Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

Sports and Fitness Management—BS

Your Game Plan Starts Here

If you have a passion for sports or fitness—or both—a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Fitness Management is a good call on your part. At Michigan Tech, you will determine the direction of your degree based on your own professional interests.

Whether your goal is to work one-on-one with people to maintain a healthy lifestyle and achieve personal wellness goals, to manage fitness programs or facilities, to coach athletes, or to promote sporting events or teams, we will help you to create a winning career.

A Scientific Spin on a Practical Degree

In our degree program, there is no need to choose between the disciplines of business and science. You will gain a strong grounding in both the business of sports/fitness and the science of human movement, physiology, and more. As a sports and fitness management major, you will complete diverse course work spanning topics in:

  • Kinesiology
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • And More!

Points of Pride

  • Graduates who complete the BS in Sports and Fitness Management degree program are qualified to take the following certification examinations:
  • While completing your degree, you can earn additional certifications and endorsements that will enhance your employability, such as the following:
    • Minor in Coaching Fundamentals (requires only three to four additional courses outside of the major requirements)
    • Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certificate
    • Lifeguard certificate
    • Red Cross instructor credentials for teaching lifeguarding, CPR, and first aid
  • All sports and fitness management majors have the opportunity to participate in and, benefiting from one-on-one interaction with clients in a clinical, community health, or sports setting. You will set aside 6–12 credits for this practical experience. And who knows? Perhaps your internship will lead to your dream job.
  • An internship is just one of the many options Michigan Tech provides for hands-on experiences. You could also join an Enterprise or become a student researcher (see below).
  • Departmental faculty members are very active researchers, having received funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Michigan Space Grant Consortium. And undergraduate researchers are welcome in the lab: an average of 10–15 undergraduate students are involved as research assistants on faculty projects in a given year.
  • Our cutting-edge facilities include the Exercise Science Teaching Laboratory, Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory, and Motor Control Research Laboratory—all of which feature state-of-the-art equipment. The Student Development Complex recreational facilities feature a swimming pool, an air-conditioned fitness center, racquetball and squash courts, a multipurpose room with a climbing wall, the Gates Tennis Center, a varsity gym, the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena, and much more.
  • In addition, our wildly beautiful outdoor facilities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offer plenty of year-round recreational opportunities to help you stay fit—from skiing and snowshoeing, to hiking and biking, to swimming and spelunking. The Tech Trails—Michigan Tech's own trail system and recreational forest—provides nearly 40 miles of well-maintained, varied terrain adjoining campus. Mont Ripley Ski Hill, also owned and operated by the University, boasts three terrain parks and runs at all levels of difficulty.

Career Information

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of fitness trainers and instructors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2028, thanks to the rapid expansion of the health and fitness industry. As the percentage of the world population affected by obesity grows, so, too, does the need for professionals trained to address this epidemic and other noncommunicable health burdens.

With over one-quarter of adults in the Americas affected by obesity in 2012, more individuals and businesses are beginning to recognize the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle—such as developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers—and are taking action to improve wellness through private and corporate health and fitness programs.

Graduate Pathways

Graduate programs well suited to graduates of our bachelor’s degree program include the Master of Business Administration or a sports- or fitness-oriented master’s degree. An advanced degree can provide an entrance into a career in higher education.

BS Degree Employment Areas

Employment opportunities for bachelor’s degree holders include:

  • Personal Trainer
  • Fitness Center Director
  • Fitness Programmer
  • Wellness Director
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Sports and Fitness Administrator
  • Sports Marketing or Promotions Specialist
  • Athletic Coach
  • Facilities Manager
  • College Recreation/Intramural Sports Director

Program Learning Goals

Primary learning goals for students in Sports and Fitness Management (SSFM) include the following. All Sport & Fitness Management majors will:

  • demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the science and discipline which comprise the field: Biology, Exercise Science, Health, Sport and Exercise Psychology and Business.
  • demonstrate a cultural awareness of differences and a sensitivity to varying cultural beliefs, learning styles, cultural backgrounds and diverse physical, emotional, and personal goals needs.
  • demonstrate and apply critical thinking and problem solving abilities.
    have well developed writing skills, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
    be familiar with the rules of scientific writing, plagiarism, citation, and literature review.
  • demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of a variety of technologies, and have an appreciation for civic engagement in the local community.