Classes are held on the main campus in Big Rapids, online, or in a mixed delivery
format. https://ferris.edu
Make Your Passion Your Profession
At Ferris, you can turn your passion for tennis into a rewarding profession. Our Professional
Tennis Management (PTM) program, the first four-year program to be accredited by the
Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA, formerly USPTA), will help you build
a foundation to succeed both on and off the court.
On the court, you will receive extensive player development and coaching training
from the PTM staff, including a RSPA Master Professional and a RSPA Elite Professional.
You'll utilize our world-class Racquet and Fitness Center to train and learn.
Off the court, you will master the business of tennis. You will be ready to to take
on a wide-variety of roles, including club management, equipment sales, and more.
As a part of the College of Business, you will also receive a well-rounded business
education, with classes in marketing, accounting, and management.
Apply now or request more information to get started.
National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) of 4.0 with USTA District ranking
One of the following:
ACT Math score of 19 or higher OR
SAT Math score of 500 OR
ACT Reading score of 19 or higher OR
SAT Reading to be reviewed by college
SAT Scores Two of the Three Criteria:
ERW SAT score of 450 or higher.
Math SAT score of 500 or higher. Placement in MATH 109 or MATH 110 will be considered (Math SAT score of 480 or higher).
Composite SAT of 900 or higher.
ACT ScoresTwo of the Three Criteria:
English ACT score of 16 or higher.
Math ACT score of 19 or higher.
Reading ACT score of 19 or higher.
Transfer Student Admission Requirements
Combined college or university GPA of 2.35 (on a 4.00 scale) from all institutions
attended. GPA based on completion of 12 credit hours or more. Developmental courses
will not be considered in computing the GPA requirement.
Transfer equivalency for Ferris State University's ENGL 150 or placement during the first semester at Ferris State University which would require
an English ACT score of 16 or higher; or ERW SAT score of 450 or higher; or English
Accuplacer score of 6 or higher.
Transfer equivalency for Ferris State University's MATH 114 or MATH 115 or placement during the first semester at Ferris State University which would require
a Math ACT score of 19 or higher; Math SAT of 500 or higher; or Math Accuplacer scores:
Elementary Algebra score 75 or higher and College Level Math 0 to 49.
National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) of 4.0 with USTA District ranking
College Requirements - 81 Credits Required
Business Core Requirements - 30 Credits Required
These courses are used to calculate the core 2.00 GPA requirement.
ACCT 201 - Princ. of Financial Accounting Credit Hours: ACCT 201 - Princ. of Financial Accounting Introduction to accounting principles
with an external reporting emphasis on the preparation and use of financial statements.
Includes recording and adjusting accounts, the accounting cycle, accounting for merchandising
operations, internal control and cash, receivables, inventories, assets, liabilities,
corporate organization, stock transactions, dividends, and retained earnings and investments.
Meets General Education requirements for Problem Solving. Typically Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer UG 3 MATH 109/C- Or MATH 110/C- Or MATH 114/D- Or MATH 115/D-
Or MATH 116/D- Or MATH 117/D- Or MATH 118/D- Or MATH 119/D- Or MATH 120/D- Or MATH
126/D- Or MATH 130/D- Or MATH 132/D- Or MATH 135/D- Or A02/19 Or S02/460 Or S06/460
Or S12/500 Ferris Equivalencies: AFIS
ACCT 202 - Princ of Managerial Accounting Credit Hours: ACCT 202 - Princ of Managerial Accounting Continuation of ACCT 201. Introduction
to management decisions in reliance on systems that provide historical and projected
data to guide present and future operations. Includes managerial accounting, job-order
costing, process costing, cost behavior, cost-volume-profit relationship, variable
costing, activity based costing, profit planning, standard costing, flexible budgets,
segment reporting, profitability analysis and decentralization, capital budgeting,
service department costing, statements of cash flows and financial statement analysis.
