SPM483 Sports History and Culture (Fall, Spring)

With its heroes and hustlers, its victors and victims, its stars and spectators, sport was, is, and will remain undeniably popular and significant. Ancient and modern civilizations share what amounts to an obsession with physical contests and public performances, but what is “sport” and how can it be studied and understood historically? This course will examine the prominence, variety, cultural distinctiveness and functions of sports (and spectacles) in ancient and modern societies.

Class lectures and discussions will be interactive, engaging and complemented by documentaries/film screenings. Students will be required to attend on their own a professional game of the local soccer team, Fiorentina, which is playing at the top level of the professional Italian soccer series (Serie A).

Cross-listed with HST 483.

SPM415 Sport Law (Spring)

Examine a variety of real-life sport situations that require students to appreciate the legal and ethical dilemmas facing those that participate in and manage sport enterprises. Students will explore, offer analysis, and discuss possible resolutions to specific dilemmas. In so doing, students will gain increased knowledge and a deeper understanding of the role and influence of those involved in the sport experience on the legal and ethical dimensions of sport … all from a UK perspective.

Prerequisite: SPM205

SPM300.1 The Spanish Sports Ecosystem (fall, spring)

Sport is a fundamental part of Spain’s national identity and global brand. From world-class athletes such as Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol, to legendary football clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, from iconic international events such as the Barcelona 1992 Olympics or the upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup, Spain stands as a global sports powerhouse.

This course introduces you to the Spanish sports ecosystem through case studies, expert guest sessions, and experiential visits. It blends theory and practice to explore the institutions, values, and innovations that shape the sports industry in Spain. The class is designed to provide you with both a critical lens and an applied perspective of how sport operates as a cultural force, an economic driver, and a professional field.

In addition, the course positions sport as a social platform with transversal impact across Spanish society. It influences education and civic values, drives political and media narratives, and generates economic development—not only as a standalone industry but also as a catalyst for tourism, urban growth, and technological innovation. Spain’s unique model, rooted in the European federative tradition yet adapted to global markets, will serve as a comparative framework to analyze sport’s role in shaping modern societies.

The class requires dedicated preparation and active participation from you. Course topics are chosen to encourage conversation and debate as you develop management skills and learn more about the sports industry.

We’ll take a multidisciplinary approach with this course, combining management, public policy, tourism, communication, and sociology to help you understand sport as a strategic sector. Using Spain as a living case study of the European model, you’ll explore how sport is governed, how it creates social value, how it contributes to economic development, and how it communicates its broader impact.

SPM345 Technology in Sport Management (Fall, Spring) NOT OFFERED SPRING 2026

This course is a required course for students enrolled in the Sport Management major and serves as an elective for students in the Sport Management minor.

The course will cover the essential areas of knowledge to be able to proficiently manage technology utilized in sport organizations and to develop comprehensive skills necessary for interaction with members of a sport organizations Information Technology department. Basic computer skills are assumed prior to the start of the class.

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:

Summarize the structure and responsibilities of a sport organization Technology Management Department.
Prepare documents for deployment and deliver professional-looking printed and interactive sport-related documents.
Articulate the use of the Web and the Internet in sports.
Explain how technology is used in sport facilities and sport infrastructure.
Classify the technology used in various computer environments.
Define the technology used in sport management and game day operations.

In this course, you’ll experience first-hand the use of technology and how it enhances the sport consumer experience.

This course has an associated course fee. See the Madrid Course Fees page for more information.

SPM245 Race, Gender, and Diversity in Sport Organizations (Fall, Spring) Cancelled Fall 2026

Application of concepts and theories from the field of organizational studies to workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity in sport organizations. Issues of race/ethnicity and gender are emphasized.

Satisfies IDEA Course Requirement.

Satisfies Syracuse University Shared Competencies:

Critical and Creative Thinking
Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

SPM300.3 The Business of Sport (Fall, Spring)

In the last thirty years, sports business has become one of the biggest industries in the world, having an enormous impact in economics, politics and media, something deeply reflected in our society. Sports thrive in this day and age as a dynamic force, being a strong influence in other markets, achieving recognition from other management disciplines as a unique and specific business model. In this course, we’ll discuss how the sector’s growth involves a series of challenges for future managers:

New technologies applied to sports business,
Increased profitability requirements of sponsorship models, and
The development of new business models by focusing on customer/user behavior.

This course aims to provide a global understanding of the sports industry structure, players, and trends from a business perspective (B2C and B2B), the drivers of change, and the different dynamics created between stakeholders. Building on these foundations, the course will equip the students with the necessary tools and knowledge to analyze, evaluate and make management decisions in the context of sports business. Students will participate in company visits and meetings with industry professionals in Spain.

May also be registered under BUA 300.3.

This course has an associated course fee. See the Madrid Course Fees page for more information.

SPM300.1 Sport in the United Kingdom (Fall, Spring)

In this course, you will be introduced to the wide range of issues in the field of sports, particularly those relating to U.K. and European sport. Throughout the semester, you will explore where sport comes from and consider how people in different countries view and utilize sport. You will also examine sport from a political perspective, studying how the governing bodies of various sports in the U.K. interact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. You will also learn how sport events such as the Olympics become an opportunity to generate business and interest in a country. In addition to time spent in the classroom, you will attend and reflect on a variety of sporting events and tour several stadiums, which will allow you to make comparisons and gain a better understanding of the sport.

This course has an associated course fee. See the London Course Fees page for more information. IMPORTANT: Entry tickets are purchased in advance based on enrollment numbers at the end of online registration in June/July for the fall semester and November/December for the spring semester. Once registered, students are responsible for all expended and committed costs, which could be as high as the full course fee, even if the course is dropped prior to the start of classes.