Students silhouettes at progressive field visit day

Program Overview

Sport Studies and Management

Explore the many sides of a universal language

Revolutionize the sports industry

Sport is one of humanity’s great unifiers—and dividers. A major cultural and socio-political force, it celebrates both the athleticism of the human body and the thrilling achievement of teamwork. From the World Cup to the World Series, sport continues to inspire camaraderie, rivalry, dedication, competition, and vision for the future.

At Oberlin, Sport Studies and Management recognizes this complex phenomenon. Both an ever-growing industry and a craft of physical performance, we examine sport from a multifaceted approach. In our integrative concentration, you’ll discover how sport at every level—from the Olympics to high school football—serves as a catalyst for health and well-being, social change, and economic power. Do you aspire to become a leader in sports management, sports communications and broadcasting, or even cultural anthropology? Our interdisciplinary program will equip you with robust data science, business, psychology, and analytics skills, as well as experiential learning for hands-on work in the field.

Find a supportive, far-reaching network in the John W. Heisman Club, an athletics alumni association built on the power of sport.

Take your place on the field

With 21 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports teams, and more than 30 student-run club sports, there's something for everyone here on campus.

Explore Oberlin Athletics

You're only a short distance from Cleveland's MLB, NFL, and NBA teams plus a WNBA franchise coming in 2028.

Gain real-world experience

Find amazing opportunities with organizations like Athlete Ally, the Cleveland Soccer Group, and the Lake Erie Crushers, a professional baseball team right in Lorain County, Ohio.

Explore Internship+

Colin Regan '22 working as the Sports Information Coordinator at Gilman School

SPRT 100

Introduction to Sport Studies and Management

This course equips you with a foundational understanding of this interdisciplinary field and the tools to explore social phenomena through a sport lens. It covers three main topics: 1) Discourse, Communication, and Journalism, 2) Business, Management, and Analytics, and 3) Education, Health, and Performance. For real world application, you'll participate in a community-based learning project at one of the many sport organizations in Northeast Ohio.

Taught by: Jo Line ’11

FYSP 032

Moneyball (and Pucks): Sports Economics

Understand how an economist, acting as a social scientist, views the decision-making process of individuals, teams, and communities in pursuit of athletic glory. Through collecting and visualizing real-world data, students explore issues such as market structure of leagues, public financing of stadiums, salaries for star athletes, mechanism design, game theory, and developing ranking metrics.

Taught by: Evan Kresch

SOCI 224

Sociology of Sport

This course focuses on sport as a social institution and cultural phenomenon. Students learn to critically assess sport in the areas of identity, education, the body, fandom, and the economy. In addition to understanding sport as an institution, a goal is to develop critical analytical skills by examining issues relevant to sport.

Taught by: Daphne John

BUSI 123

Organizational Behavior and Business Ethics

Management is fundamentally human-centric, and in this course you’ll explore key concepts in organizational behavior (OB), which examines how people behave within workplaces and how to foster more effective ones. Topics include motivation, group dynamics, and leadership. Learn how OB challenges in the marketplace can influence or clash with moral values and evaluate strategies for bridging these gaps through ethical decision-making and management practices.

Taught by: Yongha Kwon

SPRT 210

Sport, Power, and Society

Using theories and frameworks for understanding power, students examine historical and current events in sport. A central question: how can we use individual and collective power to create the communities we envision in and beyond sports? Through collaboration with local and regional organizations, students learn firsthand how to use sport and physical activity as a tool to build community and promote holistic well-being.

Taught by: Jo Line ’11

CIME 320

Documentary Production

This course introduces students to various ways to think about and understand documentaries (in terms of structure, purpose, audience, etc.) and then gives them the opportunity to practice basic documentary production (camera, lighting, sound, and non-linear editing). After engaging in various individual and small group exercises, students spend the balance of the semester working together to produce a short festival-quality documentary film.

Taught by: Geoff Pingree

The power of community

For Lauren Sands ’24, volleyball and mentorship have paved the way for a career in public policy. As an Oberlin, Ohio, native, she felt it important to give back to the community she grew up in through the Ninde Scholars program. Passionate about advocacy, she now works in the nonprofit sector in Columbus, Ohio.

Discover Lauren's story

a person wearing a green shirt stands with their arms crossed

From Oberlin to MLB

Last fall, Max Anastasio ’23 set himself a goal to find a new job in 2025. That ambition became a reality in February when he was hired by the Cincinnati Reds. As a performance affiliate coach, he uses the data analysis skills he learned as an undergrad every day.

Teamwork for the win

Alexis Dill ’20 is a lifelong baseball fan. As a director of public relations and community relations, she’s now using her communication skills to promote the Worcester Red Sox. She recently concluded her fourth season with the team, which is the AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Learn more about Alexis