Meets General Education requirements for Quantitative Skills, and new Fall 2017 Quantitative
Literacy and Problem Solving. Typically Offered Fall, Spring, Summer UG 3 ACCT
201/C- And (MATH 115/C- Or MATH 114/C- Or A02/24 Or S02/560 Or S06/560 Or S12/580)
And (ISYS 104/C- Or ISYS 105/C-) Ferris Equivalencies: AFIS
STQM 260 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: STQM 260 - Introduction to Statistics Introduce and explore practical aspects
of sampling, data presentation, measures of central tendency and dispersion, basic
probability theory, the normal probability distribution, the sampling distribution
of sample means and sample proportions, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests
for one-sample designs, simple linear regression, and correlation. Typically Offered
Fall, Spring, Summer UG 3 MATH 114/C- Or MATH 115/C- Or MATH 116/C- Or MATH
120/C- Or MATH 126/C- Or MATH 130/C- Or MATH 132/C- Or MATH-135/C- Or A02/24 Or S02/560
Or S06/560 Or S12/580 Ferris Equivalencies: STQM-321-199308 MKTG
MGMT 301 - Applied Management Credit Hours: MGMT 301 - Applied Management A description and analysis of business activities
designed to manage an organization to efficiently serve employees, customers, and
the community. Topics studied include planning, organizing, leading, and controlling;
the business environment, business institutions, government regulations, organizational
structure, human resources, human behavior, and current practices. Designed to meet
the needs of graduates and employers in the global economy. Typically Offered Fall,
Spring, Summer UG 3 Ferris Equivalencies: MGMT
MKTG 321 - Principles of Marketing Credit Hours: MKTG 321 - Principles of Marketing Introduction to the basic functions of marketing.
Included as topics of study are: consumer behavior, marketing research, marketing
planning, physical distribution, selling, promotion, retailing, pricing, wholesaling,
purchasing, international marketing, and e-commerce. Meets General Education requirements
for Collaboration and Problem Solving. Typically Offered Fall, Spring, Summer
UG AF, FR, HF, IF, RF, VF 3 ENGL 150/C- Ferris Equivalencies: MKTG
MGMT 370 - Quality-Operations Mgmt Credit Hours: MGMT 370 - Quality-Operations Mgmt The philosophy of continuous quality improvement,
basic process improvement tools, basic management and planning tools, teaming, and
models for improvement. Maximizing customer service and satisfaction, optimizing inventory
investment, and maximizing operations efficiency. Principles of operations management;
dependent and independent demand, forecasting; work measurement; work standards. Practical
application of these techniques (in team settings) on a variety of business-related
problems will enhance the ability to carry out the operations aspect of a business.
Typically Offered Fall, Spring, Summer UG AF, FR, HF, IF, RF, VF 3 STQM 260/C-
Ferris Equivalencies: MGMT
FINC 322 - Financial Management 1 Credit Hours: FINC 322 - Financial Management 1 The environment, goals, and techniques of
financial management; emphasizes both investment and financing decisions; incorporates
control techniques including ratio analysis, budgeting, and forecasting; includes
time value of money, bond and stock values, the use of operating and financial leverage,
capital budgeting techniques, cost of capital, and basic information concerning international
financial management. Meets General Education requirements for Collaboration and Problem
Solving. Typically Offered Fall, Spring, Summer UG 3 ACCT 202/C- Ferris
Equivalencies: AFIS
ISYS 321 - Business Information Systems Credit Hours: ISYS 321 - Business Information Systems Introduction to strategic information
systems functions. Provides an integrating experience that enables a student to demonstrate
the capacity to synthesize and apply knowledge from an organizational perspective.
