<p>Is a sports management degree 'worthless'? I plan on getting a job in sports after college. However, I've heard the degree described occasionally as 'worthless'?</p>
<p>Can any parent add any insight to this? I am thinking/planning on also trying to get a major in a business related field, or a combination of a major/minor in those two areas. Does that sound like a good plan?</p>
<p>Thanks for any type of help!</p>
<p>I'd ask about their placement records.</p>
<p>calimatt-I am going to Indiana Bloomington to get a dual major in SM and Management (since they have one of the top 10 business schools, and a great SM program). You really need to talk to program coordinators, find out about their placement, as well as their curriculum, make sure that it is business-based, and not exercise science or leisure based. Programs like Rice have partnerships with local teams (Rockets, Astros, Texans) and guarantee you an internship (which basically means later on they will hire you full time). I know Indiana has partnerships with the Pacers and the Colts. Look at where the kids get employed out of school. Most schools publicize where their graduates get employed. A big thing about employment is that you need connections, these connections will notify you of the potential jobs. The sports industry is more competitive than the business industry, for the simple reason that there are less jobs avaliable. So the more connections, the better chance of employment. This is done through student organizations and mainly alumni. The longer tenured the program, the more graduates, the bigger alumni network, the easier it is to get employed. I can tell you that Ohio U has the longest tenured program in the country (applied there and turned them down).</p>
<p>The thing about your degree that you need to understand is that a Sports team will hire you with a business degree, and a business could hire you with a sports degree. Both want good people with high GPAs. I would go after the dual major route if you could, because you get to choose where you want to go at the end and are qualified for both fields, if not, major in business and minor in SM is the best thing to do, because it's easier to get a job with a sports team with a major in business than vise-versa.</p>
<p>A2
Boy,you've said it all!!
S is entering a Sports Management Program i the Fall at U South Carolina. You need to look at all the factors A2 has mentioned.Internships and networking and placement are everything. Choose a program that trains sports business people,not exercise science (kinesiology).Make sure business classes are part of the required curriculum.Read up on college websites,U Mass's sports Management pages are especially helpful for info.Rice U and South Carolina's pages also give good info.Look at the site for the North American Society for Sport Managemnt (NASSM.com) under their college or academic section for program criteria.PM me if you want for insight into the research we did. I was highly sceptical at the outset but now feel S is making a great career choice.</p>
<p>cathymee!!! I peeked through a couple of your posts. Boy your S keeps getting those scholarships!! It must be so nice on your pockets seeing all that free money colleges and companies are throwing your way. I bet S is looking forward to going down south for college.</p>
<p>A2
Orientation is done,he has his schedule.Managed to snag Friday's off. Starts with one sport Management class on schedule as I hope you do too. Good luck at Indiana and let me know how it goes.</p>
<p>I couldn't get into my SM class, it's full. However, I don't get up before 10:00 everyday for class, and am done by 3:00, so i'm good! Didn't get Friday's off, i'm jealous!</p>
<p>This may be of interest to you folks in SM........Columbia - grad program in SM.</p>