Curriculum Innovation

During their first year, students take part in a First-Year Experience Seminar that enables them to develop a sense of belonging and allows them to transition quickly and easily into college life.

Through the IU Indianapolis Bridge Week, students have the chance, the week prior to the start of the semester, to meet people, ask questions, and adjust to college life before their first class gets underway.

During Bridge Week, students studying sport management experience design thinking for the first time in a rigorous activity called the Jag Challenge. Students take a space and use design thinking to find a problem, develop a solution, and pitch to stakeholders on campus.

During their first year, students complete an introductory course that ties a design thinking micro-project into the fundamental curriculum to get students to understand the mindset and method of design thinking while solving a common problem in the sports industry.

After completion of the micro-project in their introductory course, students will then enroll in a course entitled Management Principles in Sport. Building on the project from the introductory course, the students will undertake a series of projects during the semester that put them in hyper-focused positions in the design thinking method.

A microproject in empathy is followed by a case study guiding students to the true problem in a space. Once students learn and understand these steps, another case study is inserted for them to ideate a solution before undertaking an intense project that ties all steps of the design thinking process together. The semester culminates in an end of semester presentation and pitch.

Students use the methods and mindsets taught in the prior three classes and apply them in a semester-long project with an industry partner.

Recaps from our Senior Capstone courses describing our methods and solutions:

Spring 2024 Capstone - Mudsock Youth Athletics

Fall 2023 Capstone - Special Olympics Indiana

Spring 2023 Capstone - IU Indianapolis Athletics

Fall 2022 Capstone - Indiana Sports Corporation

Spring 2022 Capstone - Long-Term Program Development in Youth Sports

Fall 2021 Capstone - Grand Park Sports Campus

Spring 2021 Capstone - Reimagining Sports Ticket Sales