Included are the uses of information technology to grow, expand, and efficiently and
profitably manage an organization. Of particular focus are the interrelationships
between information systems. The course's main goal is to equip students with the
latest developments in businesses with regards to information technology. In that
sense, the following concepts will be introduced or emphasized: Business Solution
Decision, Enterprise systems (ERP), Analytics and Business Process design. Students
will participate in many interdisciplinary team projects and be exposed to leading
business solutions software Meets General Education requirements for Problem Solving
and Collaboration. Typically Offered Fall, Spring, Summer UG 3 ACCT 202/C And
ISYS 105/C Ferris Equivalencies: AFIS
BUSN 499 - Integrating Experience Credit Hours: BUSN 499 - Integrating Experience Introduces the basics of business strategy
and policy and moves to use of a computer simulation with students functioning in
multidisciplinary teams. The teams have the challenge of developing and executing
a strategy that involves production operations, procurement, distribution and marketing,
pricing, research and development, employment levels and compensation, financing the
operations, and other aspects of a business competing in a global environment. Meets
General Education requirements for Collaboration and Problem Solving. Typically
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer UG AR, HR, IR, RR, SR, VR 3 FINC 322/C- And MGMT
370/C- And MKTG 321/C- Ferris Equivalencies: MGMT
Major Courses - 27 Credits Required
These courses are used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.
This requirement can be met with a competency exam or Microsoft Certification with
elective courses to replace the 3 credits required. These courses are not used to
calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.
Minor or PTMG Specialized Concentration (SPZD) - 18 Credits Required (Advisor Approval)
A total of 18 credits is required with a maximum of 6 to 7 credits overlapping courses
with degree that must be substituted with directed electives to meet the minimum 120
credits required. Two courses must be at the 300 level or higher. These courses are
not used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.
Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
Directed Elective Credit Hours: 3
Directed Elective - 300 Level or Higher Credit Hours: 3
Directed Elective - 300 Level or Higher Credit Hours: 3
Electives - 4 Credits Required
The credits required may vary depending on courses taken. In order to graduate with
a bachelor's degree, a student must have a minimum of 120 credits. The electives required
for each student may vary depending on courses taken. Based on how a student meets
the programmatic requirements, they may need more or less than 4 credits of elective
courses to meet the required 120 credit minimum. These courses are not used to calculate
the major 2.00 GPA requirement.
Notes
Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including
summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in
effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when
they were originally admitted.
The prerequisite for ISYS 321 includes ISYS 105. ISYS 105, whether taken at Ferris
or transferred in, must not be greater than 10 years old. Students that have completed
the course longer than 10 years ago, are able to earn course credit for ISYS 105 through
successful completion of the Microsoft MOS certification.
Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites,
etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.
Classes are held on the main campus in Big Rapids, online, or in a mixed delivery
format. https://ferris.edu
Industry-Leading Certifications
The PTM Program continues to be the standard in the industry. Consistent with this
status, you will earn RSPA Level 1 & Level 2 tennis certification by the time you
graduate. You will also have the opportunity to pursue other top educational and certification
opportunities, including:
United States Racquet Stringing Association (USRSA) Professional Racquet Advisor (PRA)
and Master Racquet Technician (MRT) certification
USRSA Racquet Repair and Customization Workshop
RSPA Pickleball Certification
Clay Court Workshop
Wilson Demo and Product Knowledge Presentation
USTA Umpire and Referee Workshop
Cardio Tennis Workshop
Industry expert presentations and seminars
Participating in the Professional Tennis Management Student Association
Top-Notch Internships
A key component of PTM is our summer internship program. Our internships allows students
to practice and apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world environment under
the guidance of a mentor. Students complete three internships as part of their degree
at prestigious country clubs and tennis facilities around the United States. All
PTM internships are paid internships. Upon graduating, over half of PTM students receive their 1st full time
job from an internship employer.
The Ferris Professional Tennis Management program prepares students for careers both
on and off the court. Meet three of our graduates who have made their passion their
profession.
