Uptown Charlotte puts you inside a working sports and entertainment market. Your professors come from the industry and teach with employability in mind, and they open their networks to you for internships and jobs. Past partners include NASCAR, the Charlotte Knights and Live Nation Entertainment.
You can earn industry certifications while you study, including Trained Crowd Manager through the International Association of Venue Managers. You’ll also help plan and run the annual CONNECT CONFERENCE, an on-campus event where students handle everything from promotion to programming to speaking. Internships, faculty mentorship and study abroad round out the degree.
Ariana Adolph ’27, a Sports, Entertainment and Event — Management major, spent her summer gaining hands-on event management experience as an intern at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
Adolph’s path to her internship began at JWU’s Spring Expo 2026 Career and Internship Fair where she connected with representatives from the center who later interviewed and hired her. Adolph continues her work there as a part-time employee while finishing her JWU degree.
“I was a little nervous speaking in front of so many people, but I learned a lot from it. I gained experience with public speaking and networking through conversations with the professionals on the panel. It was a different type of public speaking, but it helped grow that skill set.”
Amelia Grenier ’28, SEEM major volunteering at 2026 Connect Conference
Career Success with a SEEM Degree
Our students have interned with:
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Independence
Charlotte Knights
ESPN Radio Corp.
Live Nation Entertainment
Madison Square Garden
MLB Texas Rangers
X Games
Our graduates have been hired at:
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
MKTG Sports Marketing
NBA Charlotte Hornets
NHL Carolina Hurricanes
Top Golf
United States Golf Association
Visit Charlotte
JWU prepared me for my current career by providing professors who prioritize hands-on experience and building social capital. I work at Sports Biz Careers, a nonprofit founded in 2019 by two professors, Jeff Longo and Patrick Stack. I started out as an intern, but this organization and their mentorship transformed my entire career journey.”
Lana Truese ’20, senior programming director, Sports Biz Careers
Study Sports, Entertainment, Event Management in N.C.
