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Sports and Leisure Management Major

Why Study Sport and Leisure Management?

Sport and Leisure Management is an ideal major for students interested in sport management or sports sciences. Students learn exercise science, health, sport management and sport performance. Graduates are well prepared to help individuals make reasoned decisions related to their personal development and lifestyle, and for careers in sport management, exercise science, personal training, health and wellness, and sport performance and coaching.

Why Study Sport and Leisure Management at Eastern?

The Sport and Leisure Management major provides students with exciting professional opportunities that enhance knowledge, along with options for participating in health, wellness and recreational activities. Concentrations include Sport Management and Sport Science and Performance. A Sport and Leisure Management minor is also available.

Concentrations

Sport Management

Students in the Sport Management concentration of the Sport and Leisure Management major prepare for careers in the field through courses in accounting, business finance, economics of sport, marketing and sports psychology.

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Sport Science and Performance

The Sport Science & Performance concentration in the Sport and Leisure Management major provides advanced courses in physiology, exercise, sports nutrition, conditioning and psychology. Students are prepared for careers in employee wellness programs, public and private recreation facilities, exercise science and sport performance.

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Salary Potential

$49K

Median Salary Fitness/Parks/Recreation

$30-70K

Salary Range

Hands-on Learning

Experienced Faculty

Sport and leisure management faculty encourage and mentor students in professional activities such as presentations at state and regional workshops, symposia and conferences.

Student standing in front of VR demonstration at CREATE

Undergraduate Research

The department provides opportunities for service learning at local community organizations and undergraduate research studies.

Internships

Students also take internships with local park and recreation departments, sport and entertainment facilities across the state, and schools and teams at the collegiate and professional levels.

Career Options

Athletic director
Corporate fitness instructor/director
Military recreation
Personal trainer
Professional sports team manager
Promotions manager
Sports facilities manager
Sports information director
Sports marketing
Sports official

Successful Alumni

Recent Eastern students who earned a bachelor’s degree or a minor in sport and leisure management are employed in schools and sport-related businesses throughout the United States. Alumni have also earned doctoral degrees from schools such as Columbia University, Ohio State University, the University of North Carolina and the University of Maryland.

For more information

kaneg@easternct.edu
(860) 465-5371

Alumni Testimonials

NBA Orlando Magic

Andrea Brown ’08

Andrea is the Senior Premium Activation Manager for the NBA’s Orlando Magic. She manages the service and retention efforts of the Magic’s premium accounts, its highest paying/most distinguished customer base. “While at Eastern I learned what it takes to be a leader and my professors provided insight on career opportunities that existed in the sports industry.”

Sports & Leisure Management

Rachel Berkowsky ’18

Rachel is pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science at the University of Connecticut. “My Eastern degree prepared me for graduate school by teaching me time management and dedication to hard work. And the research methods classes I took were extremely beneficial because the Exercise Science program at UConn is all research-based.”

Colgate University

Christina Turner ’09

Christina is the assistant athletic director for administration and director of recreation at Colgate University, as well as a certified exercise physiologist and fitness coach. “At Eastern, I learned by doing. We worked hands-on in a number of areas, including exercise testing and instruction, event management and research. We toured facilities, shadowed industry professionals and networked with employers.”

Cancer Researcher

Justin Brown ’09

A former research fellow at Harvard Medical School, Justin was recently selected to lead the Cancer Metabolism Research Program at Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation in Louisiana. “Eastern provides an environment that is intellectually engaging, culturally diverse and socially enriching. It is my professional opinion that the faculty in the KPE department are among the best educators in the country.”

Relevant Sports

James Doucette ’17

Sport and Leisure Management major James Doucette has worked a number of jobs in the SLM industry, including positions with Relevant Sports and the University of Hartford Athletic Department. “All of these experiences are directly related to field experiences I had while at Eastern. It’s real-world experience that sets a graduate apart from the rest.”

UMass Athletics

Krysta Valerio ’14

Sport and Leisure Management major Krysta Valerio is an academic counselor for the athletics department at the University of Massachusetts and an academic counselor at the University of Connecticut. “Eastern’s SLM program is a tight community of students and faculty. Professors are always available and able to point you in different directions for internships and other opportunities.”