SUNY Oswego - Career Services
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What can I do with a minor in sports studies?
Additional Navigation
SUNY Oswego - Career Services
- Career Communities
- Major And Career Exploration
- Resumes and Cover Letters
- Networking, Personal Branding and LinkedIn
- Job and Internship Searching
- Graduate School
- Online Career Tools
- Affinity Group Resources
- Compensation Negotiation
- Events
- Graduate Outcomes
- Information for
- Resource Center
- Connect with us
View videos of professionals describing a day on the job
Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine
Human Performance Lab Coordinator, National Training Center
Product Marketing Manager for EA Sports
Field Hockey Coach, Penn State University
Community Recreation Director, City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Youth Advancement Director, Muncie YMCA
Head of Sports Partnerships, Tagboard
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, USC Division of Biokinesiology
Anowa Adjah, CEO, Powerhouse Physiques
Get involved in a professional organization
American College of Sports Medicine American Council on Exercise American Physical Therapy Association Association for the Advancement of Applied Sports Psychology Society for Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology North American Society for Sport Management National Athletic Trainers’ AssociationSearch for opportunities
- Fitness Specialist
- Sports Manager
- Physical Education Teacher
- Sports coach
- Athletic Director
Explore the numerous career fields related to your major
Sport Media:
Areas
- Journalism
- Broadcasting
- Photojournalism
- Sport Information
- Advertising Sales
- Video Production
Employers
- Newspapers
- Television stations
- Radio stations
- Magazines
- Special interest sport publications
- Sport-related internet sites
- Colleges and universities
- Nonprofit organizations
- Professional associations
Sample occupations
- Complete an internship or work part-time at a newspaper or radio/television station.
- Volunteer to announce sporting events on campus or at local high schools.
- Publish as much as possible in college and local newspapers. Work as a sport writer or photographer on campus.
- Volunteer at the campus radio or television station.
- Create a portfolio of published work, articles, videos and photographs or an online portfolio highlighting digital media skills for a website or blog.
- Plan to start career in small markets and be willing to relocate to work into major markets.
- Develop excellent public speaking and writing skills and a solid command of sports.
Sports Management:
Areas
- Administration of amateur athletics, Olympics, Intercollegiates, and professional teams/leagues
- Player personnel
- Business operations
- Public relations
- Sales
- Marketing and promotions
- Ticketing and seat management
- Facilities management
- Event coordination
- Program coordination
Employers
- Professional teams and leagues (e.g., NFL, MLB)
- Professional athletes
- Professional player associations and unions
- Sport associations (e.g., PGA Tour)
- Conference offices (e.g., SEC, ACC)
- Governing bodies
- Colleges and universities
- Arenas
- Auditoriums
- Stadiums
- Golf courses
- Tracks
- High schools
- Youth sport programs
- Sport related franchises
- Training centers
- Sport camps
- Health and fitness clubs
- Recreational facilities
- Local sport and tourism corporations
- Sport marketing firms
- Sport management firms
Sample occupations
- Develop communication, written and oral skills.
- Take courses in marketing, public relations, and advertising.
- Further develop public speaking skills.
- For player representation, pursue a degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts and financial planning.
- Obtain accounting or business skills and experience.
- Volunteer to coordinate athletic programs and events such as marathons, golf tournaments, or Special Olympics for campus organizations or local non-profit groups.
- Get involved with campus sport teams, intramurals, or recreational programs (e.g., team manager).
- Build a network of contacts with sport administrators, student athletes, and merchandise representatives.
- Join sport-oriented associations and organizations.
- Obtain an internship or part-time job with a team, an athletic organization, or a sport facility.
- Be willing to work in any capacity with minor league or local teams as a way to enter the field and gain experience.
Education:
Areas
- Sport management: Olympic, Intercollegiate, High school, Youth
- Athletic administration
- Recruiting
- Student-athlete affairs
- Compliance
- Sport information
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
- Conference offices (e.g., SEC, ACC)
- National sport governing bodies
- State governing bodies
- Special Olympics
- Training centers
- Youth sport organizations (e.g., Little League Baseball)
Sample occupations
- Gain experience working with youth (e.g., content) volunteer or work at sport and recreation camps.
- Coach youth sport teams or assist with high school teams.
- Get involved with college sport teams, intramural leagues, or campus recreational programs.
