Career Paths in Sport Management

Sport management alumni (N=268) from five universities that offer undergraduate programs with an emphasis in sport management within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism were sampled via an electronic survey. The survey sought to learn where alumni were working, and how they felt about their career choice and undergraduate professional preparation. Participants were also asked about what curricular changes they would recommend, their view of sport in North America, and their view of the relationship between sport and recreation. Of the respondents, 63% found work in sport-related fields after graduation, although only 39% of those remained in sport-related positions at the time of the study. Low salaries and limited job opportunities were the main reasons given for leaving the field. However, many respondents indicated their entry-level work experience provided them an opportunity to move into more lucrative careers outside sport. Curricular implications, such as the need for core competencies, conclude the paper.