New degree levels up sport management and recreation therapy professionals
Sport management is big business. In North Carolina alone, sports and leisure sectors generate $37+ billion in annual visitor spending, supporting 230,000+ jobs statewide. Those stats are driven by an impressive outdoor recreation economy, thriving youth sports organizations, and major metropolitan areas — including the Research Triangle, Charlotte, and Greensboro – High Point – ranking among the top 50 overall sports cities in the country.
The need for sport and recreation management professionals is also on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the sport management industry is outpacing the need for professionals in other industries with an expected 8% to 10% growth through 2034.
In response, UNC Greensboro launched a fully online, asynchronous Master of Science in Sport Management & Recreational Therapy. Designed for working professionals and emerging leaders ready to take the next step in an exciting career path, the 30-hour program provides the training career professionals need to make an immediate impact on their careers in sport, athletics, and recreation.
“This degree is for people who are working in the sports and recreation industry and want to upskill and retrain,” says Ben Hickerson, associate professor and chair of the Department of Sport Management and Recreational Therapy. “The coursework, assignments, connections UNCG has to local sports enterprises will help them be better leaders in this field.”
What’s in a Name
The new master’s program comes from UNCG’s School of Health and Human Sciences Department of Sport Management and Recreational Therapy, formerly known as the Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation. Revamping the department name while introducing the new degree program positions the program to be responsive work force needs, according to Hickerson.
“Our programs blend the psychological and sociological understanding of why people do what they do in their free time, with management and business principles specific to the recreation and sport industry,” he says. “We’re emphasizing sport as a recognizable entry point due to student interest, popularity, and career opportunities.”
Greensboro is widely recognized as a sports town, with a strong tradition of hosting major events and supporting a broad mix of teams and organizations. From the Greensboro Swarm and Greensboro Grasshoppers to North Carolina Fusion and the city’s long-standing role as a host for high-profile competitions at the Greensboro Complex, the community offers a vibrant environment for sport and recreation. This local identity makes Greensboro a natural setting for sport and recreation management education and creates meaningful opportunities to strengthen partnerships with organizations such as the Greensboro Sports Foundation.
“There’s far better seamless identification now because the master’s and bachelor’s names are speaking to the industry and the prospective students,” Hickerson says.
Practical Application for Career Advancement
The new sport-focused master’s program blends theory, real-world application, and leadership development — all taught by faculty connected to an expansive professional network. Students will study the entire process of game day operations, planning a sporting event, contingency plans, risk management, and more. Capstone experiences will take advantage of UNC Greensboro’s network of parks, recreation, and sporting associations for internships, projects, and more.
Because it’s 100% online, asynchronous, and only 30 credit hours, working professionals can gain their degrees without pausing their careers. Flexibility is key to helping students gain upward mobility and make an immediate impact in the industry.
“UNC Greensboro is known for its community-oriented approach and the master’s in sport management and recreational therapy program will offer accessible and career-specific starting points for students,” Hickerson says. “Greensboro is an urban cultural center with a ton of sports enterprises. We hope to prepare students who stay here locally to move into those organizations and help them gain the credentials they need to move up in their careers.”
Written by Alice Manning Touchette
