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 WELCOME
TO THE ODUpdate NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the latest edition of the ODUpdate, the official newsletter of the Ohio Dominican University Office of Admission. Ohio Dominican University is a four-year liberal arts institution, founded in 1911 in the Catholic and Dominican tradition. The university has over 3,000 students and offers undergraduate degrees in 50 majors as well as several graduate degree programs. Ohio Dominican uses a student-centered approach, with a commitment to quality teaching and learning with a number of academic programs of distinction.
This edition features ODU’s Sports Management program, and the perspectives of two ODU students studying in this discipline.
We hope you find the information in this newsletter helpful. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
FEATURED CONCENTRATION: SPORTS MANAGEMENT
Key Points
- The Sport Management curriculum at Ohio Dominican University is aligned with the curriculum standards approved by the North American Sport Management Society.
- The recently revised curriculum includes critical contemporary topics such leadership and ethics in sport, facility and event management, communication and organization within sport, sport finance, and sport law.
- Columbus and the surrounding area offer many sport related practicum and internships. Students are required to complete two career-related experiences.
- Strong foundation in business as the Sport Management Program resides within the Division of Business.
- With an emphasis on ethics and character development, the program is aligned with our broader Catholic and Dominican traditions.
Program Description
Sport Management is a comprehensive field of study. This field includes the management, marketing, promotion, communication, legal preparation, and financing of sport and recreation facilities, events, and organizations. The vision of the Sport Management Program is to provide a culture of excellence in academic efforts for developing comprehensive sport management skills and talents needed in the professional field or graduate studies.
Examples of Entry Level Career Positions
Sport Event Coordinator, Sport Marketing Coordinator, Stadium Manager, Sport Information Director, Director of Ticketing Operations, Sport Media Relations, Director of Recreation, Fitness Center Coordinator, Golf Course manager
STUDENT PROFILE
 Matt Virden is a graduate of Lorain Admiral High School in Lorain, OH and is a Sophomore Sport Management major at Ohio Dominican University.
Why did you pick ODU?
I chose Ohio Dominican University mainly because of its location. A large city like Columbus is great for professional networking. ODU’s small size and choice of majors also helped in making my decision.
Why did you select Sports Management as your major?
Sports Management is my major of choice because I originally wanted to go into coaching football and sport marketing. However, I like both and couldn’t figure out which particular path I wanted to follow. I soon discovered that Sports Management would offer the best of both worlds.
What class have you enjoyed the most at ODU and why?
The class that I enjoyed the most at Ohio Dominican was sport law because it dealt with contracts and sport agent rules which will help me the most after college. I also enjoyed the coursework because we, the students, gained most of the information in the class from real contracts, real cases and discussion.
Please describe the internships that you have participated in during your time at ODU.
I interned with the Ohio Dominican University football team during my practicum. I was able to work with a quality coaching staff and assist with daily activities and game preparations. Through my coursework at Ohio Dominican University, I was also able to obtain a position with the Columbus Comets Women’s professional football team.
What are your career plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school or law school to become a registered National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) sports agent.
Describe any extra curricular activities that you did while on campus. Do you feel that any of these activities have helped prepare you for finding or securing a job in your field of study?
I believe my work with the Ohio Dominican University’s football team has given me insight and experience into the operations of a football program both from the coaching and administrative perspectives. This experience will help me find a position that is sports related, no matter what sport, because the financial and administrative sides of most organizations are highly similar.
What tips would you give to incoming freshman in this major?
One tip that I would give to future Sport Management majors is to stay current with what is going on in sport at all times, every sport, even those that are not that popular. It is also important to understand that there is more going on during a game or athletic event than the game itself. It is our job as students to study this process as well as the trends of the professional and amateur sport business. I also recommend networking and getting your name out to as many people in your career of interest as possible.
What area of sports management really interests you?
The area of Sports Management that interests me the most is the marketing aspect since there are no limitations to it. Marketing can range from getting a particular athlete more exposure to a team before the draft, to a corporate sponsorship of a camera on a television station. It is really unique to see the ways companies get their name into the public.
What types of characteristics do you think a student needs to have to best succeed in this major?
I feel that the characteristics of a successful sport management major are: a person who is able to think innovatively and beyond what has already been done; and a person who takes charge; and an individual who is not afraid to make first contact with potential sport employers, not only for job opportunities, but to gain information for class research. A student who is serious about majoring in sport management must be resourceful and willing to do whatever it takes to break into the field even if it means starting out as a volunteer.
ALUMNI PROFILE
 Monica Ramos is a 2004 graduate of Shelby High School and will graduate from Ohio Dominican University’s Sports Management program in the spring of 2008.
Why did you pick ODU?
I chose ODU because of the small, family-like atmosphere it provided during my first visit to the campus.
Why did you select Sports Management as your major?
It has always been a dream of mine to own and operate a sports facility for middle to low income families.
What area of sports management really interests you?
All areas of Sports Management interest me because it will allow me to do anything I want! There are opportunities in recreational sports, private business, college/high school athletics, or with professional sports teams. This field seems to offer unlimited possibilities for my future!
Please describe the internships that you have participated in during your time at ODU.
My internship was fabulous. I worked for a firm called the Team that was led by the former President of the Columbus Destroyers, Dave Whinham, and Frank Pergolizzi, a well known local Athletic Director who coached with Dale Carlson, the current ODU football coach. During the internship, I got to do everything from working with high school and college Athletic Directors in the Columbus area, to forming a rough draft of a business plan for a summer baseball program in Illinois. I also did research on different markets and strangely enough on baseball bats. The research on bats was used to make sure that a camp that the Firm was running had the proper equipment in place to for the athletes they were hosting.
Describe any extra curricular activities that you did while on campus. Do you feel that any of these activities have helped prepare you for finding or securing a job in your field of study?
My first year here, I played tennis, which taught me time management and responsibility. However, it was not assisting me in my job search. I decided to stop playing tennis so that I could begin focusing on my career and making some connections to help me in the future. I participated in Delta Sigma Pi which is a business fraternity on campus which allows for growth and understanding just like any other organization on campus. This could possibly be the activity that helps secure a job, not just in my field of study… any field that I could dream of.
What tips would you give to incoming freshman in this major?
Work hard and know what is going on in your field of study. You have no idea what different jobs may come from this course of study. It is just like playing football, basketball or any sport; you have to work hard to achieve great things!
What are your career plans after graduation?
I want to go into logistics-how products and services travel. I want to understand how logistics affects different types of business. I think that this will give me an edge when I open my own athletic facility.
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