Previous research devoted to understanding vocational behavior in the sport domain has largely focused on coaches. For example, research has been devoted to why students choose to enter the coaching profession (Everhart & Chelladurai, 1998) and why assistant coaches seek head coaching positions (Cunningham & Sagas, 2002). However, coaching represents just a single aspect of the sport industry, and there is a lack of research devoted to understanding why persons would enter other sectors of the sport industry. Given this limitation, the purpose of this study was to examine why students would enter the sport and leisure industry, as a whole. Social cognitive career theory (Lent et al., 1994) was used as a theoretical guide. According to this perspective, behavior is explained by interest and intentions to perform that behavior. Further, self-efficacy and outcome expectations associated with that behavior are thought to result in interest in a given behavior. Finally, barriers and supports are thought to influence these relationships. To test these relationships, data were gathered from 197 undergraduate students from 4 universities located across the United States. Path analysis supported the general model, as self-efficacy and outcomes expectations held positive associations with vocational interests, which, in turn, were positively related to behavioral intentions. Self-efficacy was also positively associated with outcomes expectations. Additionally, through comparison of competing models, support was garnered for the effects of supports (i.e., human and social capital) and barriers (i.e., discrimination and lack of advancement opportunities) to be manifested on self-efficacy. The study contributes to the extant sport literature by providing an explanation of why students would choose to enter the sport and leisure industry. From a theoretical perspective, the study contributes to the existing literature by (a) further considering the effects of the previously largely ignored contextual factors and (b) demonstrating the utility of considering the multidimensionality of outcome expectations, barriers, and supports.Keyword(s): administration/mgmt, sport management