BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington has partnered with the American Junior Golf Association to launch the AJGA Event Management Experience, a new course designed to provide students with hands-on training in sports event operations.
The three-year partnership began in May 2025 with the inaugural course offered during the summer term. This online and hybrid three-credit course is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors pursuing degrees in sport marketing and management.
The four-week class introduces students to the AJGA’s mission and offers an in-depth look at the operations behind hosting a nationally recognized junior golf tournament. As part of the curriculum, students attended the AJGA Circle K Junior Championship hosted by Indiana University at The Pfau Course, home of the Hoosiers.
During the event, students shadowed AJGA interns and served as tournament volunteers, assisting with player registration, course setup and breakdown, meal distribution, and hydration efforts. This immersive experience allowed students to observe the daily responsibilities of AJGA interns and gain practical insight into event management within the golf industry.
“This course gives students what cannot be replicated in a classroom, the chance to step directly into the fast-paced environment of AJGA tournaments. We are proud to work alongside the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington to help shape the next generation of sports industry leaders through real-world experience and mentorship.”
The course blends classroom learning with real-world application. For the first three weeks, students explore the AJGA’s structure, values, and operational philosophy. The final week places students on-site at a tournament where they can put their knowledge into action.
“I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the American Junior Golf Association for being an exceptional partner. From the earliest stages of ideation through the development of this innovative curriculum, the AJGA team has come alongside us with enthusiasm, expertise, and a shared commitment to student success. I also want to recognize Joshua Shelton, our Director of Business Development and Partnerships and the instructor for this course, whose leadership and dedication have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Finally, I am grateful for the vision and steadfast support of our Executive Associate Dean, NiCole Keith, whose guidance has been vital to the success of this partnership. Together, we are creating meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that will prepare our students to lead in the sports industry."
Indiana University Bloomington, ranked among the top undergraduate sport marketing and management programs in the nation, is the first university to partner with the AJGA on an educational experience of this kind. The collaboration highlights both organizations’ commitment to preparing future sports professionals through impactful and experiential learning opportunities.
About the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington
The Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) is reimagining public health through a comprehensive approach that enhances and expands disease prevention and reshapes how parks, tourism, sports, leisure activities, physical activity and nutrition impact and enhance wellness. Unique in the nation, the school’s multidisciplinary approach, history of community engagement and emerging strengths in epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health bring new vigor and energy to the traditional concept of a school of public health. With nearly 4,000 students in an array of undergraduate and advanced degree programs and more than 130 faculty in five academic departments, faculty and students conduct research, learn, teach and engage with communities across a broad spectrum of health, wellness, and disease-prevention topics.
