Sport Management Practicum – Syllabus - Kent State University

Sport Management Practicum – Syllabus
Catalog Description - SM 3870. Practicum in Sport Management (1-5) Fall, Spring,
Summer. Under supervision of SM Division of School of HMSLS; petitioning required before
registration; credit hours approved separately by program area. Prerequisites: Formal
matriculation into the sport management program and approval of appropriate division faculty.
Catalog Description - SM 4870. 2 nd Practicum in Sport Management (1-5) Fall, Spring,
Summer. Under supervision of SM Division of School of HMSLS; petitioning required before
registration; credit hours approved separately by program area. Prerequisites: SM 3870 and
approval of appropriate division faculty.
Required Materials/Texts: (1) THIS PACKET!
Course Objectives: Students successfully completing this course should be able to:
1) Demonstrate a growing awareness of professional responsibilities associated with various
areas of sport management.
2) Observe and/or apply theory and principles to work situations.
3) Demonstrate professional behavior appropriate to the situation.
4) Enhance interpersonal and professional communication skills.
5) Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and ability to assume a degree of professional
responsibility.
6) Evaluate and improve time management skills.
7) Evaluate sport management as a career choice.
Practicum Obligations: Students successfully completing this course are obligated to:
1) Attend a seminar beginning at 7:30 AM on the first Wednesday of classes (check room
assignment with the Division Secretary). Seminar attendance is waived for those
students working with agencies located outside of a one hour driving radius of the
BGSU main campus and for all students in all Summer Sessions.
2) Work the required minimum number of hours per week for the contract period (3 clock
hours for each one hour of academic credit). Upon the request of the Agency
Supervisor, additional hours may be worked at the student's discretion.
3) Present themselves in a professional manner throughout the practicum experience.
4) Satisfactorily complete all written work, as assigned/required.
5) Arrange with the University Supervisor to be observed at the work site (only for
students located within a 3 hour driving radius of the BGSU main campus. At some
point during the semester, supervisors will be requesting a detailed map with directional
orientation to students' sites).
7) Confer with the Agency and University Supervisors on a regular basis.
8) Satisfactorily understand agency responsibilities (according to University and Agency
Supervisor evaluations).
10) Successfully complete other assignments pertinent to the field experience.

Academic Requirements: Students receive a letter grade for SM 3870/4870. The work you
present is expected to be of the highest professional quality. You should strongly consider
maintaining a comprehensive record of your Practicum organized in a loose-leaf notebook or
other binder. It would be good practice for you in that, as an Intern, you may be required to
create a Portfolio that represents a permanent record of your field experience. Your Practicum
record might include such things as a copy of your Field Journal, copies of mid-semester and
final evaluations, assignments, your research paper and observation, additional materials you
have prepared individually or jointly with agency personnel, other materials requested by your
University Supervisor, and other appropriate literature or materials, as you wish.
Practicum Assignments: As a practicum student, you are required to complete assignments and
tasks (see below) during your practicum semester. You must adhere to the general due dates that
follow each assignment. Space is provided for you to record the actual days/dates of
assignments on these syllabus pages, as well.
University Supervisor: The name of your University Supervisor will be provided to you after
the "Add-Drop" deadline.
A. Mid-Term Report (20 Points): Prepare and submit a report of your activities at the midpoint
of your Practicum. Guidelines for Mid-Term Report preparation are found on page 10 of
this Packet. Your report should be submitted with complete, appropriate responses (see
guidelines). The Mid-Term Report should be submitted no earlier than Wednesday of Week 7
and no later than Wednesday of Week 8.
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B. Research Paper (15 points): Write and submit a research paper. The paper should
summarize the tasks, duties, and skills associated with a particular aspect of sport management.
You must consult with your University Supervisor to select a suitable subject. In a research
paper, reliable written references are expected to be reported and cited properly. Check with
your University Supervisor to determine the required number of references. The research paper
should be submitted ASAP in the semester but prior to Wednesday of Week 5.
Actual Day/Date = ______.
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C. Professional Observation (15 points): Visit a sport-related agency and "interview" a
professional working in the field that you addressed in your Research paper (Assignment B).
The observation may NOT be conducted at your own practicum site and your selected site must
be located outside of the City of Bowling Green, Ohio. At least two weeks prior to your
scheduled visit, the "Letter of Introduction" contained in the packet should be sent to the
cooperating professional who has agreed to meet with you. At some point during your visit, you
must obtain the cooperating manager's signature on the "Professional Observation Report"
document contained in this packet. That signed document should then serve as the "cover page"
for your written observation report when you submit it. Reports that do not contain a
signed/completed cover sheet will not be counted for credit. The professional observation is
due at your convenience prior to Week 10. Actual Day/Date = __________.

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D. Agency Supervisor's Mid-Term Evaluation (10 points): A mid-term evaluation form is
contained in your green Practicum Packet. You must staple the pages and give the form to your
Agency Supervisor (be sure the words "Mid-Term Evaluation" are written under the box for
description of duties). Provide the evaluation form to your Agency Supervisor at least two
weeks before it is due. Agency Supervisors must return the mid-term evaluation forms to your
University Supervisor by Wednesday of Week 7. Actual Day/Date = __________.
__________________________________________________________________
E. Agency Supervisor's Final Evaluation (10 points): A final evaluation form is contained in
your green Practicum Packet. You must staple the pages and give the form to your Agency
Supervisor (be sure the words "Final Evaluation" are written under the box for description of
duties). Please provide the evaluation form to your Agency Supervisor at least two weeks
before it is due. Agency Supervisors must return the final evaluation forms to your University
Supervisor by Wednesday of Week 13. Actual Day/Date = _______.
__________________________________________________________________
F. Final Report (20 points): Follow the guidelines contained on page 22 of this Packet in order
to prepare a Final Report. Reports generally range from 3-5 pages and provide you with the
opportunity to summarize your practical experiences and reflect on your learning. The Final
Report is due by Wednesday of the final week of class. Actual Day/Date = __________.
__________________________________________________________________
G. University Supervisor's Discretionary Evaluation (10 points): University Supervisors
have up to 10 discretionary points to award to students based on subjective considerations such
as submitting work on time, demonstrated professionalism, cooperation, ability to follow
instructions, immediate responses to phone-calls, e-mail and other correspondences, and any
other appropriate areas. Points are awarded at the sole discretion of the University Supervisor.
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FINAL POINT TOTALS FOR DETERMINATION OF LETTER GRADE:
A = 90 and above (Awarded for consistently exceptional work)
B = 89-80 (Awarded for excellent work that is consistently above average)
C = 79-70 (Awarded for good, sound, average work )
D = 69 - 65 (Denotes passing work that is below average)
F = 64 or below (Denotes work that is not acceptable as passing)
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