BA (Hons) Sports Studies and Business (Full Time)

Complement your expertise in sports with a broad base of business knowledge that will enhance your career prospects.

Course overview

The BA (Hons) Sport Studies and Business at Southampton Solent University is ideal if you want to pursue a career in the various business activities involved in the running of a sports club or associated organisation.

You will study marketing, human resource management, law and finance, as well as sport development, administration, coaching, fitness training and research. You will gain professional skills and experience in coaching and fitness, as well as National Governing Body and industry awards, as an integral part of the curriculum.

You will have access to the University’s wide range of sporting facilities including our new sports laboratories, sports fields, sports hall, teaching gym and watersports centre.

You may also qualify for one of the high performance sports awards offered by Sport Solent, the University’s sport and recreation providers.

Industrial focus

We have excellent links with both local and national sports organisations and clubs which contribute to our courses and provide relevant part-time work opportunities.

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Course content

Year 1

Seven core units:

• Industry Practice and Research
• Leisure Marketing
• Finance for Sport
• Organisation Behaviour for Sport
• Sport in Society
• Principles of Coaching.

Year 2

Five core units and one option unit:

• Service Operations Management
• Research Methods for Sport
• Economics of Sport
• Coaching for Sport
• Sociology of Sport.

Options:

• Diet and Nutrition
• Financial Appraisal
• Outdoor recreation
• Sport & the Law
• Event organisation
• Sports massage
• Managing Human Resources
• Marketing Communications
• European Business Environment
• Event Sponsorship
• Languages
• Curriculum Plus units
• Sport Psychology
• Recreational Facilities & Operations Management
• Services Marketing Management
• Extreme Sports
• Sport Coaching and Development
• Customer Service Management.

Year 3

Four core units and two option units:

• Project (two units)
• Business Strategy
• Contemporary Sports Issues.

Options:

• Sport Tourism
• Hospitality Management
• Languages
• Sport Development
• Applied Sports Psychology
• Sports Conditioning
• International Marketing
• Integrated Marketing Communications and Strategy
• Human Resource Management for Leisure and Sport
• Small Business Enterprise
• Cross Cultural Management
• Curriculum Plus units
• Sport and the Law
• Outdoor Recreation
• Event Organisation
• Sociology of Extreme and Lifestyle Sports
• Physical Education
• Globalisation and Sport.

Why choose this course?

• Benefit from the University's wide range of sports clubs and facilities.
• Offers a combination of specialist sport and recreation units, with key business and leisure industry themes.
• Gain a range of theoretical and coaching skills in coaching along with nationally recognised coaching qualifications.

Assessment

Work is assessed by a combination of essays, written examinations, seminar presentations, written reports, case studies and demonstrations.

Key career skills

Presentation, problem solving, communication, IT and numeracy, organising people, time management, teamwork. 

Projects/work experience

In your final year you will undertake an independent project that will allow you to focus on an area of interest which could help form a basis for future employment. Examples include designing a programme for high level athletes or evaluating a community sport development initiative.

Students are encouraged to gain relevant work experience either through volunteering or work placements. Examples of these include coaching in the local community and for local sports clubs, working in fitness clubs and sports centres, and organising sport in summer camps. For those wishing to progress on to a PGCE in Physical Education, there are placements with local schools' PE staff.

Student profile

Daniel King

“Whilst I was researching subjects to study at university I found that sports studies with business was exactly what I wanted – you get to learn all about coaching plus the business side to sport too.

“I was accepted into other universities, but I knew Solent had top sports facilities and a modern approach to teaching. There’s a massive emphasis on practical learning which I feel will benefit me when I go in to my career.

“The lecturers are really knowledgeable and have had work published. They are always willing to listen and help too.

“The student support services are great too; whether it be learning support or going to the jobshop to find a job locally, the staff are passionate and willing to help. When you’re not studying the Student Union is a great place to chill or get involved with sports teams and societies.

“I haven’t decided on what I want to do after graduating because my ideas keep changing! I’d quite like to become a PE teacher at secondary school, though many people have told me this is a very competitive area. I'd like to start a sports business too. Thanks to my degree there are loads of options available to me.”