Internship Requirements for KNES 445
These requirements apply to students entering Towson Fall 2015 or later.
The internship is a critical component of the Sport Management major. This 6 credit hour experience (minimum of 300 contact hours) must be completed during the junior or senior years under the direction of a sport-industry site supervisor. Internships provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain work experience and create contacts in the sport industry. One 6 credit hour internship is required to complete the program; however, each student is encouraged to consider (a) a second (6 credit hour) internship as an elective or (b) combining the required and elective internship in one semester as a full-time 12 credit hour internship.
Benefits of learning experiences available to students during their internship include (but are not limited to):
- Observation of professionals in the field.
- Participation in the decision-making process.
- Demonstration of leadership and organizational skills.
- Development of professional contacts.
- Accumulation of practical experiences that will assist in future job searches.
In order for a site and/or position to be approved for a student to undertake for internship credit (as long as they meet the prerequisites) through Towson's Sport Management program, the organization needs to assess these concerns:
The site...
- Must be a sport-industry site (or the position must be sport industry related).
- Cannot be a current place of employment or a family owned establishment (i.e., the student's family).
- Cannot be solely sport coaching (i.e., if coaching is the determined career path, the student must have a role that goes beyond that of coach, and must be properly mentored - e.g., work with head coach/athletic director, etc.).
- Cannot be observational in nature.
- Must allow student to be an active participant at this site (i.e., the student cannot simply implement plans already put into place).
- Supervisor must have:
- A minimum of three years of experience in the field.
- Direct contact with the student at all times.
- Appropriate qualifications for the field.
Experience Objectives...
- The organization must agree to structure the position so it meets the criteria of
a bona fide internship as outlined by NACE, the National Association of College and
Employers:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student's academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
The supervisor and student should...
- Agree upon and provide a written summarization describing activities, events, and project expectations.
- Agree upon hours per week and daily work schedule required.
- Discuss assignments, evaluation, and grading process.
Towson University is ideally located in the metropolitan Baltimore-Washington area with access to a large number of internship sites within the sport industry. Students have had the opportunity to complete internships within the following sites: Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Blast, Baltimore Bayhawks, Towson University Athletics, Towson University Event and Conference Services, DC United, USOC, New York Jets, Ripken Baseball, Baltimore County Recreation and Parks, Bowie Baysox, Brick Bodies, ... (sample listing - not all inclusive). Information regarding potential internship locations may be obtained from an existing database of sites; however, students also have the opportunity to create their own internship experience. Further details may be obtained from the Towson University Career Center, located in Suite 315 in 7800 York Road.
Registration Instructions
KNES 445: Internship in Sport Management
In order to be eligible for a credit-based internship, you must meet the following criteria (prior to the start date of your proposed internship):
- Attend the REQUIRED internship meeting the semester prior to your proposed internship (i.e., FALL meeting for spring interns OR SPRING meeting for summer/fall interns).
- Completed, earning a minimum of a 'C', KNES 333 (SPORT MANAGEMENT).
- Completed, earning a minimum of a 'C', KNES 345 (SEMINAR & FIELD EXPERIENCE IN SPORT MANAGEMENT).
- Earned a minimum of 72 credit hours.
- Have a GPA that equates to good academic standing (i.e., 2.0).
*Please note that winter is the only semester that internships will not be offered and students will not be permitted to over-enroll in coursework the semester in which they are interning for credit.
Prior to submitting and/or filling out paperwork, you must contact a site and secure an experience (this is YOUR responsibility!). In order to find a site, you can:
- Check Handshake for currently approved sites.
- Use the Previously Approved Internship Sites document from previous Sport Management students.
- Find one on your own. - If you are not sure if your selection will fit the criteria for an 'appropriate,' and therefore approved, internship site, please feel free to send the Internship Coordinator a description of the site and an outline of your potential experience (a preliminary verification may be necessary if the site/experience does not directly relate to your degree progress, application of your course materials, or the discipline as a whole).
For approval, the following must be reviewed and completed:
- Internship Syllabus - must be read and followed carefully.
- Internship Documents (TWO copies), submitted directly to the Internship Coordinator: For approval, the following
must be reviewed and/or completed:
- Internship Description & Registration Form - to be completed and signed by you and your potential site supervisor.
- Job Description - attached to and used to complete the Internship Description & Registration Form.
Approval deadlines will be discussed at the internship meeting - you must have your internship paper submitted, approved, and become registered by the date discussed at that time.