Sport Administration

Program: SPRT
Credential: Ontario College Diploma
Delivery: Full-time
Work Integrated Learning: 2 Field Placements
Length: 4 Semesters
Duration: 2 Years
Effective: Fall 2026, Winter 2027
Location: Barrie

Description

The Sport Administration program provides the knowledge, skills and experience students need to undertake professional roles in the sport and recreation industry. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of business administration through courses in accounting, marketing, technology, research, and entrepreneurship, and they strengthen their ability to improve organizational outcomes using data leverage in a sports analytics course. Furthermore, operations in sports organization are developed through specialized courses in program planning, tournament and league scheduling, sponsorship, fundraising, fitness operations, and facility management.

While engaging in community leadership opportunities and field placements, students apply their skills to real-world settings and build meaningful industry connections. Graduates of the program find themselves well-equipped to pursue careers in sport program coordination, operations and facility management, sport marketing, community recreation, and sport development. They may also pursue further education opportunities in this field.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program may be eligible for entry-level positions within amateur athletic associations, professional sport organizations, sport governing bodies, regional, provincial, national and international sport competitions, municipal parks and recreation departments, college and university athletic centres, varsity and intramural programs, community facilities, resorts, private and commercial clubs, event companies, outdoor adventure centres, sport retailers, equipment manufacturers, sport related charities and foundations.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. research political, economic, and historical factors to support strategic initiatives and improve decision-making processes within sports organizations;
  2. comply with regulations, policies, procedures, safety and accessibility standards to ensure the efficient operation and administration of recreation and sport organizations;
  3. develop and apply leadership techniques to foster staff and volunteer motivation and engagement in sports and recreation settings; 
  4. manage marketing, administration, and scheduling processes to optimize sport organization operations and partnership engagement;
  5. develop and implement marketing tools to increase brand awareness for recreation and sport organizations, programs, events, services and facilities;
  6.  collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform decision-making and enhance operational efficiency within sport organizations;
  7. support fiscally responsible planning of recreation and sport programs, events and services to ensure the provision of valuable services and achieve the organization’s goal;
  8. plan, implement and evaluate sport programs, events, tournaments and leagues to meet organizational objectives and community engagement goals;
  9. conduct and present research to support the evaluation and enhancement of recreation and sport programs, events, and organizational practices;
  10. develop, implement and maintain strategies for personal and professional development that support competence and currency as a sport industry professional;
  11. implement sustainable, accessible, and ethical practices in sport development to enhance community engagement and long-term viability of sport programs;
  12. develop entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new opportunities in the sports industry.

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

  • Sem 1: Fall 2026
  • Sem 2: Winter 2027
  • Sem 3: Fall 2027
  • Sem 4: Winter 2028

Winter Intake

  • Sem 1: Winter 2027
  • Sem 2: Fall 2027
  • Sem 3: Winter 2028
  • Sem 4: Fall 2028

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • any Grade 111 or 12 Mathematics (C,M or U)
1

Minimum of 60% in Grade 11 College or University level Mathematics (MBF3C or MCF3M) 

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student's responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: A record of criminal offences, for which a pardon has not been granted, may prevent students from completing their placements, thereby affecting their ability to graduate.

Graduation Requirements

15 Program Courses
2 Option Courses
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses
2 Field Placements

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking 

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
Program Courses  
COMP 1058 Technology in Administration 42
REAS 2003 Research in Recreation and Sport 42
RECR 1001 Program Planning 42
SPRT 1000 Introduction to Sport Administration 42
Communications Course  
Select 1 course from the Communications list during registration. 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the General Education list during registration. 42
 Hours252
Semester 2
Program Courses  
FITN 1002 Fitness and Wellness 42
FNCE 1003 Financial Analysis 42
MKTG 1000 Introduction to Marketing 42
SPRT 1001 Sport Organizations in Canada 42
Communications Course  
COMM 2021 Dynamic Presentations 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the General Education list during registration. 42
 Hours252
Semester 3
Program Courses  
RECR 2003 Sport and Recreation Administration 42
RECR 2005 Sport and Recreation Facility Operations 42
SPRT 2000 Sales, Fundraising and Sponsorship 42
SPRT 2001 Leagues, Tournaments and Events 42
Option Course  
Select 1 course from the Option list during registration. 42
Field Placement  
SPRT 2005 Career Preparation 90
 Hours300
Semester 4
Program Courses  
RECR 2004 Trends in Sport 42
TOUR 2014 Sports Tourism 42
SPRT 2004 Scouting and Sport Team Operations 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the General Education list during registration. 42
Option Course  
Select 1 course from the Option list during registration. 42
Field Placement  
SPRT 2006 Career Readiness 90
 Hours300
 Total Hours1104
Option Courses
BUSI 2025The Business of Esports
ENTR 1000Social Entrepreneurship
ENTR 2009Entrepreneurship and Small Business
RECR 1002Event Planning
RECR 2001Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Sustainability
SPRT 2007Foundations of Sport Analytics

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.

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