The sports industry has a major impact on American society. This major is designed
to provide a strong Christian foundation of moral and ethical behavior combined with
quality academic preparation to immediately enter the industry or continue academic
preparation in graduate school.
Understanding the social, political, and economic impact of sports is essential to
a leader in the sport industry. As sports administration majors study this process,
they discover the fundamental influence sports have on social justice issues. Christians
look to God's teachings and Christ's example to encourage redemption, peace, harmony,
justice and love in all aspects of life, including one's profession.
Sports can be a significant contributor to the betterment of humanity. Christians
may approach specific issues of operations or public policy differently, but they
maintain a fundamental calling to do God's will. This major will challenge students
to assess how their faith is foundational to their leadership.
Internship programs permit our sport administration majors to focus on the area of
the sport industry they find most interesting. This field experience allows students
to be a functioning part of an organization. The opportunity encourages reflection
on theory, leadership, communication, service, and ethical decision-making.
Fast Facts Regarding Sport Administration Internships
Prerequisites
- To be eligible for an internship, applicants must have:
- Completed 95 units
- Completed all prerequisite courses required by the major advisor
- Completed all three supplemental forms required by the Communication Division
Registration
- A student must complete the registration process to be enrolled in an internship.
Requirements
In addition to hours worked, students must meet each of the following criteria in
order to obtain an internship for grade:
- maintain a daily work journal at the internship site
- must submit a written analysis of an issue confronting the internship organization
- submit a reflective paper on the value of diversity within the internship organization
- submit a written analysis of the leadership styles within the internship organization
- submit a written reflection paper on the internship experience
- submit a mid-term and final supervisor evaluation
- maintain work samples to demonstrate their application of skills
Hours and Units
Students may receive two or four units of internship credit, and they may spread the
units across two or more terms. One unit equals 45 contact hours of work during the
semester. Work hours should neither be sporadic over a term, nor intensive over a
few days. Ideally, for every one unit, the student should work at least three hours
for at least 15 weeks (or at least eight hours per week in a full summer block). Retroactive
or advance "credit" is not granted for hours worked outside a term's timeframe.
- Two Units = 90 contact hours (Six hours per week for 15 weeks)
- Four Units = 180 contact hours (12 hours per week for 15 weeks)
Enrollment
- Obtain the three forms from this website or pick them up in the Communication Division
office in CCB 206.
- Submit the Ivory Division/Instructor Approval form and the White Release of Liability
Form to the Communication Division office in CCB 206.
- Once you have submitted the forms listed above, the Division office will enroll in
the internship. You will eventually need to submit the Gold Internship Application
for academic credit. Your major advisor (the faculty member who approved your internship)
will assign you credit for the internship. Please work closely with the faculty member
to ensure that you receive credit for your internship.
Deadlines for Enrollment
Students must submit the required forms to the Communication Division before the second
week of classes in fall and spring and by the first day of class during summer sessions
I, II and III (depending on which session you want to enroll in).
How to Find an Internship
- Check the Career Services Pepperdine Internship Website
- Use job search engines
- Contact friends, family, and faculty—especially your major advisor
- Check the websites of particular companies directly
- Check with the Communication Division faculty internship coordinator, professor Debbie
Wideroe at Debbie.Wideroe@pepperdine.edu for advice on how to find an internship.
For more information about the sport administration major, please contact:
Dr. John Watson
Professor and Coordinator of Sport Administration Major
jgwatson@pepperdine.edu
310.506.4242