Sport and Fitness Administration or Management

Sports and fitness administration is the “someone has to make this actually work” major. You’re the person behind the scenes making sure the tournament runs on time, the gym staff is scheduled, the budget isn’t a disaster, and members don’t quit after two weeks. If you like sports or wellness but you’re also organized (or trying to become organized), this major is a solid move.

You’ll take business classes, then apply them to sports and fitness settings. A lot of the work is practical: planning events, building budgets, developing marketing ideas, and solving problems that arise in real time. Many programs bake in an internship because you learn the most when you’re in an actual facility dealing with actual people.

What you’ll learn

• How gyms, athletic departments, and rec programs are run
• How to plan events and manage facilities without chaos
• How money works in this world: budgets, pricing, and revenue
• How marketing, sponsorships, and partnerships bring in support
• How to manage staff schedules and customer or member experience
• How to think about safety, liability, and risk in public spaces

Common classes

• Management and leadership
• Sports marketing and sponsorships
• Facility and event management
• Budgeting or finance in sports and fitness
• Sports law, ethics, and compliance
• Risk management and safety
• Internship or practicum

Skills you’ll build

• Event planning and operations
• Leadership and team coordination
• Customer service and conflict management
• Communication, especially in fast-moving situations
• Basic marketing and performance tracking
• Problem-solving when plans change last minute

What you can do with this major

• Gym or fitness center manager
• Sports program or league coordinator
• Athletic operations assistant
• Event coordinator for tournaments, races, or wellness events
• Membership and retention roles
• Sports marketing or partnerships assistant
• Community recreation coordinator
• Facility operations coordinator

Careers and job outlook

Experience matters a ton here. Working at campus rec, helping run intramurals, volunteering at events, coaching, or interning with a gym or athletic department will do more for you than “just” taking classes. Hiring managers love specifics, like “increased member retention,” “helped run a 20-team tournament,” or “managed scheduling for 30 staff.”

How to choose a program

• Pick a program with strong internships and local partnerships
• Ask where students intern and what jobs grads actually get
• Look for hands-on courses in events, facilities, and operations
• If you want fitness management, check for a wellness business focus
• If you want sports admin, look for ties to athletic departments and venues

Now that you have an idea of what you'll learn with this major, you can explore colleges below and start building your list.