Human Performance and Health Education

Recreation/Sport Management – B.S.

This program is offered in-person.

The Department of Human Performance and Health Education's recreation program at Western Michigan University focuses on educating students about recreation and leisure leadership, program and service development, delivery, and management. The program offers a variety of courses, experiences and guidance that allow students to develop professional skills and competencies for professional careers in community, campus, outdoor, commercial, government or private settings. The program prepares WMU students to assume leadership and administrative roles in their chosen area of emphasis.

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Courses

Why recreation/sport management at Western Michigan University?

Find success: 90% of 2020-21 WMU recreation management and sport management graduates were employed or continuing education within three months of graduation.

Real-world experience: 100% of recreation/sport management students complete an internship or field experience.

Engage with the industry: this program enables students to interact with professionals in the fields of recreation and sport management, utilizing service learning and getting class credit while working in the field. This includes programs in Southwestern Michigan, the state of Michigan and throughout the United States.

Built in minor: students choosing the sport management concentration will receive a bachelor’s degree in sport management and a minor in one of several options including general business, communication, coaching, journalism or event management.

Hitting the standard: the recreation management and sport management program at WMU is designed to meet or exceed national standards set forth by the North American Society for Sport Management accrediting body, and instruction focuses on both theoretical and applied knowledge.

Hear it from us

My WMU internship taught me hard work and to be a sponge for knowledge.
_{- Brandon Harlin, B.S. '22, Read more >}

Concentration options

Recreation management

Prepares students for leadership or administrative roles in public, non-profit, commercial and recreational sport organizations.

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Sport management

Prepares students for roles in sport organizations on the interscholastic, intercollegiate, professional and recreational levels.

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Additional information

Internship and practicum

100% of recreation/sport management students complete an internship or field experience.

An internship is required for both concentrations and a practicum is required for recreation management. The practicum is usually completed after junior year, and the internship is completed during or after the senior year. The practicum and internship components allow students the opportunity to gain supervised real-world experience as part of their degree completion. These paid or volunteer field experiences can be completed either part-time or full-time over the course of the academic year.

Career opportunities