The game never ends. You can continue your game at the only university in the world that coordinates the Olympic academic experience. With a strong foundation from classes in sports marketing, facilities design and management and athlete development, TU students have the chance to travel to the Olympics, partner with the Cleveland Indians or serve as athletic directors of a NCAA football bowl series team. The finish line is there for you, waiting for you to win.
All Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – Sports fulfill their academic requirements for graduation by completing 121 hours of course work which, includes a minimum of 200-contact hours in a sports or recreation internship experience.
What You Can Expect From Your Major:
The purpose of the Tiffin University Sport Management major is to promote, stimulate, and guide study, research, and professional career development in the area of sport and recreation management (broadly interpreted). A primary component of the program is an integration of theory with practical requirements.
Your Ticket To The Big Time
TU notables include the NFL Vice President of Player Development, a majority team owner of a minor league franchise, an NFL scout, a former Assistant GM, a two-time NFL Super Bowl wide receiver, and a PGA tournament director. In 2009-2010, students interned with the Cleveland Indians, Women’s Sports Foundation, Salem Red Sox, LRMR (LeBron James) Marketing Company, Lake Erie Monsters, Columbus Crew, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.
Several courses in The BBA and MBA are taught by a certified NBA sports agent, President of the National Olympians Association in Sierra Leone [Africa] and the former Director of Media Relations for the Boston Celtics and Marketing Coordinator for the Atlanta Braves.
Consider some of the other locations TU alumni and students work, have worked, or interned: Cleveland Browns; Pittsburgh Steelers; Tennessee Titans; Buffalo Bills; Milwaukee Brewers; Salem Red Sox; Indianapolis Pacers & Fever; Indianapolis Colts; St. Louis Cardinals; Atlanta Braves; Toledo Mud Hens; Akron Aeros; Lake Erie Monsters; Florence Freedom; Rockford Thunder; Philadelphia Force; Greater Cleveland Sports Commission; Detroit Metro Sports Commission; Mid American Conference; NCAA Final Four; ESPN Detroit Radio; Penn State University Athletics; Wake Forest University Athletics, the NFL Players Association; and IMG.
Sports Management Club - The student-led Sports Management club meets the first Wednesday of the month during the school year to coordinate practicum opportunities. Members work many of the TU athletic events and organize a co-ed volleyball tournament fundraiser. The past several years have featured speakers from Cleveland Cavaliers, NHL Columbus Blue Jackets; The Ohio State University Athletic Department; the Detroit Tigers; and the National Fastpitch Softball League. For the past few years the club has financed student members to attend the Ohio Parks and Recreation Student Conference, the NCAA Women’s Leadership Symposium; and special tours with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dayton Dragons.
Core Curriculum of the School of Business 18 hours
Sports Management Core 15 hours
Concentration 15 hours
Total BBA hours 121
This is a sample course sequence to illustrate course offerings for this major. Consult the official Academic Bulletin for detailed registration and advising information.
On Campus - Offered in a 15-week semester format with a start date of January and August
All Sports & Management offered
Sports Marketing and Promotions (SMG235) - This course is designed to assist students in understanding the techniques of writing common to the sports business with a focus on social and digital media applications for successful marketing and promotion campaigns. Students will gain exposure to writing, designing, and editing a variety of documents used for sport sponsorship proposals, brand awareness campaigns, fan loyalty programs, marketing plans, endorsement deals and event fundraising plans. Students will apply fundamental principles of sport blogging, meeting deadlines and web layout for the internet.
Facilities Design and Management (SMG325) - Provides dynamic models and options for planning, maintaining and managing sport & entertainment facilities in the present and future. Concentration is on the design, maintenance, and full utilization of facilities that are realistic, cost efficient, environmentally sound and aesthetically pleasing. Topics include design, construction, refurbishing, finance options, risk assessment, risk management, security, operations and procedures.
Principles of Athlete Development (SMG220) - This course explores the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of development for athletic performance at the youth & interscholastic, recreation and leisure, intercollegiate, professional and elite level. Issues will also address athlete development influenced by substance abuse, career-transition and off-field behaviors.
Supervision in Sports (SMG315) - This course explores the responsibilities and duties of sport supervisors in the youth, scholastic, collegiate, club and professional sectors on a national and global scale.
"What I love about Tiffin University is the fact that I am learning about real-life experiences inside the classroom. Once I graduate, I know I will be prepared for a career in my field. I am thankful for the support I have received from my professors and classmates."
- Hasan Abdul Elah, UAE
"TU gave me the extra boost needed to move forward with accomplishing my dream of becoming a small business owner. With the help and encouragement of my professors and coach, I was able to take that leap into the business world knowing I could not succeed if I did not take risks."
– Emily Miller
I could not have asked for better faculty. I love how small the class sizes are because I really know the majority of my professors pretty well. More importantly, they know me really well and are aware of my future goals and aspirations. I know that I could seek help from any one of my mentors and they would give me the best advice that they had.
-Beata Krembuszewski '17
"I chose Tiffin University because I heard so many great things about it from other students. Now that I am here, I am very happy. TU has numerous resources on campus, such as the Pfeiffer Library and Student Success Center. These places offer assistance for all of my academic needs."
- Ali Alshehri, Saudi Arabia
“I began my collegiate journey at Purdue University, where I was recruited out of high school. After a few years there I decided it was best if I left and went somewhere else. I didn't really explore many options outside if Tiffin. I knew the coaches here and knew that at the end of the day, even without athletics, I could see myself attending the university. I didn’t look at the size of TU as a deciding factor, I looked more at the people that were there and the quality of education and the product that was offered - and it was the best fit for me.”
Coy Blair
Class of 2017, MBA Graduation 2019
Logan, Ohio