Careers Off the Court
Anne Smudz
Ferris Professional Tennis Management Alumna (’14)
Director of Junior Tennis at Cheval Athletic Club, Tampa, FL
Newlyn Wing
Ferris Professional Tennis Management Alumnus (’14)
Coordinator, USTA High School Tennis, Tennis on Campus, and TSRs, Orlando, FL
David Ramos
Ferris International Business Alumnus (’04)
Manager of Coaching Education and Performance at the USTA National Training Center,
Boca Raton, FL
World-Class Facilities
The PTM program is housed at the Ferris State Racquet and Fitness Center which serves
as a laboratory for students within the program. Students will have unlimited access
to play, practice, and train year round. Amenities include 4 indoor hard tennis courts,
5 outdoor hard tennis courts, 18 pickleball courts (8 indoor, 10 outdoor), 2 Har-Tru
clay courts, 2 racquetball courts, artificial turf & aerobic rooms, locker rooms and
sauna.
Director of Tennis, community sports & wellness Pendleton, Indiana
“I can honestly say that PTM was one of the better decisions I have ever made. Not
only was my college experience one that was unforgettable, but it set me up for success
in life. It allowed me to make life-long friends in college and hold internships where
I had amazing experiences all over the country. After college though is where my degree
truly started to shine. It has allowed me a fantastic job doing what I love and working
for people who share my passion. It may be a cliché, but the saying “if you love what
you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” couldn’t be more true.”
Midwest Technical Representative, Wilson Sporting Goods
“PTM is one of the only programs in the country that truly allows a student to follow
their passion of tennis while promising a successful career straight out of college.
There is currently a decline in the amount of quality teaching professionals in our
industry. Clubs and other organizations are desperate to get decent staff as soon
as possible. PTM provides a solid degree in Marketing while helping you be specialized
in your on court abilities through classes and internships.”
Director of Tennis, Wintergreen Resort
“The PTM Program at Ferris State University opens doors within the tennis industry.
The education is great; classes cover all aspects of running an elite facility. By
far the most invaluable part of the program is the networking--this gives students
a massive head start in their tennis careers.”
Owner, United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA)
“Attending the PTM program at Ferris State University was the single greatest decision
I made in my career. Before I heard about the program, I was a full-time teaching
pro in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a decent reputation among the local clubs, but had
no great prospects for becoming a manager and moving off the court. After going through
the program and making connections with speakers and other students, I came out with
opportunities in tennis, on and off the court, across the country and even around
the world. In fact, it was while I was in the program that I met the owner of the
USRSA. I spent the first few years after I graduated working at tennis clubs in New
York, California, and Illinois. Then, that connection I made with the owner of the
USRSA paid off when she offered me a position as Associate Director of the Association.
Thanks to the business skills I learned at Ferris, I was quickly promoted to Executive
Director and eventually bought the business. I can’t think of anything better that
someone could do if they are interested in pursuing a career in tennis. One thing
I think is often underestimated is the value of the relationships you get to form
with the other students in the program. The program is a lot like a Fraternity/Sorority
of students who all share a passion for Tennis. This makes your time at school a ton
of fun and it massively grows your network of industry contacts after you graduate.”
2-time USPTA National Tennis Coach of the Year
The Ferris State PTM program is the first and most successful tennis management program
in the United States. It has graduated more career tennis pros, directors of tennis
and tennis industry employees than any other school in the country. It is so highly
respected in the tennis industry that it is endorsed by the USTA and the USPTA and
was the only school I had my son consider for a PTM degree. My son attended Ferris
State and played on the team for several years. His experience here helped him achieve
the Director of Tennis position at the MVP club in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the age
of 28. I have also hired interns from FSU’s PTM program and have been very pleased
with the people from the program. The PTM program teaches you all aspects of the tennis
industry and allows you to use the business degree to have a variety of career possibilities.
You should be a proud member of Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State
as it is the most elite degree of it’s kind in the US.”
Senior Manager, USTA-U
“The PTM program at Ferris State University is a terrific pathway to gaining quality
education and a competitive employment advantage in the tennis industry. I have had
the pleasure and privilege of coming to Ferris State for many years in multiple capacities
and am always impressed with the commitment to quality with the program. If you are
interested in making a career in the tennis industry, this is the place where you
want to be.”
