Sports Management
MSc, PGDip, PGCert

Modules

• The Sports Business Environment Core

The Sports Business Environment (Core)

The aim of this module is to understand and analyse the economic and political contexts in which sport operates, and to understand the structure of the sports industry.

• Marketing and Sponsorship of Sport Core

Marketing and Sponsorship of Sport (Core)

Marketing, sponsorship and promotion are key facets of the contemporary sports industry, and all managers within the industry require competencies within these fields. The aim of this module is to equip students with the expertise and skills to devise and implement creative communication campaigns. Particular focus will be given to digital communication tools and strategies, and students will gain applied experience in sports marketing and promotion with respect to sports marketing tools, techniques and practises.

• Personal and Professional Development (Industry Placement) Optional

Personal and Professional Development (Industry Placement) (Optional)

This module provides students with the opportunity to identify and address key personal, professional and career development issues relevant to their area of interest.

Students will have the opportunity to reflect upon their own core competencies, personal qualities and areas for development, having undertaken in-depth psychometric testing. These tests generate a detailed report which the students will use to help identify and explore key areas for development within the context of their future career aspirations.

The module incorporates a period of work experience which will enable the student to focus on both the practical application and development of their key skills within a real-world setting. The combination of psychometric testing, reflection and analysis of the workplace will culminate in the production of a focussed personal development action plan (PDAP).

Credits: 20

• Fundamental Principles of Business, Management and Finance Core (non-business graduates)

Fundamental Principles of Business, Management and Finance (Core (non-business graduates))

Students without an undergraduate degree in Business are encouraged to take this module.

Credits: 20

• Consultancy/Research Project Core

Consultancy/Research Project (Core)

In this module, the student elects to complete either a consultancy project or a research-based dissertation. For the consultancy project the individual student performs an authoritative piece of work on a business or management brief established by a real project client.

The work will typically take an in-depth look into a defined research area, and result in a substantial report containing extensive research, rigorous scenario analysis and practical conclusions. The consultancy project is an opportunity for students to engage in a form of action research through application of knowledge pragmatically to real-world situations and interactive feedback with real clients. Feedback to the clients on the feasible solutions will therefore form an integral part of the assessment.

The research project affords the opportunity to work independently at an advanced academic level. The research project aims to:

• Develop skills of source analysis and interpretation
• Assess a range of primary source material and the relevant secondary literature
• Develop students' powers of historical argument
• Develop skills of primary research, including project and information management, independent working and the ability to research primary and secondary materials independently

These skills will be developed via the research project investigating and addressing contemporary issues within the international business environment. International students will be welcome to address topics affecting their domestic business environment in relation to international trade and commerce.

Credits: 40

• Sport, Globalisation and the Media Optional

Sport, Globalisation and the Media (Optional)

This module will be taught by academics and professionals with an expertise in online global communications, international broadcasting and sports public relations. Its approach will be critical and comparative focusing on the changing media landscape and the socio-economic, political and cultural influence of international sporting organisations, including FIFA, the IOC, UEFA, and UCI. The module will explore a range of topical and current sports media issues (e.g. broadcasting rights) and their relationship with political and public institutions within different regional, national and international contexts. Students will engage in debates about the public sphere and the mechanisms and processes of sports communication in the digital era.

Credits: 20

• Responsible Management and Leadership in a Global Economy Optional

Responsible Management and Leadership in a Global Economy (Optional)

Corporate scandals that illustrate greed and rampant materialism have led to an increased distrust in business leaders whether fraud, embezzlement or insider trading; these scandals have led to a lack of faith in the manner that business is conducted. Such behaviours are not only harmful to the well-being, performance and reputation of organisations but they are detrimental to society. One of the key factors that lead to such disasters is the unethical decisions of business leaders. It has been noted that the leaders responsible for these scandals are graduates of business schools and that many management programmes have failed to convey ethics, social responsibility and good moral habits to their graduates.

This module addresses these concerns and teaches the essential and advanced principles of responsible management and discusses issues related to business ethics. It covers philosophical foundations and applications of ethical theory to real-life case studies and hypothetical dilemmas. It also discusses causes and consequences of unethical behaviour and develops skills and knowledge in ethical management practices.

Credits: 20

• International Finance and Accounting Optional

International Finance and Accounting (Optional)

International managers need to be able to both analyse and comprehend accounting and financial data to support and evaluate a company's international business goals and to develop appropriate an international financial strategy for its future.

This module is designed to teach you how to develop and analyse various and appropriate financial data, and to understand the important relationship between financial instruments, decision-making and business strategy on a globalised scale.

You will learn how to recognise the importance of accounting information and the criticality of ethical financial reporting. You will also learn to examine the correct accounting methodology for analysing business transactions, making business decisions and measuring business results 

Credits: 20

• International Human Resource Management Optional

International Human Resource Management (Optional)

Global organisations explore Human Resource Management (HRM) in an international setting, in response to the increasing internationalisation and workforce diversity. This module focuses on managing human resources in organisations that operate across national borders and examines the varying cultural issues of people management.

It will assist those students that wish to develop careers in HRM at a strategic and international level within organisations operating in the international environment.

On the module you will learn to:

• develop a critical understanding of the philosophies and general practices of international HRM
• appreciate and critically evaluate the latest theoretical concepts, principles, standards and frameworks of HRM practice
• develop skills in solving complex scenarios related to improving the activities and functions of modern HRM
• develop a holistic and ethical approach to examining issues and solving complex International HR problems

These concepts are underpinned by an understanding of organisation theory, which covers organisational design, organisational theory and methodologies for understanding complex organisations.

Credits: 20