July 7, 2026 - 4:18 pm

Aspiring sports management professionals in Nevada now have a new path to enter the growing industry.

UNLV will offer an undergraduate degree in sport hospitality management beginning this fall, the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality announced in a news release Monday. The college said it is the first degree program of its kind in Nevada.

The 120-credit bachelor of science program will include a mandatory internship and classes that explore sport revenue generation, sport policy and governance, and sport event management and promotion, among other topics.

David Cárdenas, dean of the Harrah College of Hospitality, said in the release that Las Vegas’ abundant sporting and entertainment opportunities offer students “an unparalleled learning environment” for studying sport hospitality management.

“This degree combines the expertise of the nation’s top-ranked hospitality program with the needs of the rapidly growing sports industry, preparing graduates to lead at the intersection of sport, hospitality, entertainment and events,” Cárdenas said.

UNLV collaborated with industry experts to develop the new degree program aimed at addressing Las Vegas’ rapidly-growing sports market, the release said.

The curriculum will prepare students to pursue careers in sports such as athletic director, game-day/event coordinator, sports marketing specialist, facility operations manager, corporate partnerships manager and guest relations manager, according to the release.

Students interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to contact hospitalityadmissions@unlv.edu.

Contact Spencer Levering at slevering@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253.