Opportunities and outcomes
Sport management topics covered
- Facility and event management in sport and wellness
- Management and leadership in sport organizations
- Media and public relations for the sports industry
- Financial management and economics for sport business
- Legal processes and ethical procedures in sports management
- Sports writing, marketing, and promotion
- Sport in American culture
Student learning outcomes
- Explain skills, roles, and functions of sport managers.
- Apply ethical concepts to issues in the sport workplace.
- Apply fundamental marketing concepts to the sport industry and the unique aspects of sport markets.
- Explain legal concepts and basic risk management issues as they relate to the sport workplace.
- Demonstrate the ability to use technology effectively in the application of sport management practice.
Sport management internships
Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find sport management internships and career opportunities. Students recently completed internships at the following locations:
- Creighton University
- Kenosha Kingfish
- NCAA Volleyball Tournament
- South Dakota State Athletics
- Sporting Kansas City
- Sporting Nebraska FC
Graduates of the Sport Management degree program work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.
Jobs of recent graduates:
- Activities Director – Hastings Senior High School (Hastings, Neb.)
- Assistant Director of Corporate Competition – Iowa Sports Foundation (Iowa City, Iowa)
- Assistant Golf Superintendent – Prairie Club Golf Course (Valentine, Neb.)
- Assistant Volleyball Coach – Iowa Central Community College (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
- Athletics Event Supervisor – Creighton University (Omaha, Neb.)
- Course Director – Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (Breckenridge, Colo.)
- Fitness Team Leader – Lifetime Fitness (Des Moines, Iowa)
- Game Day Staff/Facilities Manager – Creighton University (Omaha, Neb.)
- Operations Manager – L.A. Fitness (St. Louis Park, Minn.)
- Recreation Specialist – Nebraska Dept. of Correctional Services (Omaha, Neb.)
- Sports Site Supervisor – YMCA (Valley, Neb.)
- Ticketing Account Executive – Lincoln Salt Dogs (Lincoln, Neb.)
job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey
After graduating from Wayne State College, recent grads pursued advanced degrees at the following schools:
- Athletic Administration (MSAA) – Concordia University (Seward, Neb.)
- Coaching Leadership (M.E.) – Mount Marty University (Yankton, S.D.)
- Law (J.D.) – University of South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.)
- Sport and Recreation Management (MSOM) – Wayne State College (Wayne, Neb.)
- Sport Management (M.A.) - Tusculum University (Tusculum, Tenn.)
- Sport Management (M.S.) – University of Florida (Gainesville, Fla.)
- Sports Performance and Leadership (M.S.) – Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Transfer to Wayne State
Our generous transfer credit policy will allow you to get credit for what you've already earned.
- If you've taken courses at other institutions, you can transfer those credits to Wayne State.
- Already have an associate degree? Seamlessly transfer your full degree through one of our transfer pathways.
- Military or veteran student? You may be able to get credit for your military experience and training.
While most NFL fans were huddled around their televisions during Super Bowl LVII, Wayne State graduate student Preston Davis was hard at work at the game. Davis was part of a small army of nearly 6,000 volunteers at the game in Arizona. Davis earned bachelor's degrees from Wayne State in Sport Management and Exercise Science in May 2021. Davis credits the skills he learned at WSC for being prepared for the event.
"Everything from the classroom allowed me to use these skills to provide a better experience for the fans as well as the talent I was taking care of!" he said.
Preston Davis, '21
Mondamin, Iowa
Major: Sport Management
While most NFL fans were huddled around their televisions during Super Bowl LVII, Wayne State graduate student Preston Davis was hard at work at the game. Davis was part of a small army of nearly 6,000 volunteers at the game in Arizona. Davis earned bachelor's degrees from Wayne State in Sport Management and Exercise Science in May 2021. Davis credits the skills he learned at WSC for being prepared for the event.
"Everything from the classroom allowed me to use these skills to provide a better experience for the fans as well as the talent I was taking care of!" he said.
Preston Davis, '21
Mondamin, Iowa
Major: Sport Management
Health, Human Performance, and Sport Department faculty
Barbara Engebretsen, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Barbara Engebretsen is an exercise science and public and global health professor at Wayne State College. She is active member of professional and service organizations, including the American Physiological Society, American College of Sports Medicine, the American Public Health Association, and Rotary International. She helped developed the Public and Global Health minor and One Health Studies major.
Dr. Kris Fox is an exercise science professor at Wayne State College and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in applied human and sport physiology, exercise science, and human performance.
Dr. Cameron Geisert is a sports management professor at Wayne State College. His teaching interests are sociology of sport, sport law, sport event and facility management, ethics in sports, and sport marketing.
Dr. Kevin Hill is a physical education professor at Wayne State College. His academic interests include rural health and sport skill instruction, as well as physical and health education.
Dr. Chad Maas is a sports management professor at Wayne State College. He is a certified instructor for Red Cross First Aid and CPR.
Paul McCawley, MSE
Assistant Professor
Paul McCawley is an exercise science professor at Wayne State College. His teaching interests include strength and conditioning, as well as overall health and wellness.
Blaine Meyer teaches sports management at Wayne State College, including courses such as Introduction to Sport Management, Sport Marketing and Promotion, Physical Health and Wellbeing, Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Public Relations in Sport, Sport Business, Leadership in Sport Organizations, and Ethics in Sport.
Bobby Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Bobby Smith is an exercise science professor at Wayne State College. He teaches undergraduate courses in exercise physiology, fitness assessment and evaluation, athletic performance and nutrition, as well as physical health and wellbeing.
Student clubs for sport management majors
Exercise is Medicine - Works toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community
SPORTS Club - A club for Sport Management majors or minors
Best Colleges for Sports Management
College Factual ranked WSC as one of the top colleges in Nebraska for a Sport Management degree based on 11 factors including student resources, demand, and successful graduate outcomes.
A Top Public College in the Midwest
WSC was identified as one of the top public universities in the Midwest for 2025 by U.S. News & World’s Best Colleges ranking report.
A Best College of Distinction
Wayne State was recognized as a Best College of Distinction for our excellence in student engagement, teaching, community, and successful graduate outcomes.
