Sport Management Capstone

Senior Capstone

Among the most valuable facets of the Department of Sport Management is its connection with the sport industry, which plays out in numerous ways, including internships, guest speakers, and the Senior Capstone. As part of their degree requirements, students complete a 12-credit Senior Capstone to apply theory to practice as well as gain valuable hands-on experience in the sport industry.

In the Capstone experience, you’ll work with a sport-related organization for a minimum of 540 hours over the course of one semester, gaining experience in areas such as sales, marketing, finance, event management, administration, communication and/or law. The student will gain hands-on experience in a variety of areas under the supervision of qualified sport industry practitioners and executives.

Since the Capstone is the culmination of one’s academic experience, the planning process begins during a student’s first year and concludes with the full-semester experience during one of a student’s final two semesters with a sport entity typically in a location outside of Syracuse.

Some of the organizations where students have completed their Capstone experience included the U.S. Olympic Committee, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Rays, National Baseball Hall of Fame, IMG, Octagon Worldwide, ESPN, YES Network, International Tennis Hall of Fame, PGA Golf Tour, ASM Sports, Evolution Media, Kansas City Chiefs, Brooklyn Nets, NFL Players Association, New York Red Bulls, University of Florida Athletics, Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, Legends, Adidas Germany, Basketball Travelers Inc./Paradise Jam, Ephesus Lighting, Boston Celtics, UNICEF, and Under Armour, as well as many others in the United States and Abroad.

Read about internship experiences

Procedures and Requirements

Capstone Eligibility:

Complete all 200- and 300-level SPM core courses as outlined on Student Check Sheet and undergraduate catalog
Complete a minimum of one (1) 400-level SPM core course (SPM 415 or SPM 444).
Attain senior academic standing by completing a minimum of 84 credit hours earned toward graduation
Have no more than 18 credits remaining before graduation (excluding the 12 Capstone credits)
Complete SPM 455 Senior Capstone Experience during one of the final two semesters
It is recommended that students complete at least two (2) internships/experiential opportunities outside the classroom before your Capstone

NOTE: Students will not be allowed to enroll in additional classes while completing their Capstone. The Capstone is to be taken as a stand-alone 12-credit semester and it is the student’s responsibility to work with their advisor to plan their academic coursework accordingly.

First year:

Develop a resume and cover letter
Meet with Career Services
Explore interests and general internship sites
Network with Syracuse University alumni in the sports industry
Network with Syracuse University alumni in the sports industry
Obtain a summer internship or volunteer at sport events

Sophomore year:

Complete SPM 201 – Professional Development in Sport
Update resume and cover letter
Expand interests and participate in sport-related internships on campus or in the Syracuse community during the academic year
Obtain a summer internship or volunteer at sport events

Junior year:

Attend a Capstone Information Session
Meet with your assigned capstone advisor
Work as an intern on-campus or in the Syracuse community during the academic year
Obtain a summer internship or volunteer at sport events
Submit Junior Year Paperwork by December 1st

Note: If a student does not submit their Junior Year Paperwork by December 1, an administrative registration hold will be placed on MySlice until all paperwork has been received and approved.

Semester Prior to your Senior Capstone Experience:

Research, find, and obtain a Capstone that matches your career goals. It is the student’s responsibility to find housing while on the Senior Capstone experience.
Attend a mandatory Senior Capstone Experience meeting.
Submit completed Falk College offer letter to our capstone advisor
Once your offer letter has been approved by your capstone advisor, complete Tevera pre-planning process.

Once you have completed all the steps listed above, and Tevera pre-planning been approved, you will be given permission to register for SPM 455 Senior Capstone Experience.

Note: No student will be eligible to register for SPM 455 after the Add Deadline (One week after classes begin).

For questions relating to the Senior Capstone experience, forms, deadlines and eligibility, please contact Sport Management internship placement coordinator Aaron Knighton at aknighto@syr.edu or 315-443-7418.

Senior Capstone Financial Assistance

Students interested in applying for financial assistance should first review the criteria established. Deadlines are May 1 for summer, August 15 for fall, and December 15 for spring. To apply, contact Sport Management undergraduate director Dr. Gina Pauline at gapaulin@syr.edu to request the Capstone Award Application. When filling out the application, please include additional documentation you feel would assist the review committee. Completed materials should be emailed to spmcapstone@syr.edu prior to award deadlines. For all questions relating to the Senior Capstone experience, please contact Dr. Pauline at gapaulin@syr.edu or 315-443-1666.