Small College Sport Management Students: A Population & Performance Case Study

This case study examines a small, Southeastern US private college sport management program to explore sport management students more fully. Using a pre-test/post-test program assessment mechanism, average grades in sport management courses, and the academic profile of entering sport management students from 2016 to 2021, this study describes the population and performance of sport management students. This study supports the literature that sport management students are less diverse than other student populations and that the program loses more female and non-white students and gains transfer students. The students' academic performance did improve from pre-test to post-test with female students improving their scores more than male students. Students performed the best on the Sport Finance content area and improved the most in Sport Ethics. The study found that in most content areas, students’ course grades were higher than their post-test scores. The study did not find significant relationships between course grades or incoming academic profile and performance on the tests. Though it utilized a single sport management program, this study contributes to the literature concerning sport management students. Sport management programs can use this information in program assessment, course evaluation, and student support.