Opportunity • Evan
Shapiro, left, from the Los Angeles
Avengers shared about the available internships
in sales and public relations. Graduate
Program
in Sport Management
LBSU
sport management program introduces students
to the real world
By
Kim Oswell
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor
The sport management graduate program at Long Beach State held an internship
roundtable Sept. 15 to expose students to opportunities available with companies
in the sport industry.
The roundtable featured organizations that had internship and networking opportunities
to offer LBSU students.
The organizations and companies that attended included the Special Olympics
of Southern California, arena football team the Los Angeles Avengers, Student
Sports Inc., LBSU Athletic Department, Big West Conference, Velocity Sport
Performance, Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Anschutz Entertainment Group.
The LBSU Athletic Department offered an internship in the sport information
department that would help assist with writing press releases, updating the
Web site and assisting with the production of media guides.
The internships vary from working with Special Olympics participants to coordinating
media relations with the Ice Dogs.
This graduate program is an 18-month-long course that is designed to equip
students with the experiences and resources to excel in management. Students
have the chance to be mentored by professors and professionals and learn about
different career avenues and options.
The sport management program trains students for jobs in marketing, sport development,
media relations, sales, grassroots marketing and event coordination.
Sport organizations contact LBSU with opportunities for students because the
program is known for graduating capable and equipped students.
Every six months, a new group of students enter the program and about 30 students
graduate every 18 months.
Chris Tsangaris is the managing director of the program and graduated from
LBSU in 1997. He helps to oversea the department
and curriculum that is implemented.
“We provide quality opportunities and feature them to our students,” Tsangaris
said. “We get the students involved right away, increasing their marketability
and helping them get their feet wet.”
The program enables a student to earn a Master of Arts in Kinesiology offered
by the department of Kinesiology.
“One of the great things about this program is the fact that we have industry
executives teaching the classes like Andrew Roundtree, the former Angels CEO.”
LBSU is the only campus in the greater Los Angeles area that has this program
and it is the largest one in the nation. Students come from different areas
to earn their degree in sport management and gain valuable experience.
Kevin Futagaki is a graduate student from UC Irvine who recently started the
program. “I wanted to learn more about sport management and the opportunities
available,” Futagaki said. “I really think this program will give
me a leg up in starting my career.”
LBSU offers this accelerated program to graduates with a baccalaureate degree
who want to pursue a career in management and administration of. For more information
on this program, contact Diane Higgs at (562) 985-2044.
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