Kean now offering Sport & Event Management major

December 6, 2019

By Steven Merrill | Published by December 6, 2019

Kean University is now offering a Sport & Event Management major option in Recreation Administration.

The program launched this fall and focuses on event planning, facility operations, management, and marketing. A 2.5 GPA in the major required courses is needed for graduation along with receiving a C or better in the 48 major credits.

“This is a major that should definitely excite people, especially in the athletic world,” Kean’s Assistant Director of Recreation, Intramurals, Facilities & Event Management Jason Sgaramella said. “A lot of kids are interested in college-level of events management.”

A Sport & Event Management Degree can lead to a career as a sports official, athletic coach/scout, athletic director, facility manager, sports information manager, as well as other manager positions involving sports and recreation.

“Sport & Event Management flyer.”
Photo by
Steven Merrill

Kean’s Head Football Coach Dan Garrett says this will be a boost for recruiting efforts for his program.

“We have a lot of potential student-athletes that want to be Sports Management majors and in years past (without the major as an option) we would lose them to other schools,” said Garrett.

“I am super excited to be able to talk to potential recruits about the addition of this major.”

Required courses include Introduction to Sport and Event Management, Foundations of Recreation and Leisure, Programming in Recreation, Sport & Event, Recreation & Leisure Services Management, Inclusive Recreation in a Diverse Society, Facility Design and Operation in Recreation, Sport & Event, Leadership and Group Development, and Legal Aspects of Recreation, Sport & Event.

As someone who has done a job in this field for a long time, Sgaramella offered simple advice for students aspiring to major in Sport & Event Management at Kean.

“Expect the unexpected” Sgaramella said. “It’s a lot of work, but really it’s a lot of fun.”

With Kean having a Sport & Event Management major option, Sgaramella thinks the interest level will be high on campus.

“This is perfect for kids that are involved with athletics on campus that have played before or play currently and want to do something on the business side of it,” said Sgaramella. “They can still be apart of the game on the sidelines putting the operations together.”

Other aspects of a job in event management specifically at Kean include determining where the teams go when they arrive for a game, field maintenance, design plans for weight rooms, and redoing the floor at Harwood Arena.

“Events management is a lot of hours,” said Sgaramella. “They’re not set hours, so you have to be ready for that. You think you’re gonna work a football game but you have to get there four hours prior.”