Turning Passion for Sports into Purpose

With so many people passionate about sports and actively involved in them, Furman saw an opportunity to create the Sports Development and Community Partnerships graduate certificate to help leaders leverage sports as a force for engagement and change.

“Sports is an important way that people can reach out to their community,” says Shaniece Criss, director of Furman’s M.A. in Advocacy and Social Policy program.

Students can complete a graduate certificate in two terms. The five-course certificate is interdisciplinary. It equips students to design, lead and evaluate sports-based community initiatives. Those initiatives advance connections, collaboration and strategic partnerships. Because all five courses are graduate-level courses, they stack toward Furman’s master’s programs.

The five courses that students take are:

• Community Action and Policy examines how students can organize others and influence policy. With a sports mindset, this could involve organizing players to make a difference or working with elected officials for legislation.
• Sports Management and Marketing explores marketing strategies like sponsorships, endorsements, media and community impact.
• Professional Coaching is an executive coaching course where students create a leadership development plan. Rather than focusing on coaching athletes, the course gives students skills for setting goals and developing personal strengths.
• Practicum, an internship with an academic component, places students in local organizations for several hours a week. There, they apply academic reading to real application in a community-based organization.
• Students choose a fifth course, which can be Nonprofit Management or Grant Writing and Fundraising. They may also substitute the course with another option that aligns with their professional goals or areas of interest.

Criss says this program may particularly appeal to individuals who have participated in sports or value the important role sports play in communities. This could include, but is not limited to, aspiring coaches, nonprofit leaders, marketing professionals and policy advocates who want to use sports for good. The certificate welcomes students from all backgrounds, including working professionals considering a return to the classroom, while expanding their understanding of how sports can benefit society.

“That is a really crucial part. They see sports as an avenue to reach other people, to make their neighborhood and where they work a better place,” Criss says.

Two current students, Dwartney Wortham and Aaron Davis, describe similar draws.

“I chose to enroll in the Sports Development and Community Partnerships certificate because it allowed me to connect my love for sports and being involved in community organizing where I could engage with and meet new people to further develop my leadership skills,” Wortham says.

For Davis, the certificate’s value isn’t just short-term.

“It will help me have a better mindset towards anything that I do, which is something that has value beyond comprehension,” Davis says.

Both students point to the program’s interdisciplinary design as a highlight. Davis says the classes allow him to have self-reflection and conversations with people on a personal level. Wortham enjoys learning about different subjects that are not just in one area.

Sports have always brought people together but using them for social change takes a distinct set of skills.

“The one skill that I picked up from this program that I didn’t have before is being able to effectively communicate more as a public speaker,” Wortham says. “The smaller class sizes allow for more one-on-one work with professors, which helped improve my skills.”

Sports have always brought people together. This certificate teaches students how to turn that momentum into policy, funding and leadership skills built to last beyond the game.