Recreation and Sport Business

You love sports. So make it your career.

Students in the Recreation and Sport Business program at the University of Waterloo.

In their upper-year advanced seminar, students visited Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) LaunchPad in Toronto.

Canada has a multi-billion dollar sports industry. To excel in it, you need a solid understanding of recreation and the business smarts to develop and deliver successful products or services.

Whether you dream of working for a major league hockey team, bringing recreational programs to low-income communities, developing a sports marketing program to attract new audiences, or running your own athletic gear startup, you’re going to need a strong foundation in business.

Get a head start on your career with Recreation and Sport Business (sometimes known as a sports management degree at other universities), which provides nearly two years of paid co-op work experience before you graduate.

In Canada for hospitality and leisure management research

Breif Case Available as a co-op and regular program

Ribbon Only Recreation and Sport Business degree in Canada

Admission requirements

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of 70% is required)

Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)

We recommend completing the Admission Information Form once you've applied.

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

How to apply

Apply to Recreation and Leisure Studies and choose Recreation and Sport Business as your major.

Hands-on experience through paid co-op terms

Watch video on YouTube

Jon spent a co-op work term developing marketing, communications, operations, and event planning skills with the Ontario Volleyball Association.

Get tips from Waterloo students

Monthly topics include how to choose a university program, what it's like to be a Waterloo student, the differences between high school and university, and more.

Questions? Ask a student!

Contact a recreation student ambassador to learn about their experience in the program.

Ask them questions such as why they chose their program, what the classes are like, and how you can get involved on campus.

First-year courses and beyond

September to December

REC 100 - Introduction to the Study of Recreation and Leisure
REC 101 - Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Services
REC 120 - Program Management and Evaluation
- Learn about the overnight REC120 retreat
AHS 107 - Sociology of Activity, Health, and Well-being
PSYCH 101 - Introductory Psychology

January to April

REC 215 - Marketing Recreation and Sport Services
BET 100 - Essentials of Entrepreneurial Behaviour
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
Two electives

After first year

About half of the classes you’ll take will be Recreation and Leisure Studies courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

View all the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

REC 215 – Marketing Recreation and Sport Services
REC 313 – Mobilizing Resources for Recreation and Sport Delivery
REC 311 – Event Management
REC 405 – Leisure and Well-being

Customize your degree

You can add areas of expertise to your degree by pursuing areas of focus within the program or by choosing a double major or joint honours. You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students. Popular choices include Event Management, Speech Communication, and Human Resource Management.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.

Sample co-op job titles

Recreation program assistant
Promotions & events coordinator
Tournament operations assistant
Marketing outreach events associate
Outdoor education assistant
Athletics and recreation sport marketing
Community recreation facilitator
Sports management coordinator

Sample co-op employers

St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Ontario March of Dimes
City of Waterloo
Golf Canada
City of Markham
Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group
Toronto District School Board
University of Waterloo

What careers can you pursue with a sport management degree?

Graduates commonly pursue careers in marketing, game operations, communications and events management, facilities management, and more. They frequently work for sports and entertainment companies, professional sports teams, and non-profit organizations.

Sample graduates

President of Hockey Operations & General Manager – Edmonton Oil Kings
Communications Manager – Pretty River Sports & Entertainment
Coordinator, Game Operations – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Defensive, Special Teams Quality Control Coach – Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club
Recreation Facilitator – Revera
Club Support Coordinator – Kin Canada
Membership Director – YMCA

Graduate stories

Visit our Beyond Ideas website to learn about what recent graduates are doing with their degree.

Learn more about the future of careers in business.

Common questions about the program

What’s the difference between this program and sport management or sport administration programs at other universities?

While there are always subtle differences between similar programs at different universities, Waterloo’s program is comparable to programs called Sport Management or Sport Administration at other universities and can lead to similar careers. However, in addition to learning about how to apply business skills in community and professional sport settings, you’ll also learn about the broader recreation industry, opening doors to additional career options. Plus you'll have the advantage of exploring careers and gain relevant work experience through North America's largest co-op program or the EDGE certificate program for students not in co-op.

Is this program available online?

No. While you may be able to take some courses online, most courses required for the degree are available through in-person classes only.

How long does it take to complete this program?

It takes four years to complete this program as a full-time student through the regular system of study in which you’ll take courses between September and April each year and have your summers off.
You can also choose the co-op system of study where you’ll alternate between full-time studies and full-time jobs relating to your program. A co-op program takes five years to complete – and you’ll graduate with nearly two years of paid work experience.
You can complete over a longer period as a part-time program.

"Every university experience is different, but if you want to make the most out of your time here at Waterloo, make sure that you get involved! There are so many things that you can do on campus that can make your experience here so great!"Lauren, second-year Recreation and Sport Business student

"Going into the community and getting to experience and see first-hand the impact recreation and leisure has on people’s lives is incredible. On campus, it's comforting to have approachable professors who are always willing to help students."Sarah, fourth-year Recreation and Sport Business student

"I chose to double major in sports business and tourism. No other schools let me customize my degree the same way Waterloo did. Combining these two majors let me study the impact events like the Olympics can have on a host community."Kaileigh, third-year Recreation and Sport Business co-op student

Offered by the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Click Apply to Recreation and Leisure Studies

Cap Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Sport Business

Ready to learn more?

Visit the Recreation and Sport Business website
Email our Applied Health Sciences recruitment co-ordinator who can answer any questions about the program
Subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and advice from current students
Related programs
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Therapeutic Recreation

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Build your business expertise

Along with courses from our top-ranked Recreation and Leisure Studies department, you'll gain essential skills in marketing, communications, finance, management, and more.