Five SMU degrees that can launch a career in sports

For students who want to turn World Cup energy into a career, the way into the sports world is rarely a single road.

At SMU, the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management, housed in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development, offers five degrees that run from the business side of the industry to the science of human performance. All the programs are based in Dallas, a top sports business city and one of only seven U.S. markets with NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and WNBA teams.

Whether students are interested in business operations, coaching, health and performance, or research, SMU offers multiple pathways into the sport industry.

“Having a major international competition such as the FIFA World Cup in DFW is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our students,” said Bo Li, an associate professor of Applied Psychology and Sport Management at SMU. “It not only gives our sport management students the chance to work or intern directly with the event but also enriches their education by allowing them to interact with world-class event organizers and tackle the kinds of real-world challenges that only an event of this magnitude can present. Having one of the world's biggest sporting events in our own backyard gives our students direct access to experiences that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else.”

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

The undergraduate sport management major blends scientific and business principles to prepare students for the business of sport. The curriculum emphasizes marketing, revenue generation, data and analytics, law, public relations and event and facility management. Featured courses include Sport Marketing, Sport Data and Analytics and Revenue in Sport.

Hands-on learning anchors the program. Students complete a research methods course and internship at a local sports organization, often with franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers or Dallas Stars. Graduates move into sport marketing, consulting, facility and event management, athletic administration and sport law preparation.

Students can also pair the major with a second major or a minor across the university and become involved with the Sport Business Society, a large, student-run organization dedicated to providing insight into the highly competitive global sports industry for members interested in pursuing a career in sport business.

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Health Management

This major shifts the focus from the front office to the body. Students learn to design research-based training methods and to build and manage fitness and health facilities, with an eye toward a growing aging population. The coursework is organized around evidence-based practice, giving graduates the analytic skills to fold research findings into professional work.

Core courses cover human anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology and the principles of Exercise is Medicine, capped by an enterprise internship. Career paths include exercise physiologist, fitness center director, athletic trainer, cardiac rehabilitation specialist and research associate. Many graduates continue to medical school, physical therapy or other health professions, though some of those tracks call for additional coursework.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Performance Leadership

For students who want to coach and lead, sport performance leadership develops the skills to instruct sport across settings, from youth and high school programs to collegiate, elite and private-practice coaching. The program centers on coach and leadership development paired with experiential learning, beginning with the gateway course Coaching and Leadership for Performance.

The major offers two tracks, one combining health and sport coaching and a more traditional coaching path. Core courses include Applied Exercise Physiology, Communication in Sport, and Cultural Intelligence in Sport and Health.

Master of Science in Sport Management

The graduate degree, developed jointly by the Simmons School and the Cox School of Business, is built for people aiming at leadership roles in the industry. The in-person program runs full time with evening classes that fit early-career and working professionals alike. Students take nine months of case-based coursework, then complete a capstone summer internship.

Featured courses include Sport Sponsorship, Data Analytics and Sport Law. The degree prepares graduates for work in sport operations, partnership management, team publicity, ticketing, hospitality, sports media and sports governance, with titles ranging from athletic director and general manager to sports agent and marketing director.

Outside the classroom, the program offers sport-specific global immersion experiences and a guest speaker series with industry professionals. Students are also highly involved in signature SMU campus events, like the Global Sports Leadership Summit, which brings together leaders from professional sports, global governing bodies, collegiate athletics and brand partners to discuss transformative forces currently shaping the industry.

Ph.D. in Education with Sport Management Focus

At the most advanced level sits the doctoral degree, offered through SMU's Ph.D. in Education program with a sport management focus. Students take core coursework in research design and statistics alongside area-specific study that draws on sport management theory, sport marketing, sport communication, organizational behavior, and sport analytics.

The program is research-driven and its central requirement is a journal-style dissertation built around three manuscripts that have been accepted or submitted for publication. Students must also pass written and oral qualifying exams before they finish. Prospective applicants are encouraged to map out their research interests with the faculty before they apply.

The Dallas advantage

Even when the final whistle blows and the World Cup officially leaves town, Dallas will still be a place with year-round opportunities. With professional teams across every major league and a thriving sports business community, the city serves as a living classroom for the next generation of industry leaders.