Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Sport with Business

Course Summary

This programme is the first of its kind in Ireland, a three-year honours degree at Level 8 that combines sports-related modules with sound business practice. The programme focuses on introducing students to business and enterprise skills with opportunities for specific skill development in coaching, fitness instruction, personal training, education, exercise prescription and health. 

Sport and physical activity is big business, and this programme prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities ranging from sports development, health promotion, marketing and management to teaching, coaching and becoming an entrepreneur. We equip graduates with the knowledge and professional skills required to work within the sports, fitness and leisure environments.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The theoretical subjects provide students with an understanding of the social and cultural factors which influence sport, while the business subjects provide the necessary knowledge and skills in management, finance and computing to administer and manage in a commercial setting.

Students graduate with the ability to create, implement and evaluate fitness programmes in a commercial or community setting. Students are introduced to a range of disciplines relevant to a sport, physical activity and fitness settings. These include personal fitness,teaching, coaching and health promotion. Students graduate with the skills to inform the planning, implementation and evaluation of coaching programmes to a wide variety of population groups.

YEAR 1

Students learn core business modules such as Accounting, Marketing, Management and Information Technology. This is coupled with modules on Sports Law and Sports Planning. Students can combine a fitness instruction qualification and focus on a specific area of interest through elective modules in; Physical Activity for healthy ageing, Disability sport or Pool lifeguard.

YEAR 2

The business aspect is balanced with a strong practical element in Year 2. Modules include Enterprise, Sports Planning, Digital Media, Economics, Surfing, Level 2 Swim Teaching and Sports Nutrition.

A period of work placement preparation is carried out followed by 13 week work placement 20 hours p/w. Students choose their placements in a variety of areas including Sport coaching in Primary and Post primary schools, working with Sports teams, Gyms and Leisure facilities, Sports retail, Marketing.

YEAR 3

Students complete business modules in Macroeconomics, Business Strategy, People Management, Health Promotion, Research Methods in Sport, Strategic Sports Development and Sports Marketing. Elective modules include , Sport Pedagogy and Dance. Students also complete a supervised research thesis on a topic of their choice.

Please note that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on student demand and course updates.

Electives in this final year allow students to focus one of two streams:   

1. Education with modules in Sport Pedagogy and Dance for students who want to pursue coaching and education career routes. 

2. Fitness Instruction: modules in Strength and Conditioning and Personal Training resulting in industry recognised accreditation for eligible students. 

In final semester students have the opportunity to complete an independent piece of research on a topic of interest. Through this 10 credit module they work with a supervisor to carry out literature review and primary research to produce an original piece of work. This thesis can provide the foundation for future employment or further study.  Essential life and work-based skills are enhanced through this journey of individual research.  

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Students can also achieve these extra sports qualifications throughout their studies:

• Level One and Two IHF Community Walking Leader
• EQF Level 4 Personal Trainer
• Royal Lifesaving Society National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (with Automated External Defibrillation)
• Irish Water Safety Level 2 Swim teacher award
• GAA - Foundation or level 1 award
• IRFU - Lep (Leprechaun) Rugby award
• Basketball Ireland - Introductory Basketball Award

REPs Ireland

REPs Ireland is a Register of Exercise Professionals. REPs Ireland accepts exercise professionals onto the professional register when they achieve qualifications and awards that meet industry standards & have been independently Quality Assured. ATU Sligo is registered as an approved provider reflecting the professional approach to our delivery.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:

• Download Entry requirements for just Level 8 programmes
• Download Entry requirements for all programmes

Garda Vetting

All entrants to this degree will be required to undergo vetting by An Garda Síochána. Students who have a criminal conviction in Ireland or elsewhere, may adversely impact their ability to undertake a professional placement or to secure employment.

Successful applicants for this degree will be required to undergo a medical evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation is to identify students with special exercise requirements. This information is strictly confidential and any offer made will not be withdrawn on the basis of medical information supplied.

Career Opportunities

This two subject degree allows graduates to pursue a wide range of career and further study options in sport or business, or a combination of the two disciplines.

Graduates pursue careers in a wide range of business and services sectors such as commercial leisure enterprises, public leisure and sporting enterprises, sports development roles in national governing bodies or local authorities, sports clubs, as games promotion officers, personal coaching enterprise and community work, health promotion, marketing, management or become entrepreneurs. This degree also offers a route into a career in teaching.

Through the incorporation of work-based projects and work placements, graduates are ‘work ready’ and able for integration in the workplace very quickly. This is very important to potential employers and is a reason why our graduates are highly sought after.

Further Study

We also offer a Sport with Business degree at Level 7 -  AU804 BBs in Applied Sport with Business

Graduates may pursue a range of post-graduate opportunities including a one year taught Masters in Marketing or a Masters/PhD by research here at ATU Sligo.

Graduates can also pursue a wide range of Level 9 and 10 postgraduate studies in education, strength and conditioning, exercise physiology and therapy, health promotion, sports management, marketing, and teaching.

Postgraduate options at ATU Sligo

Testimonials

"I really enjoy a number of elements of this course including the practical aspects where you consider sport not only for elite athletes but also sport in the wider community such as the the elderly and young people with disabilities. This has given me a completely different perspective on the value of sport in this context.  I also enjoy the examination of the business aspects of sport through marketing, business technology and sports promotion."  

Jorja Kennedy, Donegal, Sport with Business student

"This degree has the perfect mix of sports and business. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was variety within the course- whether you’re out in the sea, in the gym or in a classroom, you’re always learning something new and usually something that peaks your interest. I was always under the impression that studying at third level had to be boring, but this degree is far from that to say the least! "

Dáire Martin, Monaghan, Sport with Business student

Did you know?

This programme is the first of its kind in Ireland, offering a three-year honours degree at Level 8 that combines sports-related modules with sound business practice.

This two subject degree allows students to pursue a wide range of career and further study options in Sport or Business, or a combination of the two disciplines.

The programme focuses on introducing students to business and enterprise skills with opportunities for specific skill development in coaching, fitness instruction, personal training, education, exercise prescription and health. 

In Year 2, students go on a 13-week work placement. In the past students have gone to a variety of settings including various businesses, sports teams, and schools. Work placement allows students to put all they have learnt in university into real work experience.

In Year 3, students complete a supervised research thesis on a topic of their choice.

Students have the opportunity to choose from a number of electives in the areas of sport or business, based on where their interests lie.

Students also have the chance to attain valuable national and international qualifications.

• Level One and Two IHF Community Walking Leader. 
• EQF Level 4 Personal Trainer. 
• Royal Lifesaving Society National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (with Automated External Defibrillation). 
• Irish Water Safety Level 2 Swim teacher award. 
• GAA - Foundation or level 1 award. 
• IRFU - Lep Rugby award. 
• Basketball Ireland - Introductory Basketball Award.

We also offer a Sport with Business degree at Level 7 -  AU804 BBs in Applied Sport with Business

Alumni

Watch below as former GAA Footballer of the Year Andy Moran talks about his experience of studying Sport with Business.

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6