Sports and Tourism Studies
The Degree
Associate in Science (A.S.)
The Outlook
From youth sporting leagues to international events such as the Olympic Games, sporting events draw millions of visitors and billions of dollars each year locally, regionally, and globally. In fact, Street and Smith’s Sportsbusiness Journal reports that in the United States alone sports is a $213 billion industry.
Sports and Tourism Studies, an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program, initiates the preparation students need to tap into this expanding, profitable industry. Graduates will be prepared to transfer to four-year institutions in pursuit of baccalaureate degrees in sports management, sports marketing or tourism-related areas. Finger Lakes Community College is one of the only community colleges in the state to offer this unique program.
The Program
The A.S. Sports and Tourism Studies program provides the preparation needed for transfer to bachelor’s degree programs. Students select an advisement area on which to focus their studies, choosing from:
- sport studies
- tourism studies
FLCC students will learn through classroom instruction, integrated case studies, and visits to venues and destinations. Conferences and special opportunities to learn from high profile sports professionals play a key role in our commitment to providing a field-based education.
Field Trips: In recent years, students have traveled to attend Management in Sports and Events Conferences held in Chicago and Salt Lake City, attending sessions presented by notable sports professionals such as Bob Costas of NBC, famed sports agent Scott Boras, and Vice President of Marketing for Anheuser-Busch Tony Ponturo. Additionally, students have attended the Travel Industry of America Marketing Outlook Forum (TIA) and the New York State Governor’s Conference.
For many students, these experiences bring the program to life, connecting the case studies and theories learned in the classroom to real-life examples. This experience can often help a student confirm his or her choice of advisement area and develop a broader view of these exciting and diverse career fields.
Honors Courses: Students in this program may enroll in our Honors courses, open to all qualified students, which provide enhanced educational experiences for students with outstanding ability. Successful completion of Honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.
Four-year institutions that offer bachelor’s degrees in sports and tourism studies and related areas include SUNY Brockport, SUNY Cortland, Niagara University, St. John Fisher College, Ithaca College, Clemson University, Medaille College, University of Massachusetts, St. John's University, and others.
The Graduates
Careers and Salary: According to sportscareers.com, career opportunities in the industry are diverse. Salary levels range from $25,000 to more than $150,000 per year and vary greatly depending on segments of the industry, geographical location, education levels, management experience, and promotional and public relations skills.
Sports Studies Advisement Area
According to Street and Smith’s Sportsbusiness Journal , sports is the sixth largest industry in the nation. Students who select the sports studies advisement area will be exposed to sports as a worldwide phenomenon.
Careers and Salary: Graduates who earn bachelor’s degrees in sports management or marketing will be prepared for positions such as sports marketing account manager, event planning and conference manager, facility manager, ticket operations director, sporting goods marketing and sales manager, and sponsorship sales manager. Annual starting salaries for bachelor’s degree holders will range from $28,000 to $35,000.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment opportunities in the field are expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. Employment will grow as public participation in sports continues to increase as a form of entertainment, recreation, and physical conditioning.
Job growth will also be driven in part by the growing number of “baby boomers” approaching retirement who are expected to become more active participants of leisure time activities in the growing areas of sports and experienced-based tourism.
Tourism Studies Advisement Area
The tourism industry is one of America’s largest employers with 19 million total jobs. According to the New York Department of Labor Division of Research and Statistics, there are 57,000 tourism-related businesses in the State, employing 779,000 workers and generating $18 billion in wages. Additionally in the year 2000, domestic and international visitors to New York State spent $36.3 billion on tourism- related services, ranking the state third behind California and Florida.
With the merging of tourism, sports, and entertainment, the continued growth of this industry and career opportunities are assured. Growth has occurred in the areas of destination planning/management; event management; and adventure and experience-based tourism.
Careers and Salary: Having evolved from a travel-agent stereotype, tourism is a profession that increasingly requires preparation at the bachelor’s degree level in the areas of management, marketing, planning, and finance. Graduates who earn bachelor’s degrees can expect starting salaries ranging from $25,000 to $35,000 in positions such as convention sales manager, casino and theme park marketing manager, director of tourism, event and conference manager, meeting planner, director of conference services, and urban tourism planner.
The Faculty
Faculty members in the Tourism Management degree program hold master's degrees and are responsible for authoring and implementing this award-winning degree program. They were also responsible for the establishment of the Walt Disney World College Program at Finger Lakes. This landmark program was the first destination tourism associate degree program offered by a community college in New York State. Our faculty members are recognized by the State University of New York as Sabbatical Scholars for study of the New York State Urban Cultural Park System and Chancellor Award winners for excellence in teaching. They are active members of the local tourism industry and have extensive experience visiting and analyzing model destinations across the United States and Canada.
