EDA - Athletic Administration

This course examines administrative philosophies and processes including administrative behavior, leadership, and organizational procedures. Topics include theory, current practices, issues and evaluation procedures in athletics, sport and recreation in public and private sectors.

The purpose of this course is the study of leadership theory, education, and ethics as it is applied to sport and athletics. This course will help students develop a personal philosophy of athletic leadership and learn how to apply a principled decision-making process to issues through research of leadership theory and ethical dilemmas that occur in sport. In doing so the student will gain a holistic understanding of leadership and ethics in sport.

This course examines the financial tools that administrators use to run their sport businesses. Traditional and innovative methods are examined to provide a comprehensive understanding. Topics covered include budgeting, revenue acquisition, business structure, planning, forecasting, taxation and more. Sport administrators will understand the value finances play in making and maintaining effective organizations.

This course examines the principles of marketing, sponsorship, fundraising, and consumer behavior related to the sport industry. Marketing within the sport industry is unique from other segments. Sport leaders will obtain an understanding of the nuances involved in marketing, sponsorships, and fundraising.

This course examines a perspective of diversity, ethical management in sport, foundational theories, understanding how people differ and strategies for creating inclusive athletic organizations. This course also explains that diversity, equity and inclusion is a foundation but an organization with belonging is the goal. Understanding the history and biases associated with race, gender, ableness, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and social class, are specific areas of emphasis. The final step is creating belonging within an organization where employees, athletes and all associated feel accepted as members, valued and connected.

This course explores the role of communication and social media in the sports and athletics industry.  The goal of this course is to provide students with a conceptual, strategic, and technical understanding of the operation of sports communications at all levels of sport. Students will learn how sports entities use sports media for branding, promotion and disseminating information. An emphasis will be placed on applying best practices in a variety of sports media platform and developing the skills necessary to create integrated, ethical, and professional social media campaigns.

The purpose of this course is to study current research and trends in the planning, financing, programming, design/construction, and operation of athletic facilities and events for interscholastic, intercollegiate and professional sports. The course will examine management systems including scheduling, maintenance and security, and ADA compliance along with exploring issues of staffing and volunteer recruitment, event evaluation, and sustainability.

This course will focus on the legal and compliance aspects of the sports industry. Topics covered will include contracts, labor, tort, and antitrust law. Specific applications will be examined at the professional, collegiate, and youth settings. Students will understand the law as it impacts sport in educational institutions and communities.

This course focuses on the biggest asset of an organization, its people. The focus of this course is on the application of leadership and management theory including organizational behavior, strategic planning & effective human resources management. It examines macro issues like structure, centralization/decentralization & culture, and micro issues like motivation, conflict, decision-making, group dynamics, and communication. Learn to be a manager and leader of growth oriented, effective employees from creating a position, recruitment, hiring, mentoring, and empowering them throughout their career.

The internship allows students to undertake a significant experiential learning opportunity, typically within a company, non-profit, governmental, or community-based organization. The internship represents an educational strategy that allows the student to draw connections between the theory and practice of academic study and the practical application of that study in a professional work environment. Through direct observation, reflection, and evaluation, students are provided with learning experiences not available in the classroom setting, gaining an understanding of the internship site’s work and mission, how these potentially relate to the student’s academic study, and an appreciation of the organization’s position in the broader industry or field. Internships are completed under the guidance of an on-site supervisor and a faculty sponsor, who in combination with the student will create a framework for learning and reflection.