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.
Salary Potential
Median Salary
Fitness/Parks/Recreation
* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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.
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.
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.”