select/compare courses at your current institution.

CC listings refer to SMU’s Common Curriculum, which all undergraduates are required to complete. Refer to the Common Curriculum Transfer Guide  for a list of courses satisfying CC components. Interactive equivalency guides organized by transfer institution are available on the Transfer and Transition Services’ website.

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The Applied Physiology and Sport Management Program

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 and fitness industries. Science courses are structured in accordance with evidence-based practices (EBP), with each course consisting of basic science specific to the discipline and an in-depth investigation of the research literature as it relates to EBP. Experiential learning opportunities through practicum courses, labs, internship courses, and research projects give students the ability to apply learned concepts within “real world” settings.  A Senior Project for both the Applied Physiology & Health Management and Sport Management concentrations provides all APSM students the opportunity to select an aspect of health, fitness or sport management and hone learned skills through a practical project. The project findings are documented in the form of a research paper, a summative report to the faculty, and a poster presentation and discussion of the project.

Possible Career Paths

Academic coursework and experiential learning opportunities within this program will prepare students for a variety of possible career paths including: commercial health and fitness facility management, allied health professions (physical therapy, nursing, physician assistant and occupational therapy), corporate wellness programming, sports strength and conditioning, athletic training, health management, sports marketing, management of professional, collegiate or amateur sport organizations, representation of professional athletes, sport public relations, sport facility and event management.

Why APSM in Dallas?

The fitness, wellness, health and sports industries comprise an enormous and growing share of the U.S. and global economies. Generating hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue across multiple categories annually, the sports industry is one of the largest markets in the United States. Because Dallas is the 5th largest sports market in the U.S., there are professional major and minor league teams for each sport, numerous sports venues to host these teams, and respected sports marketing agencies to support sponsorship of these teams by upper-echelon brands.

Majoring or Minoring in APSM

The B.S. in APSM offers three concentrations: applied physiology and health management , sport management , and sport performance leadership . The department also offers minors in applied physiology , applied physiology and health management , sport management , and sport performance leadership .  Admission to the program is competitive.  For consideration, students must have a minimum 2.000 GPA, complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, complete the two subset courses required for the selected concentration with a minimum of C- in each course, attend a required orientation meeting for prospective majors, submit a completed general application, and declare an area of concentration. 

An SMU Degree

A degree from SMU is typically comprised of a minimum of 120 hours, 60 of which must be completed at SMU.  Components of the degree include:

• Courses in your major
• Courses required for the Common Curriculum (CC)  
• Elective courses.  These electives may also be used to add a second major or minor. 

The Common Curriculum (CC)

The Common Curriculum is required of all undergraduate students and consists of three main components: 

1. Foundations - 6 hours of Writing courses, 3 hours of Quantitative Reasoning courses, proficiency in a second language. 
2. Breadth - 7 Breadth courses which may double count with majors and minors.
3. Proficiencies and Experiences - 8 Proficiencies and Experiences requirements, met through coursework or approved, noncredit activities.

NOTE: If you transfer with 23 or fewer credit hours and/or transfer in your first year out of high school, transfer work earned prior to high school graduation (dual/concurrent credit) will not satisfy CC requirements.

Apply Now!

Click here for more information about transferring to SMU.