"Producing the next generation of leaders in our global industries"
"Advancing our fields through innovative approaches to pure and
applied research"
"Serving our fields of study and industries in a wide variety of ways"
About Us
The School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management (SHSRM) was founded in June 2010. The merger
combined the Hospitality Management (HM) Program with roots in the College of Business with the Sport &
Recreation Management Program (SRM), which was formally housed in the Department of Kinesiology in the
College of Integration Sciences and Technology. As our U.S. service-based economy continues to grow, and
their is an increasing emphasis on the integration of sport and hospitality, the merger seems to be a natural fit.
A number of universities around the United States have also captured the synergies created by these two
programs. The School has roughly 720 students with approximately 450 undergraduates in SRM and 270 in HM.
In addition, a Sport & Recreational Leadership and Campus Recreational Leadership program also exist at the
Masters Level with approximately 60 students enrolled.
The focal point of the SHSRM is a student-centered and engaging environment which actively prepares students
to be future leaders in the hospitality and sport industries. Our mission is to develop a community of learners
through quality education that integrates theory, practice and personal growth in the Hospitality, Sport and Recreation
industries. It is central to our mission to prepare leaders who embrace the worldwide nature of our industries
with an emphasis on social responsibility. Our core values are focused on the global nature of the industries,
innovation, inspiration, integrity, and an environment of liefelong learning and critical thinking. Students in the
Hospitality Management program receive a B.S. in Hospitality Management and enter the industry prepared fo
r jobs in foodservice, lodging, private club management and event management. Students in the SRM
undergraduate program receive a B.S. in Sport & Recreation Management and enter the industry prepared for
jobs in professional sport, collegiate and interscholastic athletics, youth sport, commercial fitness, campus
recreation and public/local and community recreation. Masters level students receive a B.S. in Sport and
Recreation Leadership or Campus Recreation Leadership. Students study abroad in places like Florence, Italy,
Salamanca Spain, London, UK, Beijing China, and Sydney Australia. Hospitality Management students are
required to complete a capstone course centered around planning and implementing a theme dinner. SRM
students are required to complete a 90 hour practicum and a 400 hour internship prior to graduating.
Early in their college career, SHSRM students at James Madison University complete a breadth of general
liberal arts education courses that provides them with a strong foundation for success and the necessary
skills for solving problems, making decisions, ciritical thinking and communicating both verbally and in written
form. The hospitality and sport industries rely upon strong business leaders who have a keen understanding
of functional areas such as accounting, ethics, finance, human resources, management and marketing.
Therefore, all students in the SHSRM are required to attain a minor in Business Administration from the
James Madison University College of Business. Our students are involved in numerous service activities
and clubs during their tenure at JMU. Students may join organizations such as the National Society for
Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH), Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), Professional Convention
Management Association (PCMA) and the Sport Leisure Association of Madison (SLAM). Students also
travel to a variety of conferences such as the Sport Industry Networking Conference (SINC), Sport,
Entertainment & Venues Tomorrow (SEVT), National Collegiate Athletic Assocation (NCAA) Conference,
Travel, Events & Management in Sports (TEAMS) Conference & Expo and the National Intramural
Recreational-Sports Association (NIRSA) Conference.
All faculty in the SHSRM have some form of practical experience and most have a terminal degree.
Faculty are actively involved with students in numerous experiential-learning projects, pure and applied
research, and civic and community engagement. Faculty have published in numerous peer reviewed
outlets, including the Journal of Business Ethics, International Journal of Hospitality Management,
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Sport & Tourism,
International Journal of Sport Management & Marketing, Journal of Sport Administration & Supervision,
Journal of Convention & Event Tourism and the Recreational Sports Journal. Faculty also serve on Boards
and Committees for various professional organizations such as the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and
Institutional Education (CHRIE), North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), NIRSA, and
the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).