RHM 235: Introduction to Sport Hospitality

Fall, Spring, & Summer I

Course Description: Introduction to the theoretical and applied foundations of sports management and explore the array of career opportunities in the sports hospitality industry.

Objectives:

Introduce students to the ever-growing sports hospitality industry.
Identify the unique benefits and challenges of pursuing a career in the sport industry.
Categorize and dissect the various areas of sports hospitality.
Host various sport professionals to share their professional journeys and current responsibilities in the sport hospitality industry.
Discuss the relationship between the sport industry and the hospitality industry.

Course Grade Basis:

60% - Tests: Students will have three tests throughout the semester & a final exam. The final exam will be comprehensive. Mrs. Blakey will document the best 3 out of 4 test grades. This includes the final exam. Meaning, if you are satisfied with your three test scores at the end of the semester, you will not be penalized for not taking the final exam

7.5% - Fan Experience Paper: Students are to attend a sporting event of their choice. The sporting event must be held between the start of the semester and the assignment due date. The purpose of this paper is to review a sporting event using the information learned and discuss in this class.

7.5% - Top 5 Blog Post: Students will create a “Top 5” blog post of the five most valuable takeaways learned in this course throughout the semester.

15% - Group Presentation: Students will be assigned (at random) into groups of 4-5 students. Students will create a multimedia presentation (ex: PowerPoint) on a trend within “Deloitte’s sports industry starting line-up.

10% - Attendance: Attendance is recorded (at random and unannounced) 10 times. Mrs. Blakey will only count 8 out of 10 attended days towards your final grade. You can miss two classes, when attendance is counted, without penalty. These absences can be excused or unexcused. More than two, for any reason at all, will impact your attendance grade negatively.

Student Comments:

“Writing blog posts help to better my writing skills, and the group project allowed more experience of working with a team.”

“This course gives students an insight of what it's like to work the sports industry, which then helps determine if this career path is in their future.”

“I really enjoyed your class and having you as a professor. After taking this course I have been considering a career in the sport industry. I look forward to taking more of your courses in the future!”

“I really enjoyed the fill in the blank notes, they were a lot more helpful and time efficient than taking notes off of the PowerPoint.”