This program appears in our ranking of 50 Most Affordable Selective Colleges for Sports Management.
Claflin University offers a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management that prepares students for positions in sports administration. The program combines sport management with business administration in order to give students in-depth knowledge of the business side of sports. Students are qualified for positions in sport law, facility management, event management, promotions, marketing and finance. Students complete a pre-internship during their sophomore year that provides them with hands-on experience in the industry. During their senior year, students complete a full 10-week internship.
Through the program, students gain an understanding of computer technology as it applies to sports management, as well as sound business procedures used to solve administrative or managerial issues. Students gain an understanding of staff relations, personnel matters and public relations. There is also extensive coverage of budgeting, event management, accounting, marketing and purchasing. Effective management and communication in multicultural settings is also explained in-depth. Students also participate in many service and leadership projects in the community. Courses required for the program may include:
- Business Finance
- Business Law
- Ethics in Sport Management
- Facility Management and Design
- Finance and Economics in Sport
- Financial Accounting
- Introduction to Mass Communication
- Introduction to Sport Management
- Legal Environment of Sport and Recreation
- Management and Leadership in the Sport Enterprise
- Managerial Accounting
- Personal Finance
- Principles of Marketing
- Role of Sport in Society
- Sport Communications
- Sport Marketing and Promotion
- Survey of Economics or Macroeconomics
Students are also able to gain hands-on experience in a variety of ways. Students have assisted with sporting events, supported the local community and worked with different semi-professional and professional sporting organizations. Students assist with the Jim Valvano Basketball Tournament for Cancer Research, The Claflin University Intramural Sports Showcase and other events that help them gain experience in the sporting industry. Internships have been provided by the Atlanta Falcons, University of South Carolina, Atlanta Braves, Cal Ripken Baseball, Indianapolis Colts and more.
Graduates of the sport management program are well prepared for careers in sport merchandising, intercollegiate athletics, the Olympic games and sports media.
About Claflin University
Claflin University is a historically black school with a rich history and an eye to the future. It was founded just after the American Civil War in 1869 with the only admission requirement that students be of good moral character and have a desire to learn. The school is named in honor of Lee Claflin, a Methodist layman from Boston, as well as his son William, who was the Governor of Massachusetts at the time. The two men provided financial support to begin the university. The school was the first in South Carolina to offer higher education to both men and women of all “races, complexions and religious opinions.” The school, under the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862, established an agricultural and mechanical college in 1872.
Today, there are approximately 2,000 students enrolled at Claflin. It is ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and as one of the top green colleges by the Princeton Review. The school ranks first among historically black colleges for giving of approximately 50 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. The school remains affiliated with the United Methodist Church as well as Boston University whose charter was signed into existence by Governor Claflin. The two schools have a formal exchange student agreement and view each other as “sister” schools.
Claflin University Accreditation Details
Claflin University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Accreditation indicates that the school provides students with an education that prepares them for leadership roles in their field of study. The school also undergoes voluntary assessments on a periodic basis to confirm that they are meeting their goals and that they have the resources to meet those objectives. The school also agrees to address any areas the accrediting agency sees as needing improvement during their review.
In addition to regional accreditation, business programs at the school has received global accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Education programs at the school are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The university is also approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church to be listed as a church-related institution. Music programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music while chemistry programs are accredited by the American Chemical Society.
Claflin University Application Requirements
Students who have not earned college credit after graduation from high school are considered freshmen. They must submit an application as well as an official high school transcript. Official ACT or SAT scores are required as well. Students who have earned credit after high school graduation may be considered transfer students. They must complete an application and provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Students must provide a statement of good standing from the institution they most recently attended. Students who have earned less than 30 credits must also submit official high school transcripts as well as SAT or ACT scores. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and transfer grades lower than a “C” are not accepted.
Admission requirements for graduate studies vary depending on the program selected. Students are encouraged to speak to an admissions counselor before applying.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate full-time tuition at Claflin University is $7,920 per year while part-time study is $660 per credit hour. Full-time graduate tuition is $5,256 while part-time tuition is $584 per credit hour. Online tuition is $540 per credit hour.
Nearly all students at Claflin receive some type of financial aid. If you need help paying for your education at the university, your first step is to complete a FAFSA form. Not only does the federal government use this information to award grants, loans and work-study opportunities, but many other funding sources also refer to the FAFSA in awarding their assistance. There are three important dates to remember in applying for financial aid at Claflin. The deadline for fall applications is April 15, the deadline for the spring semester is October 15 and the summer session deadline is March 15. Applicants should go online to the net-cost calculator to get an approximation of the actual cost of attending Claflin. If there are any special circumstances such as the death of a parent or exceptional financial hardships that affect your ability to pay tuition at Claflin, you should notify the school as they can make arrangements to assist you.
South Carolina has several scholarships and grants available to students. For instance, the Palmetto Fellow Scholarship administered by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education awards substantial funds to some high school seniors of high merit. The state also has a Life Scholarship and a Hope Scholarship that are awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. Claflin has several scholarships awarded for academic merit as well. In addition to these, there are departmental awards and privately-funded opportunities that have various requisites. These can be found through independent search of the Internet or through scholarship websites. Student loans are another way to finance your education, though you should be careful to only borrow what you need. While grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid, loans do. Student loans are special financial tools that carry lower-than–average interest and allow you to defer payments until after graduation. Some loans, however, accrue interest from their initiation dates.
Learn more about Claflin University at the sport management program website.
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