Develop expertise in sport management, marketing, facilities and events management, sponsorship, sport development, high performance sport leadership, law and finance.
Management skills are needed across the sport and recreation industries. The sports field isn’t like a traditional business and neither are the management skills needed to succeed in this area. With the large number of professional athletes, sports organisations, facilities and events in New Zealand, people with specialist business and management skills are in high demand.
You learn from staff with international and national experience, and have the opportunity to work with local and national sporting bodies and events.
This is part of the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation
Year 1
Semester 1 papers
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
- SPOR504 Leadership in Sport and the Outdoors
- SPOR511 Skill Learning in Sport and Recreation
- SPSC501 Sport and Exercise Science Fundamentals
Semester 2 papers
- SPOR501 Sport and Recreation in Aotearoa/New Zealand
- SPOR502 Innovative Planning in Sport and Recreation
- SPOR503 Contemporary Issues in Sport and Recreation
You also need to complete one of these papers
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication
Year 2
- SPOR610 Law and Ethics in Sport and Recreation
- SPOR624 Group and Individual Behaviour
- SPOR608 Evidence Based Practice
- SPOR605 Sport Management
- SPOR614 Sport Finance
- SPOR604 Sport Marketing
- SPOR607 Sport Development
Plus one optional/elective paper.
This year also includes two work placements of 30-40 hours, designed to introduce you to the workplace and help you identify where you want to complete your third-year workplace experience.
Year 3
Papers you study this year
- SPOR709 Sport and Recreation Co-operative I
- SPOR710 Sport and Recreation Co-operative II
- SPOR705 Sport and Recreation Leadership Advanced
- SPOR702 Entrepreneurship in Sport and Recreation
Plus two optional/elective papers.
Workplace experience
In your third year you complete 350 to 400 hours in an organisation, which includes working on a project related to your major through the Cooperative Education papers. This takes approximately two days per week.
Recent placements included:
- Athletics New Zealand
- Counties Manukau Sport
- Halberg Disability Sport Foundation
- Harbour Sport
- Hockey New Zealand
- New Zealand Breakers
- New Zealand Cricket
- New Zealand Rugby League
- New Zealand Rugby Union
- Nike NZ
- Northern Arena
- School sports departments
- Touch North Harbour
- Total Sport (event management)
- Triathlon New Zealand
- The GEMBA Group
Sport Leadership and Management Specialisation – Master of Business
Advance your understanding of sport leadership and management, and research a topic of your interest with the Sport Leadership and Management specialisation in the Master of Business.
New Zealand is a nation that values sport and recreation. Sport Leadership and Management research at AUT has investigated leadership, sport participation, governance, inter-organisational linkages, law and policy, economics, marketing, consumer behaviour, sponsorship, advertising, social media, sport tourism, as well as event management.
As a Master of Business student you conduct research in the field of sport leadership and management, and learn from enthusiastic researchers and academics who are internationally known as experts in their field.
This is part of the Master of Business.
What you study
To graduate with a Master of Business, you must successfully complete 180 points from:
- Specialisation papers
- Research methods paper(s)
- A thesis or dissertation
Specialisation papers
These advanced-level papers provide you with comprehensive coverage in the latest research and theories in your specialisation, and help you prepare for your independent research thesis or dissertation.
Sport Leadership and Management papers
- SPMG801 Advanced Sport Development
- SPMG802 Advanced Sport Leadership and Management
- SPMG803 Advanced Sport Marketing
- SPMG804 Advanced Sport Event Management
Plus other management and marketing papers.
Not all papers listed are offered each calendar year.
Research Methods papers
The research methods papers provide an exploration of philosophical issues underpinning the design of research and the research process.
The papers include training in quantitative/qualitative research methods and analysis to prepare students to conduct a methodologically rigorous research thesis or dissertation.
Thesis/dissertation
- Thesis (90 points) OR
- Dissertation (60 points)
The class of honours awarded in the programme depends on your grade performance.
Detailed information about papers in this programme
Detailed programme structure and paper outlines (Blackboard)
Sport Leadership and Management department
AUT’s highly ranked Sport Leadership and Management department has staff who have worldwide experience and close links with local, regional, national and international sporting bodies and events.
The Sport Leadership and Management department is part of sport and recreation at AUT.
Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate study in sport leadership and management will give you a solid grounding in this area.
- Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in Management
Postgraduate courses
The sport leadership and management department offers a range of postgraduate degrees:
- Bachelor of Sport and Recreation (Honours)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Sport and Exercise
- Postgraduate Diploma in Sport and Exercise
- Master of Sport and Exercise
- Postgraduate Certificate in Business
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business
- Master of Business
- Master of Philosophy
- Doctor of Philosophy