CIU Adds Sports Management Major
June 11, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Columbia International University is adding an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Sports Management this fall. The program will blend an academically challenging curriculum with valuable practical experience, preparing students to serve in professional sports, collegiate athletics, sports venue development, and event management.
CIU’s dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Bryan Beyer says the university has been laying the foundation for the new major for the last few years.
“It’s another great fit for CIU,” Beyer said. “As the world changes, CIU needs to continue to send out graduates equipped for life and service to meet the demands.”
The program will be led by new CIU faculty member Dr. Wayne Rasmussen (pictured), who has extensive education and experience in athletic administration and coaching including collegiate, professional, Olympic and national team sports.
Following an undergraduate degree in Education from Messiah College in Pennsylvania, Rasmussen earned a master’s degree in Physical Education from Southern Methodist University and a Doctor of Education degree in Sports Management from Temple University.
Rasmussen has served as a head soccer coach at the professional and collegiate level, on the administrative staff of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team, in professional soccer player development and scouting, as a trip director for multiple cycling tours and as a director for wilderness adventure trips including canoeing and whitewater rafting.
Beyer says Rasmussen’s background makes him a great fit for CIU and the new Sports Management program.
“Dr. Rasmussen brings a breadth and depth of experience to the role, and it seems clear God has prepared him well. We look forward to having him join our team.”
The addition of the Sports Management major comes as CIU also expands its intercollegiate athletics program this fall. Women’s soccer and men’s golf join the roster of sports that includes men’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s cross country/track.
Founded in 1923, Columbia International University is private, Christian and multidenominational. CIU specializes in Bible-centered professional development that prepares students to impact the nations with the message of Christ in ministry and the marketplace. The university is recognized for its emphasis on biblical authority and world evangelization. www.ciu.edu
