Exercise Science and Sport Studies

What can I do with this degree?

• Athlete Representation
• Public Relations
• Sales
• Marketing
• Publicity
• Promotions
• Operations
• Event Coordination
• Program Coordination
• Fund Raising
• University Athletics Administration

• Professional teams
• Professional athletes
• Sport associations (e.g., NBA, PGA, NCAA)
• Local sport and tourism corporations
• Arenas
• Auditoriums
• Stadiums
• Colleges and universities
• Health clubs
• Sport facilities

• Major in sport management or sport administration.
• Earn a master's degree for increased opportunities.
• Develop outstanding communication skills, written and oral.
• Take courses in marketing, public relations, and advertising.
• Pursue a degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts.
• Obtain accounting or business skills and experience.
• Gain experience with public speaking and sales.
• Volunteer to do publicity for campus organizations or local nonprofit groups.
• Volunteer to coordinate athletic programs and events such as marathons, golf tournaments, or special olympics for campus organizations or local nonprofit groups.
• Write articles or columns for campus or local newspapers.
• Join sport-oriented associations and organizations.
• Obtain an internship or part-time job with a team or other athletic organization.
• Work with minor league or local teams as a way to enter the field and gain experience.
• Be willing to work in any capacity to get started.

• Journalism
• Broadcasting
• Photojournalism

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Television stations
• Radio stations
• Sport-related internet sites

• Major in journalism, broadcasting, English, or public relations.
• Supplement program with courses in sport management or physical education.
• Obtain an internship or part-time job with local or university newspaper or radio/television station.
• Publish as much as possible in college and local newspapers.
• Create a portfolio of published work, both articles and photographs.
• Develop excellent public speaking and writing skills.
• Participate in organizations such as Toastmasters.

• Teaching
• Research
• Adaptive Physical Education
• Recreational Sports Administration

• Public and private schools, K-12
• Colleges and universities

• Obtain a degree in education, physical education, or other sport related field in addition to appropriate state teacher licensure. Earn dual certification for increased job opportunities.
• Become familiar with a variety of physical cognitive and affective disabilities if interested in an adaptive physical education career. Supplement coursework with special education classes.
• Secure a part-time position with a youth recreation center, college athletic facility, or intramural athletic administration department.
• Develop competitive and instructive proficiency in a wide array of sports.
• Obtain a graduate degree to teach at the college level or to advance into administrative positions.
• Become a graduate teaching assistant for physical education courses.

• Refereeing
• Umpiring
• Line Judging

• Professional sport leagues
• High school athletic associations
• College and university athletic associations
• Amateur athletic associations (e.g., United States Tennis Association)
• Recreational leagues

• Be prepared to maintain full-time employment in addition to refereeing.
• Volunteer to umpire youth or Little League games.
• Obtain certification to officiate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) games.
• Join sport associations and organizations to stay current on developments in the field and to make contacts.
• Attend classes, seminars, camps, and workshops sponsored by these organizations and associations.
• Attend an umpire training school or camp for professional opportunities.
• Gain Professional Football Referees Association licensure or other applicable credential.
• Obtain the required ten years of collegiate football refereeing experience before applying to The National Football League (NFL).

• Teaching
• Research
• Health Promotion
• Primary Care
• Inpatient Medical
• Specialized Health Care

• Colleges and universities
• Hospitals
• Health clubs and fitness centers
• Olympic training centers
• Rehabilitation clinics
• Public health agencies

• Major in one of the social sciences and supplement coursework with hard science classes.
• Acquire training in the areas of research, grantwriting, and statistics.
• Volunteer in a hospital or fitness center.
• Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
• Learn to work well in a team environment.
• Earn a graduate degree in clinical, counseling, social, or experimental psychology for health psychology opportunities.
• Earn a graduate degree in sport psychology, with an exercise emphasis, for a career in exercise psychology.
• Pursue a postdoctoral internship or fellowship for advanced career opportunities.

• Be willing to work with sport teams in any capacity, realizing that most people start in low-level positions. Careers in sport and athletics are extremely competitive. Get as much experience as possible while in school.
• Join professional associations. Read their publications and attend their meetings, seminars, and conventions to learn more about the field, as well as to make important contacts.
• Look for jobs in the minor leagues as a way to enter the sport industry.
• Earn a graduate or professional degree for increased opportunities.
• Maintain excellent personal fitness and athletic proficiency.
• Learn to relate well to a variety of people from various backgrounds.
• Consider entering the field of athletics through skills and experience in another area such as accounting, sales, or information systems.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2003)