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 an 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.

Program highlights

Build your business expertise. Along with courses from our top-ranked Recreation and Leisure Studies department, you'll gain valuable skills in marketing, communications, finance, management, and more.
Real-world experience. From industry case studies and projects to practicums and experiential learning, you’ll learn from experts in the field.

Available as a regular or co-op program
Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Sport Business
Offered by the Faculty of Health

Discover if Recreation and Sport Business is right for you.

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.

What will you learn?

First-year courses

You'll have a mix of electives from different subjects along with gaining the foundations for your upper-year classes. After first year, about half of the classes you’ll take will be Recreation courses.

Learn about courses you'll take for your Recreation and Sport Business degree.

Customize your degree

Add areas of expertise to your degree by pursuing areas of focus, like Event Management 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, Communication Studies, and Human Resource Management.

Get tips from Waterloo students

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

Questions? Ask a student!

Connect with a current 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.

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

Learn about what some 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.

"We have the best professors who care about you and what your interests are beyond the classroom. I’m grateful for the office hour chats and advice they gave me over the years; I regularly leverage the different techniques I learned in class in my job."Katie, fifth-year Recreation and Sport Business student (co-op)

"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

"My co-op position turned into a full-time job! Now, I'm the General Manager of an athletics facility. It requires a number of different skills. I’m confident the things I learned in class are what prepared me to be successful in this field."Bryce, Recreation and Sport Business graduate

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)

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Recreation and Leisure Studies (RLS). You'll apply to RLS for the Recreation and Sport Business major.