Senior Capstone
- Suzanne Wenger
Procedures and Requirements
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 Senior Capstone internships, visiting lecturers and guest speakers. As part of their degree requirements, students complete a 12-credit Senior Capstone to gain valuable hands-on experience in the sport industry before graduating from SU.
Since the Capstone is the culmination of one’s academic experience, the planning process begins during a student’s freshman year. The process concludes with the full-semester experience with a specific sport entity typically in a location outside of Syracuse.
Some of the organizations where our students 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, Kansas City Chiefs, Brooklyn Nets, NFL Players Association, New York Red Bulls, University of Florida Athletics, Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, Adidas Germany, Boston Celtics, UNICEF, and Under Armour, as well as many others in the United States and Abroad.
The Capstone Experience requires the student to 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, law, etc. The student will gain hands-on experience in a variety of areas under the supervision of qualified sport industry practitioners and executives.
Capstone opportunities are posted on the Sport Management Careers website. Log in with your SU ID and password.
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 you 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.
Freshman Year
Attend Senior Capstone Presentation (highly recommended)
Develop a resume and cover letter (SPM 201)
Explore interests and general internship sites
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 SPM Internship Coordinator
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
Application Parts A & B
Resume and Cover Letter
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.
Request a Confirmation Letter from your Site Supervisor on company letterhead. Letter must include a start date, end date, number of hours you will be working per week (or that you complete the minimum 540 required hours) and your general responsibilities.
Submit each of the following Senior Capstone Experience forms via email to spmcapstone@syr.edu. Each form must be completed and can be returned electronically:
Confirmation letter on company letterhead (must include start date, end date, the hours you will work per week OR that you will complete the minimum 540, and your responsibilities)
Senior Capstone Experience Learning Agreement (must be typed, printed and then signed – typed signatures will not be accepted)
Student Information Form (typed)
Draft SMART goals (typed)
Once you have completed all the steps listed above, and the forms have 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).
Financial Assistance
Senior Capstone financial assistance is awarded to Sport Management students to enable them to undertake Senior Capstones that would not be possible without financial help. The awards range from $500 to $1,000 and are offered to select eligible students during each of the Capstone semesters.
Deadlines are May 1st for summer, August 15th for fall, and December 15th for spring. Students interested in applying for financial assistance should first review the criteria established. To apply, contact Sport Management internship placement coordinator Beth Perez at erper100@syr.edu to request the Capstone Award Application. When filling out the application, please feel free to include additional documentation you feel would assist the review committee. Completed materials should be emailed to spmcapstone@syr.edu prior to award deadlines. Questions can be directed to Beth Perez at erper100@syr.edu or 315- 443-0450.
Application
Below is the online Capstone application which includes information on eligibility and other requirements. For questions relating to the Senior Capstone experience, please contact Sport Management Capstone coordinators Beth Perez (erper100@syr.edu /315-443-0450) or Aaron Knighton (aknighto@syr.edu /315-443-7418).