Industry Partnerships
In order to maintain the integrity of the Professional Tennis Program (PTM) at Ferris
State University we have many ties to the tennis industry. We have a wide-range of
industry partners and include tennis industry experts our advisory board members.
The United States Racquet Stringers Association is a worldwide organization of more than 7,000 racquet technicians, teaching professionals,
racquet sports retailers, manufacturers and sales organizations, and tennis, racquetball,
squash, and badminton enthusiasts.
Our mission is to educate all our constituencies to better understand, service, perform
with, and enjoy the technological wonders known as racquets, strings, balls, courts,
shoes, and stringing machines.
We accomplish this with our “information technology” products — RacquetTECH.com, Racquet
Sports Industry magazine, Racquet Tech magazine, The Stringer’s Digest four-volume
set, “Racquet Service” video, Racquet Service Interactive CD-ROM, stringing workshops,
and certification education and testing.
Founded in 1927, the RSPA (formerly USPTA) is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional
development and was the first USTA accredited association under the USTA Accreditation
Program. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions nationwide, the
Association's mission is to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and
coaches and to promote a greater awareness of the sport. The RSPA offers its members
more than 60 professional benefits, including on-court liability insurance, health
insurance assistance, a supplemental savings plan for retirement and offers more than
200 education events a year for members to improve their teaching skills and increase
their business knowledge.
The RSPA offers the most comprehensive continuing education program in the racquet
sports industry.
The Directors’ Club is an exclusive community of Industry Leaders with the sole purpose to educate, communicate,
and illustrate the continued path to success in the Racquets and Hospitality Industry.
Through online networking events, workshops, guest speakers, classes, and video libraries,
our members will share knowledge, solve problems, and reach higher levels of success together. The Directors’ Club provides a national platform for General
Managers to gain a better understanding of the racquets industry, for Directors to
enhance their knowledge, and for Professionals to gain a pathway toward success. It
is to help, inspire, motivate, and secure opportunities for the best in our industry.
Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) is the largest global organization of tennis teaching
professionals and coaches with more than 15,000 members in 125 countries. It has the
greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR
offers five pathways to certification so tennis teachers can specialize in 10 & Under,
11 to 17, Performance, Adult Development and/or Senior Development. PTR is dedicated
to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world
in order to grow the game. For information about PTR membership, benefits, insurance
and certification, visit Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) or call PTR Headquarters at (843) 785-7244.
The Tennis Industry Association, the not-for-profit trade association for tennis, is the unifying force in the tennis
industry whose mission is to promote the growth and economic vitality of tennis by
working closely with the U.S. Tennis Association and industry partners to develop
and implement initiatives to increase tennis participation and improve the health
of industry businesses. Core TIA activities include producing more than 70 research
reports annually on participation and consumer/trade research, in addition to Grow
the Game Initiatives such as PlayTennis.com, 10 and Under Tennis, the GrowingTennis
System™, Tennis Welcome Centers, Cardio Tennis, Careers in Tennis and Tennis Tune-Up
Campaign. Visit TennisIndustry.org or call (866) 686-3036.
Careers In Tennis is an industry-wide effort to educate the marketplace and potential
candidates about tennis career opportunities. The TIA has developed this initiative
in cooperation with the United States Tennis Association, United States Professional
Tennis Association, Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Professional Tennis Registry,
USTA Tennis on Campus, PTM Schools, along with other allied organizations and associations.
SP Athletics is a specialized Sports Consulting and Recruiting, Executive Search and Leadership
Development firm founded in 2001. We work with college athletic departments, associations,
clubs and golf courses on consulting projects and to recruit coaching, director and
other sports jobs. The Snodgrass Partners team includes uniquely experienced professionals
who have held positions as top-level intercollegiate athletic administrators, head
coaches and student athletes. Our efforts are supported by thought-leading Allied
Partners who help to extend our consulting services and networking reach.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
ACBSP is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting,
celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence.