- Seek leadership roles in campus organizations. Serve as a peer advisor, tutor, resident assistant, etc.
- Build relationships on campus with coaches and athletic administrators.
- Gain relevant experience through practicum and internships.
- Be prepared to work long and irregular hours.
- Develop additional knowledge in areas of strength training, fitness, nutrition, and conditioning.
- Learn about and practice motivational techniques.
- Become familiar with legal and regulatory issues related to coaching (e.g., NCAA regulations).
Community/Local Recreation:
Areas
- Administration
- Facilities management
- Sales/Marketing
- Event/Program planning and evaluation
- Camp management
- Community center management
- Coaching
Employers
- Community centers
- Senior centers
- Special Olympics
- Youth programs (e.g., YMCA or YWCA)
- Sports leagues
- Camps and outdoor recreational programs
- Nonprofit, social service, and religiously-affiliated organizations
- Multipurpose sports clubs
- Dance studios
- Event planning companies
Sample occupations
- Seek experience through related internships, part-time jobs, or summer work at campus and community recreational facilities.
- Participate in community-based programs, camps, youth groups, etc. through paid, intern, or volunteer positions.
- Utilize campus recreational programs and facilities, including intramural sports.
- Participate in planning/executing community events and activities.
- Develop membership sales techniques for some customer-service positions.
- Display good planning, organizational, interpersonal, creativity, and public speaking skills.
- Learn to work well with people from different backgrounds with varying abilities.
Facilities and Event Management:
Areas
- Facility management
- Facility/Field maintenance
- Field preparation and conversion
- Ticket sales and seating management
- Marketing and advertising
- Event planning and management
Employers
- Stadiums
- Arenas
- Golf courses
- Tracks
- Local tournaments and festivals
- Recreational facilities
- City parks and recreation departments
- Individual teams
Sample occupations
- Find a job managing facilities or fields on campus.
- Get involved in organizations responsible for bringing cultural attractions and entertainers to campus for exposure to contracts, negotiating, and making arrangements.
- Gain event planning and leadership experience by serving as the events coordinator or social chair with a student organization.
- Work part-time or summer jobs in conference and convention centers, hotels, or local attractions.
- Volunteer to work on community events (e.g., content) local races or festivals.
- Join organizations or take courses related to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
- To succeed in this area, demonstrate skills in negotiating, business management, organization, budgeting, and marketing.
- Research requirements for the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credential.
Health Promotion:
Areas
- Teaching
- Assessment and evaluation
- Program development
- Personal training
- Rehabilitation
- Health club management
- Group fitness instruction
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Public and private schools
- Sport medicine centers
- Hospitals and rehabilitation clinics
- Health clubs and fitness centers
- Professional teams
- Olympic training centers
Sample occupations
- Obtain necessary certification such as Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer, or National Athletic Trainer Certification.
- Consider professional or graduate school in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, or sport medicine.
- Work in a physical therapy clinic, health club, or gym to gain experience and make contacts.
- Volunteer to work with college or high school sport teams or to run exercise programs for local, non-profit organizations.
- Develop excellent interpersonal skills for working with clients, coaches, and team physicians.
- Maintain personal fitness and athletic proficiency.
- Coach youth sport teams or assist with high school teams.
- Get involved with college sport teams, intramural leagues, or campus recreational programs.
- Seek leadership roles in campus organizations
General information and strategies
- Hone leadership and supervisory skills for coordinating and directing others in various activities.
- Obtain certification in first aid and safety, CPR or life-guarding.
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and the ability to work on a team.
- Learn to interact effectively with people of various ages, backgrounds, and ability levels.
- Internships are crucial for breaking into the field of electronic media and broadcasting.
- Complete several internships if possible.
- Volunteer to announce sporting events on campus or at local high schools.
- For player representation, pursue a degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts and financial planning.
- Obtain accounting or business skills and experience.
- Get involved with campus sport teams, intramurals, or recreational programs (e.g., team manager).
- Develop additional knowledge in areas of strength training, fitness, nutrition, and conditioning.
- Utilize campus recreational programs and facilities, including intramural sports.
- Participate in planning/executing community events and activities.
- Develop membership sales techniques for some customer-service positions.
- Obtain necessary certification such as Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Faculty Manager, or National Athletic Trainer Certification.
- Consider professional or graduate school in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, or sport medicine.