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.

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, social media, event management, facilty management, administration, communication, partnerships, , NIL, etc. 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. The process 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.

Procedures and Requirements

Procedures and Requirements

Capstone Eligibility:

  1. Complete all 200- and 300-level SPM core courses as outlined on Student Check Sheet and undergraduate catalog
  2. Complete a minimum of one (1) 400-level SPM core course (SPM 415 or SPM 444).
  3. Attain senior academic standing by completing a minimum of 84 credit hours earned toward graduation
  4. Have no more than 18 credits remaining before graduation (excluding the 12 Capstone credits)
  5. Complete SPM 455 Senior Capstone Experience during one of the final two semesters
  6. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Attend a mandatory Senior Capstone Experience meeting.
  3. Submit completed Falk College offer letter to our capstone advisor
  4. 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.

Financial Assistance

Senior Capstone 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 selected eligible students during each of the Capstone semesters.

Deadlines are May 1 for summer, August 15 for fall, and December 15 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 or 315-443-0450 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.