Sport Leadership and Management Major - Bachelor of Sport, Exercise and Health

Year 1

In your first year you’ll develop foundational knowledge for the sport, health and exercise sector as well as skills in academic writing, critical thinking and the presentation of ideas. You’ll also explore key concepts in sport management and marketing, and find out how sport can contribute to social change.

Core courses:

• LSKL500 Uni101
• SPOR521 Movement: Theory into Practice
• SPOR520 Tauherea taiao ki ngā hunga
• SPOR523 Sport, Exercise and Health in Aotearoa New Zealand

Sport leadership and management courses

• SPOR525 Introduction to Sport Management and Marketing
• SPOR526 Sport for Social Change

You’ll also take the first two courses for your second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 2

You’ll become familiar with sport events and entrepreneurship, sport finance, law and ethics, digital multimedia strategies and more advanced marketing topics. You’ll also explore how mātauranga Māori contributes to the sport, exercise and health sectors. There’s a focus on applying these different ideas in real-world situations to see how they can work in various organisations and businesses.*

Core courses:

• SPOR630 Professional Practice II

Sport leadership and management courses

• MAOH602 Te Pūtake o te Waiora
• SPOR633 Sport Entrepreneurship and Events
• SPOR634 Marketing for Sport
• SPOR635 Sport Operations in Practice

You’ll also continue to take courses for your chosen second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 3

You'll focus on advanced strategies and learn about leadership styles that work well in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially in sports, exercise and health. This includes modern ideas like building relationships, managing change and leading with a greater purpose. These skills will help you make a real difference in the sports, fitness and health industries after you graduate.**

Sport leadership and management courses

• SPOR724 Leadership in Sport, Exercise and Health
• SPOR725 Strategic Sport Management

You’ll also take the final courses for your chosen second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

_{*These courses will be available from 2026.
**These courses will be available from 2027.}

Workplace experience

Work integrated learning is the final part of your degree. This is your chance to apply what you’ve learnt in a workplace related to your studies, gain experience in the sport, exercise and health industries, and make valuable industry contacts before you graduate.

Your workplace experience is part of this Year 3 course:

• SPOR720 Sport, Exercise and Health Cooperative Education (45 points)

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

Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?

Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.

Workplace experience in AUT programmes

If you started your studies in the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation and joined AUT in 2024 or earlier, the courses you need to complete are a little different. Find out what courses you need to take to complete your qualification if you started in 2024 or earlier.

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