Do you have a passion for sport and want to pursue it as a career? Western University might just have the program you’re looking for. As part of the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology program, students are eligible to pursue a specialization in sport management, which prepares them for all sorts of jobs in the sports world.
Alison Doherty, the program manager, has been teaching sport management for 25 years and is just as passionate as her students. She takes pride in preparing young students for exciting careers in sport.
“Our students have a passion for sport and everything around it, and [the program] gives students a chance to follow their dream of having a career in sports,” Doherty said. “Our program and field experience [which consists of 50+ hours] gives them a variety of experiences.”
The sport management specialization includes courses in 2nd and 4th year of the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, and is complimented with courses in nutrition, sport psychology, fitness appraisal and athletic therapy. There are typically 20 students per year (mostly from across Ontario), and the students get a sport management degree. There are prerequisites leading up to the Capstone Course, the final culmination of the degree.
Doherty, who was an invited lecturer to the Master’s in Sports Administration program at the Russian International Olympic University in Sochi, Russia, says graduates are often in high demand from companies.
“Many times, employers are looking to hire students with a sport management background even if their business doesn’t involve sports,” Doherty said. “It’s because of the quality of candidates that come through sport management programs.”
Varun Singh and Dan Zytner are recent graduates of the program, and their field experience involved playing key roles in the planning and execution of the first London Sports & Activity Expo, which is set for May 9 at the BMO Centre.
