Bachelor of Business in Applied Sport with Business

Course Summary

This programme is ideal for students who have an interest in sport, recreation, outdoor pursuits, or in coaching and instruction. It offers students the opportunity to acquire appropriate practical expertise and enables them to develop the competencies to be effective leaders in the sport industry and provide several  pathways through postgraduate study.

Students also learn about all aspects of business, leadership, marketing and digital technology modules. This equips students with entrepreneurial skills, allowing them to work in both the business and sports sectors.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

As part of the practical element of this degree, students regularly work with children and other target populations. This includes schools and other environments in health and fitness, sports education, coaching and swim teaching. Graduates of this degree have gone on to specialise in secondary school teaching, as fitness professionals, business startups and study Masters in Health Promotion, Marketing and Sports Management.

In Year 3, students go on a work placement. In the past students have gone to a variety of settings including schools, sports teams, gyms and various businesses. Work placement allows students to put all they have learnt in college into real work experience.

YEAR 1

Students begin by studying sports modules including Aquatics, Adventure Tourism, Fundamental Movement Skills, Athletics, Gymnastics and Dance, as well as business modules in Accounting and Business Technology.

YEAR 2

Students study Marketing, Economics, Information Technology, Sports Management and Sports Law. They can acquire a European accreditation in fitness instruction and study a specialised area such as Physical Activity for Healthy Ageing, Disability Sport or Pool Lifeguard. Students can exit after two years with a Higher Certificate in Applied Sport with Business.

YEAR 3

In the final year, students combine both business and sports modules by studying Enterprise, Managing People, Digital Analysis, Financial Management, Sports Planning, and elective choices in Surfing, Level 2 Swim Teaching or Sports Nutrition. A 13-week work placement is included as a critical component of the programme in Year 3.

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

KEY SKILLS STUDENTS ACQUIRE

We have incorporated a number of key skills in the degree to equip students for a career in the sport and recreation industry.

• Students gain practical experience in teaching, skills development, team and personal coaching across a broad range of indoor and outdoor leisure and sporting activities
• Students develop competencies in core business areas including management, marketing, finance, law and computer applications
• Students develop people-related skills including communication, interpersonal, team-working and customer service skills
• Students understand and learn how to apply conceptual and organisational skills including collecting and organising information, problem solving, planning and organising
• Students are tutored on gym instruction
• Students gain valuable experience in surfing and swimming

EXTRA QUALIFICATIONS

Students can also attain several valuable national and international qualifications.

• Level One and Two IHF Community Walking Leader. 
• Level One Athletics Ireland Coaching.
• EQF Level 3 Fitness Instructor. 
• EQF Level 4 Personal Trainer. 
• Irish Water Safety Assistant Swim teacher award. 
• Royal Lifesaving Society Emergency Response Swimming Pools award. 
• 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. 

Entry Requirements

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

• Download Entry requirements for just Level 7 programmes
• Download Entry requirements for all programmes

Garda Vetting

All entrants to this degree will be required to undergo vetting by An Garda Síochána. If a criminal conviction exists, this may adversely impact the ability to undertake a professional placement or 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.

Hepatitis B vaccination will be required for work placement.

Career Opportunities

Skilled graduates are in high demand in the rapidly expanding leisure, recreation and service industry Many start their own business, work as fitness professionals, work in sports facility management, sports development and management, health promotion, personal training, coaching and instruction. This course is a great platform providing routes to areas such as PE, running your own business and personal training.

Prior graduates have gone on to specialise in teaching, as a fitness professional, business startups and study at Masters level in Health Promotion, Marketing and Sports Management, amongst other avenues. This programme ensures students acquire appropriate practical expertise and develop the competencies to be effective leaders in the sports industry 

Graduates who complete this three year degree and Year 4 of AU903 BBs (Hons) in Sport with Business, may apply to complete a Professional Master of Education (PME) in order to become a secondary school teacher of Physical Education.

An abundance of opportunities await our graduates.

Further Study

Graduates may progress to Year 4 of AU903 BBs (Hons) in Sport with Business and complete one more year to graduate with an honours degree.

Alternatively, Level 7 graduates can progress to the one year add-on BBs (Hons) in Business

Graduates who complete this Level 7 degree and Year 4 of our Level 8 honours degree in Sport with Business, may apply to complete a Professional Master of Education (PME) in order to become a secondary school teacher of Physical Education.

Other areas of further study open to graduates include health promotion, marketing, management, sports psychology, and strength and conditioning.

Postgraduate options in ATU Sligo

Testimonials

"The degree provides you with skills to be employed in multiple sporting environments. This includes coaching, lifeguarding, personal training and so much more. You also can work in so many parts of the business sector too. That is the beauty of this degree – both business and sport! I loved the all the modules on the degree but my favourites were sports pedagogy, dance and health promotion. I also loved marketing and our kinesiology module.

Since graduating, I have continued my studies to a Professional Master of Education (PME) in Physical Education in the University of Limerick. I am now in second year of the PME and absolutely loving my studies."

Aoife Gannon, BBs in Applied Sport with Business and BBs (Hons) in Sport with Business one year add-on graduate, now studying a PME in Physical Education

"I really enjoyed the practical elements of this degree. Personally, I enjoy being outdoors, exploring and being active. This is what we participated in with outdoor adventures and team sports activities. Whether that was based with field sports or track sports, it was really enjoyable. You can create some great memories with the adventures you go on and with the people you are with. The practical elements of the degree definitely created some amazing memories for me. I am still good friends with a lot of my classmates.

After graduating, I was accepted onto the Professional Master of Education (PME) in Physical Education in the University of Limerick. This is a huge achievement for me, as being a PE teacher is something I have dreamt about for quite a while. I look forward to seeing where my teaching career takes me in the future."

Michael Patton, BBs in Applied Sport with Business and BBs (Hons) in Sport with Business one year add-on graduate, now studying a PME in Physical Education

Did you know?

We also offer a Sport with Business degree at Level 8 -  AU903 BBs (Hons) in Sport with Business

The course features a high level of practical activity ranging from swimming-based activities and surfing to fitness instruction and sports coaching.

In Year 3, students go on a 13 week work placement. In the past students have gone to a variety of settings including schools, sports teams, health and various businesses. Work placement allows students to put all they have learnt in university into a real work experience.

This practical focus enables students to develop the competencies to be effective leaders in the sport industry and provide pathways through postgraduate study.

As part of the practical element of this degree, students regularly work with children and other target populations. This includes schools and other environments in health and fitness, sports education, coaching and swim teaching.

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

Students gain practical experience in teaching, skills development, team and personal coaching across a broad range of indoor and outdoor leisure and sporting activities

Students can also attain several valuable national and international qualifications.

• Level One Athletics Coaching Qualification. 
• Level One and Two IHF Community Walking Leader. 
• EQF Level 3 Fitness Instructor. 
• EQF Level 4 Personal Trainer. 
• Irish Water Safety Assistant Swim teacher award. 
• Royal Lifesaving Society Emergency Response Swimming Pools award. 
• 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. 

Alumni

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

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

One of the best things about this degree is the options at the end. Before I started studying Sport with Business, I wasn't sure whether I would like to pursue a career in sport or business. I currently work as a Marketing Intern and therefore use the business side of my degree. However, I know I will always have the opportunity to pursue a career in sport or a career which includes both disciplines. To graduate with these options is amazing."

Jorja Kennedy, Donegal, Sport with Business graduate and now employed as a Marketing Intern

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6