Sport Management Internship Guide
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SM 4900 Sport Management Internship is a sport management degree requirement. Prerequisites include other required sport management courses. Since the course is a 400-hour, 12-credit experience, taking other courses concurrently is not recommended. Most students take SM 4900 during their last semester, but the prior semester may be more appropriate in specific situations. Consider pursuing other internships during the summer to gain professional experience. If college credit is required, contact your advisor about an independent study or the Career Center about CP 3910/3920 Co-op Work Project I or II. Remember that tuition-related expenses will be involved.
Getting Started
- RESUME! Creating your resume is the first step of any internship search. Come to Career Services for examples, advice and resume review.
- Brainstorming what would you like to do and for what kind of organization on your own and with your advisor is an excellent next step.
- Taking SM 3900 Professional Seminar in Sport Management, a required major course, will help you with your resume and additional aspects of the internship search.
- Attending the departmental practicum/internship orientation offered each semester will also be helpful.
- Submitting your resume and an online intent to register for SM 4900 here will enable your advisor to request that you be placed in SM 4900. You will not be able to self-enroll.
- The SM 4900 instructor will send you instructions for obtaining a background check about a month before the term begins.
Research Opportunities
The best way to get research experience is to start with your professors. Are there projects you can assist with? If research opportunities are not currently available at Rockhurst, look to other local colleges and universities. Contact universities that are conducting relevant research and ask to volunteer.
Internship Postings
Many internship opportunities can be found online:
- The RU Career Account
This account must be set up by Career Services. It gives access to internship postings sent directly to Rockhurst from employers. Sign up for an account at weekly workshops offered on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. in Career Services.- NACE Link
This database is offered through the RU Career Account and is a good resource if you are seeking opportunities outside of Kansas City, especially in major metropolitan areas.
- NACE Link
- Organization Websites
- Many organizations post internships on their own websites.
Timeline
- Approximately 6-12 months prior to when you want to start an internship, enroll in SM 3900 (offered every three semesters) and create your resume or curriculum vitae; take it to Career Services for review.
- Research companies and programs.
- Occasionally, informational interviews may become internship offers.
- If you are interested in an internship with a major or minor league team, register with teamworkonline.com. Exploring positions one year in advance will give you an idea of what may be available the semester you want to take SM 4900.
- Begin applications. Plan to apply for six internships if you are pursuing highly competitive positions. A quick email to your advisor each time you apply is appreciated but not required.
- Practice with a mock interview in Career Services.
Kansas City Organizations
Resources for researching organizations in Kansas City:
- The Kansas City Business Journal Book of Lists, located in the Career Services office
- RU Career Account, accessed through the Career Services website
- Google search
- U.S. Department of Labor Employer Locator
- Networking! Talk to classmates, professors, family and friends.
Examples of organizations:
- For major and minor league sports team internships
- For other positions, check specific organizations for which you’d like to work.
- Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- NAIA member sport vacancies
- United Soccer Coaches
- Coaches Sports Center (also useful for graduate assistantships)
- Also, explore general job posting sites.
Searching in Other Cities
Use the same resources; simply focus them on other cities. NACE Link, an internship/job database through the RU Career Account, is connected to 500 other colleges nationwide. Additionally, many Jesuit universities offer reciprocal career services. Contact RU Career Services to find out if you can receive services from another Jesuit university in the city you want to search in. SM 4900 placements outside the metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri, area are limited to student-located sites with existing internship programs. A 3.2 GPA is recommended.
