ABSTRACT
The two most common home units for sport management programs are business and kinesiology/education. Where is the "best" place for sport management? This chapter identifies that there are certain advantages and disadvantages to each. Being housed in kinesiology allows the primary focus of the program to be on sport, without apology. As Chalip notes, "if sport management is to be anything more than the mere application of general management principles to the sport context, then there must be something about sport that renders distinctive concerns, foci, or procedures when sport is managed. Indeed, sport management is often a low priority in institutions, but within kinesiology there is typically a shared understanding that sport is a unique and worthwhile context for teaching, research, and service efforts. Many would agree that sport management academic programs should be housed in business schools to provide students the business curriculum and preparation for a job in the industry.
