Intro to Business Analytics ▸

Business Technology ▸

Coding for Analysis ▸
Syracuse University micro-credential*

Intro to Data Decision-Making Using AI ▸
Syracuse University micro-credential*

Applied AI ▸
Syracuse University micro-credential*

Project Management ▸
Syracuse University micro-credential*

*A focused credential that demonstrates mastery in a specific skill.

Stephanie Ryan

Instructor

Stephanie Ryan

sryan@golisanoinstitute.org

Emily Abraham

Instructor

Emily Abraham

eabraham@golisanoinstitute.org

Ervin Starr

Instructor

Dr. Ervin Starr

estarr@golisanoinstitute.org

Program Capstone: Launching Your Career & Personal Finance

This comprehensive, immersive course empowers students to transition confidently from the classroom to their next chapter—whether launching a career, building a business, or pursuing advanced academic work. Through a full-time applied learning experience, students will engage in a professional internship or entrepreneurial venture tailored to their goals. Alongside this hands-on work, students will refine their personal brand, build a professional portfolio, and develop advanced networking and interview strategies.

 

The course also emphasizes financial literacy and long-term planning. Students will gain essential personal finance skills, including budgeting, saving, managing debt, and investing, to support both personal and professional success. Through reflection and strategic planning, students will assess their growth, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and craft a roadmap for future impact in their chosen field.

Core Topics
  • Foundations & Future Planning
    • Conduct a Personal Finance & Career SWOT Analysis
    • Set SMART goals for 1, 3, and 5 years post-graduation
    • Launch your ePortfolio in Canvas to showcase your professional story
    • Reflect on personal and professional strengths developed during the past seven quarters and curate initial artifacts (resume, projects, testimonials, etc.)
  • Financial Habits & Field Integration
    • Build a personal budget and spending plan using digital trackers
    • Begin developing a debt repayment and savings strategy
    • Submit a reflective journal on internship onboarding (or venture development), highlighting progress toward individual learning goals
  • Strategic Financial Growth & Feedback
    • Explore credit scores and reports—what they mean and how they affect you
    • Develop a beginner investment strategy tied to your future goals
    • Analyze and respond to midpoint feedback from internship supervisors or entrepreneurial mentors
  • Workplace Readiness & Professional Growth
    • Understand the components of payroll, taxes, and total rewards (health insurance, retirement plans, PTO, etc.)
    • Practice negotiating job offers and compensation packages
    • Submit collateral to ePorfolio
      • Examples include resume, LinkedIn Profile, any Entrepreneurial milestones (e.g. business plans, pitch decks, etc.)
  • Capstone Integration & Final Showcase
    • Complete a Personal Brand Canvas to articulate your unique value
    • Finalize and present your ePortfolio, integrating writing samples, reflections, and visual storytelling
    • Deliver your Capstone Presentation, reflecting on your experience, insights, and next steps

Learning Outcomes and Career Relevance

  • Develop and articulate a strategic personal and professional plan by refining personal branding, demonstrating career decision-making skills, and reflecting on field experience and industry trends to identify strengths, growth areas, and next steps—culminating in a comprehensive professional portfolio aligned with career, business, or academic goals.
  • Demonstrate financial readiness by applying foundational personal finance principles to create a personalized budget, debt management strategy, and savings/investment plan that supports short- and long-term goals.
  • Integrate academic knowledge with real-world experience through a field-based internship or entrepreneurial venture, applying business and entrepreneurship concepts to create value and solve real challenges.
  • Demonstrate advanced professional writing skills by producing clear, persuasive, and purpose-driven written materials that support employment, entrepreneurial, or academic pursuits.