Explore Human Performance and Sport at UO
The University of Oregon is the global leader in sport and human performance education, research, and engagement. We are TrackTown USA, the birthplace of Nike, a founding member of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, and the Global Sport University Network.
University of Oregon's Sports Programs
Undergraduate Majors, Minors, or Concentrations
- Human Physiology major
- Sports Business concentration for business administration majors
- Sports Business minor
- Games Studies minor
- Bioengineering minor
Graduate Degrees
- Human Physiology (MS and Ph.D.)
- Oregon MBA with Sports Business concentration
- Sport Product Management (MS)
- Sport Product Design (MS)
- Sports Law (coming concentration in JD and Summer Institute)
Companies Flock to Pacific Northwest
Our worldwide reputation in athletics extends far beyond the playing field. UO innovations have been a driving force in making Oregon the epicenter of the global sports-products industry. Today, we’re producing the next generation of sports business and media leaders. The Northwest is the birthplace of several sports apparel companies and many more have chosen to set their headquarters in our backyard. In addition to the big names, a large portion of companies in the sport and wellness industry in the area are small businesses, creating a strong culture of entrepreneurship.Oregon has deep industry connections to sport and athletic apparel companies, headquartered in Oregon. Our graduates have deep connections to Nike, and Columbia Sportswear Company.
Sports By The Numbers
The human performance and sport industry plays a key role in Eugene, Bend, and Portland. According to the Portland Business Alliance's "The State of Sport" report, the industry drives:
Research and Thought Leadership
We believe in leveraging sport research to help people enjoy not just longer, but healthier lives. The UO is a founding member in the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, which seeks to study peak performance—from the molecular level to the whole body—with the goal of enabling all people to achieve optimal health and well-being. The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Oregon is centered in the Knight Campus but involves investigators from across the UO who are working to speed the transformation of discoveries into new treatments, technologies, and training protocols.
Oregon has a lot to offer students interested in pursuing a career in human performance and sport, including:
More than 2,000 athletes representing 200 nations performed at Hayward Field.
Global Sport Summer School
Sporting Across Sectors: Exploring the world of sport through performance science, sports business, and sports product design
Lessons from Game Changers
Learn from Experts in...
Sports Business
Explore the commercial side of athletics, from management to marketing
Sports Product Design and Management
Learn the process of creating, developing, and bringing sports products to market
Human Performance and Sport
Dive into the science of athletic achievement and physical optimization
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is woven within the University of Oregon. Oregon is a global leader in sports education, boasting the nation's first sports business center and world-class facilities like the Bowerman Sports Science Center. Through high-impact collaborations between the Lundquist College of Business, the School of Journalism and Communication, the School of Law, Global Education Oregon (GEO Study Abroad), and UO Athletics, students gain hands-on experience in everything from NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) consulting and sports law to human physiology and broadcast journalism.
Experiential Learning Highlights
- A Pioneer in the Field: Founded in 1994, the Warsaw Sports Business Center was the first program of its kind in a US business school and remains the gold standard for sports business education globally.
- World-Class Research Facilities: The Bowerman Sports Science Center is housed in the storied Hayward Field, giving students the unique opportunity to conduct research in the same venue where world records are broken.
- The Future of NIL: Powered by a generous multi-year gift from Tim and Mary Boyle (CEO of Columbia Sportswear), the Oregon Accelerator provides students with the funding and resources to lead the industry in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) innovation.
- Global Classrooms: Students can take their learning worldwide through specialized summer study abroad programs through Global Education Oregon (GEO Study Abroad), including Global Sports Business Strategy in London, Media and Sports in London, and Sports Journalism in Dublin.
- Legal Expertise: The Summer Sports Law Institute offers an intensive look at the modern sports landscape, covering everything from Title IX and intellectual property to international dispute resolution and the rise of e-sports.
- On-the-Ground Journalism: Through the SOJC Track Bureau, student journalists gain elite, real-world experience covering premier track and field events at the historic Hayward Field.