SPORT MANAGEMENT Sport management is designed to prepare students for careers throughout the sports industry, including sports marketing, front-office operations, college athletics, professional and amateur sports organizations, and non-profit community program management. “This interdisciplinary program gives students the chance to build real expertise in the classroom and then put it to work in the field,” said Mark Zajack, Ph.D., associate professor of business administration and coordinator of the sport management program. “Our goal is to prepare students not just to enter the sports industry, but to lead within it, whether on the marketing side, in athletics administration, or through the non-profit and community organizations that make sports possible at every level.” Students will have opportunities to conduct undergraduate research alongside faculty related to sport management, as well as complete internships and practicums in the field of athletics, and even study abroad for an international perspective on the sports industry. Students will also be able to engage with the local community through service-learning courses that connect with recreational organizations. “One of the real strengths of a place like Lycoming is that students aren’t locked into a single track,” Zajack added. “A sport management major can pair with a minor or a second major to build a path that fits exactly where they want to go, such as coaching, athletic administration, marketing, or something they haven’t discovered yet. We want students to design their own route into the industry, not follow someone else’s.” EXERCISE SCIENCE Exercise science is a dynamic and growing field at the intersection of biology, health, and human performance. The program was created in response to strong national demand for trained professionals in healthcare, rehabilitation, fitness, and athletic settings — an area that is expected to grow nine to 14 percent by 2034. The program offers two pathways: a B.A. for careers in personal training, health education, strength and conditioning, and athletics, and a B.S. for students preparing for medical school, physical therapy, physician assistant programs, or graduate study in exercise science and kinesiology. “Exercise science sits at a fascinating crossroads. It draws on physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and psychology to help us understand what the human body is capable of and how to optimize it,” said David Andrew, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology. “Whether a student wants to work alongside athletes, help patients recover from injury, or go on to medical school, Lycoming’s exercise science program gives them the scientific foundation and the hands-on experience they need to succeed.” “What excites me most about this program is that it meets students where they are, whether they’re passionate about athletic performance, drawn to clinical healthcare, or still figuring out their path, and gives them the tools to pursue it with confidence,” said Mary Kate O’Donnell, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology and co-coordinator of the exercise science program. Students will gain direct experience through lab-based learning, internships, and professional opportunities beginning in their first year. Partnerships with UPMC, Geisinger Medical Center, and other regional healthcare providers give students valuable exposure to clinical, rehabilitation, and human performance settings before graduation. Additionally, Lycoming has expanded its biology curriculum to offer four distinct majors with both the B.A. and B.S. degrees: biology, biomedical sciences, cell and molecular biology, and ecology. Environmental science and environmental studies majors have also been introduced. These focused pathways allow students to tailor their academic experience to their interests and goals while building a strong scientific foundation. The expanded offerings complement programs like exercise science and provide additional preparation for STEM careers. WE WANT STUDENTS TO DESIGN THEIR OWN ROUTE INTO THE INDUSTRY, NOT FOLLOW SOMEONE ELSE’S.” Learn more about these new academic programs at www.lycoming.edu/sport-management and www.lycoming.edu/exercise-science. LYCOMING’S EXERCISE SCIENCE PROGRAM GIVES THEM THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION AND THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.” 11 www.lycoming.edu
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