RCTC’s Sport Management program options prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities. These may include careers in community education, recreation centers, athletic/fitness clubs, adventure courses, ice arenas, park and recreation departments, high school or collegiate athletic programs, amateur or professional sports teams, leagues or administrations.
RCTC offers both an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Diploma option for students interested in a career in Sport Management.
This program provides a solid basis for sport management students whether they are interested in marketing amateur or professional events, managing an ice arena or becoming a golf pro. The sky is the limit.
Desired abilities:
Students should possess a desire to work with people, sporting events and provide positive experiences for employees and consumers alike.
- Skills – Good organizational and interpersonal skills
- Abilities – to work weekends and evenings
- Attention to detail and be willing to self-evaluate
Learning Opportunities:
The program provides great opportunities to work within fantastic facilities with quality faculty and a sport- minded community.
- Students visit a variety of sport venues to see first-hand specific details of a variety of venue designs.
- Students are provided the opportunity to observe faculty in elementary, middle and high school settings teaching within the scope of fitness and sport.
- Students are afforded an opportunity, after classroom practice to perform some field experience teaching a variety of team building activities.
- All students complete an internship within their field of interest before graduation – past experiences have been working with youth summer program activities, group fitness and athletic programs, golf course scheduling and providing lessons to youth.
Jobs and training:
Many positions are entry-level positions within the areas of sport and fitness programs, however as listed above the range is endless: summer intern for any amateur to professional sport organization to Y camp, golf course work, health club administration, recreation programs, tourism, marketing, sales of merchandise, tickets, advertising, etc., for any amateur through professional sports team.
According to the U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, overall employment in leisure and hospitality jobs is expected to grow by 17.8 percent. New jobs in the recreational sector reflect increasing incomes, leisure time and awareness of the health benefits of physical fitness. Overall employment of recreation and fitness workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.