June 5, 2008
Presentation College to debut Sports Administration major this fall
ABERDEEN, S.D. -- Students interested in tapping into the $195 billion sports entertainment industry will have a new opportunity this fall, when Presentation College debuts a Sports Administration major in the Business Department. The four-year program is designed to give business students a competitive edge in the sports world, opening up countless job opportunities.
"The Bachelor of Science degree in Business - Sports Administration is ideal for the student who enjoys sports, whether as a student athlete or a spectator, and wants to combine their passion for sports with an interest in business," said Business Department Chair Larry Lovrien. "Students majoring in sports administration will be qualified for any job in the business world, but they will have an advantage finding work in the sports entertainment industry."
The employment opportunities for students in the program cover a wide range of interests, including sports information directors, athletic directors, general managers for sports teams or athletic departments, sports facilities managers, sports agents, executive directors for league or amateur sports, representatives for sports equipment and merchandising companies or promotions directors for athletic teams, among others.
"Sports entertainment is a growing industry," Lovrien said. "Opportunities are on the rise, and our students can be a part of that."
Presentation College is the only NCAA Division III school in South Dakota, and just one of only a handful of Division III institutions in the Midwest, to offer a four-year degree in Business Sports Administration.
"We received requests from coaches and potential student athletes to look at a sports administration program, and our own market research suggests there is great demand for a business degree that focuses on sports administration," Lovrien said. "We designed this program to fill that need and to give students an opportunity to come to Presentation, play college sports, and earn a degree in a sports-related field."
Students enrolled in the program will follow the general business core for the first two years. During their junior year, students will take part in a sports administration clinical, which allows the student to work directly with a coach for one year. The student will serve as the coach’s executive assistant, learning about administrative duties, recruiting practices and planning for the upcoming season.
In addition, students in the sports administration track will take hands-on courses in event planning, sports marketing, public relations, sports finance and fundraising.
"Our students will have a real feel for what they will be doing after graduation," Lovrien said. "They will be prepared to step out into the professional world and begin a rewarding career."
When the program launches this fall, all courses will be held on Presentation College’s main campus in Aberdeen. However, there is potential for the program to grow online in the future.
"We have already had a number of students interested in the program and we are excited to see it take off," Lovrien said. "There is a definite niche for this major and as a college we are proud to fill it."
Students interested in the program can contact Lovrien or the Admissions Office for more information. Lovrien can be reached at 605-229-8347 or Larry.Lovrien@presentation.edu. Admissions can be reached at 1-800-437-6060 ext 492 or by emailing admit@presentation.edu.
###
About Presentation College
Presentation College is an independent Catholic educational institution, sponsored by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Founded in 1922, Presentation College is a specialty Health Science Baccalaureate Institution located in Aberdeen, SD, with branch campuses in Eagle Butte, SD and Fairmont, MN. Students at Presentation College are presented with unlimited opportunities to grow intellectually, personally, professionally, and spiritually. For more information visit our website at www.presentation.edu.
Media Contact:
Tarah Jahnig
Coordinator of Friends and College Relations
605.229.8378