Sports Management
Why Sports Management?
The special feature of the degree course in Sports Management demonstrating its forward-looking orientation is the fact that it represents the only degree course in Germany which integrates practical training by the sports federations with studies in business administration within a dual concept. Those responsible for this course will not only provide a highly qualified degree course in service-sector management but also practical training and experience in organized sports.
Occupational areas
The sports sector, though a special one, is currently one among very few growth sectors. Despite a high level of unemployment and wide-spread economic stagnation, more and more new areas and opportunities of work are emerging in the sports, leisure-industry and health-care sectors. The 86,000 sports clubs organized within the DSB alone have a membership of more than 26 million. Outside the DSB there are about 5,500 fitness clubs as well as further health centres, preventive-care and rehablilitation facilities. With regard to economic power the sports sector has come to compete with the mineral-oil processing industry. Graduates of the degree course in Sports Management will mainly be qualified for this "branch of industry", but will also be able to work in other areas.
Sports managers must be able to coordinate and communicate all sorts of sports-related tasks. They must be able to both organize tasks efficiently and actually do the work that comes up in sports organizations and in sports-realted companies and administrations.
Objective of studies
As regards its subjects, the degree program in Sports Management is designed in an innovative way. From a business-administration point of view, sports clubs and sports federations are small and medium-sized companies sharing the special features of the non-profit economies. Therefore, managers of sports clubs are often left to their own devices as they must be able to independently recognize, structure and implement tasks.
There are hardly any established hierarchies or job descriptions with assignments of tasks which, in view of the required flexibility, could only be established within certain limits. Studies are therefore strictly oriented towards the professional competence of the students.
Practice-integrating studies
The objective of the degree course is to obtain the diploma "Diplom-Betriebswirt/-in FH"; it is thus a degree course in business administration with special emphasis on the subject of sports. Designed in a so-called "sandwich system" studies in this course integrate practical training. Compulsory practical-work phases alternate with study phases. Students are expected to obtain a number of official sports licences.
Application for Admission
Applicants must submit a form proving the required qualification for taking up university studies and an admission application form provided on behalf of the Landessportbünde, i.e. the participating state sports federations (practical experience). Documentation of an applicant's active involvement in organized sports may include: sports activities, membership in a sports club, work experience in a sports club or sports federation, relevant experience in school. Furthermore, applicants should state reasons why they are interested in this degree course in a one-page letter. This essay should also include an explanation as to which future professional activities and which occupational areas the student is interested in.
Duration:
The standard period of studies is eight semesters, divided into a basic and a main study phase (four semesters each)
Contact:
Course Director: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Falk
falk
rheinahrcampus.de
