Sport Analytics (Minor)

The Sport Analytics Minor provides students with an interdisciplinary foundation at the intersection of sport management and leadership, business analytics, and computer science. The minor equips students with the skills to collect, analyze, visualize and interpret sport-related data, and to translate those insights into practical strategies for decision-making in the sport industry and beyond.

Through coursework and applied projects, students will gain experience with statistical methods, data visualization, and analytic software such as Python. Emphasis is placed on both technical competency and the ability to communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences, preparing graduates to use data to address real-world challenges in sport organizations through data-driven insights.

Academic policies related to Minors.

The minor requires students to complete five courses (20 credits) as outlined below.

  • Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or higher in all required and elective courses applied to the minor.
  • All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in sequenced or advanced coursework.
  • Students majoring in Sport Management & Leadership, Computer Science, and/or relevant majors in Paul College should be aware that only up to eight (8) credits can count towards both your major and this minor. 
Required Courses
SML 580Sport Industry4
SML 770Sport Analytics 14
or DS 620 Topics in Decision Sciences
CS 410PIntroduction to Scientific Programming/Python4
or CS 415 Introduction to Computer Science I
or DS 662 Programming for Business
Elective Courses
Select two courses from the following:8
CS 518
Introduction to Software Engineering
CS 550
Foundations of Machine Learning
CS 750
Machine Learning
IT 630
Data Science and Scalable Data Systems
ECON 676
Economics of Sports
MKTG 763
Marketing Analytics
DS 671
Data Visualization and Prescriptive Analytics
DS 772
Predictive Analytics and Modeling
DS 654
Sports Analytics Lab 2
Total Credits20
1

ADMN 510 Business Analytics and Statistics MATH 439 Statistical Discovery for Everyone or MATH 539 Introduction to Statistical Analysis is a required pre-requisite to enter SML 770 Sport Analytics.

2

If DS 654 Sports Analytics Lab (2 Credits) is chosen, an additional approved 2-credit course must be taken to reach the 20-credit minimum for the minor. 

Sports Stats Gathering, Analysis, and Interpretation
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret sport data using statistical and computational tools.
Sports Data Intelligence
  • Create clear visualizations and reports to communicate analytic insights effectively.
Sports Analytics Competencies
  • Apply analytics software and techniques in sport industry contexts.
Analytics Importance
  • Understand the role of analytics across different domains of sport, including performance, marketing, and business operations.
Decision Making with Sports Data
  • Integrate analytics findings into strategic decision-making within sport organizations.