Practicum/Internship

As a part of the Exercise Science curriculum, you are expected to complete EXS 296 (Practicum) and also EXS 496 (Internship).  These are required to give you practical experience in various job settings related to the field of Exercise Science. 

EXS 296 is a 3 credit-hour course, which requires you to complete 150 contact hours at the site where you are working.  You need to complete EXS 296 before your junior year.  All practicum sites must be approved by the faculty supervisor.

EXS 496 should be taken your final semester, or at least after you have taken EXS 325 and/or EXS 412.  This is the culminating practical experience you will have before you graduate.  EXS 496 is a 6 credit-hour course that requires you to complete 300 contact hours at a site of your choice.  You may do your internship at the facility where you completed your practicum experience, or you may choose an entirely new site.  However, any site where you would like to complete your hours must be approved by the faculty supervisor.

The procedures for enrollment in EXS 296 and EXS 496 are the same.  Please follow the following guidelines when enrolling in either practicum or internship:

1.  You must obtain professional liability insurance FIRST.  You WILL NOT be cleared to register for practicum/internship until the faculty supervisor has received your proof of insurance. 

2.  To obtain this insurance, go to www.hpso.com and click "Apply Now" at the top of the page.  The click "Professional Liability Insurance Quick Quote."  For question #1 enter the appropriate information; for question #2 enter "Exercise Physiologist"; for question #3 enter "No"; and for question #4 enter "Student."  Click continue, and on the next page click the appropriate bubble to apply on-line.  (Applying on-line in much quicker than applying through the regular mail.)

3.  The rest of the form is self-explanatory.  The insurance will cost approximately $35 and it is good for 12 months.

4.  Towards the end of the form, there will be a place for you to enter a fax number for them to fax the confirmation (Do NOT click the bubble for "HPSO E-Billing."  That is for renewals only).  HAVE THEM FAX THE CONFIRMATION STRAIGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY, RECREATION, AND SPORT.  OUR FAX # IS (270) 745-6043.  This will simplify things and expedite your registration.

5.  Once we have received your insurance, we will clear you to register for practicum/internship.  We must approve all sites.

6.  You must arrange your site yourself.  However, we do have a database with many sites where students have worked in the past.  We will be glad to share that information with you.

7.  Once you have made arrangements with a facility where you will complete your hours, you should provide the faculty supervisor with the name of the facility and the name and contact information of your immediate supervisor.  Contact information consists of phone # and e-mail address.

8.  Now you are ready to begin completing your hours.  You will be evaluated by your on-site supervisor and your faculty supervisor.  Your on-site supervisor will be provided with an evaluation form which they will return to the faculty supervisor. 

9.  You will turn in a notebook of your activities to your faculty supervisor.  Guidelines for this notebook are provided below.

Here are some excerpts from a Practicum/Internship Syllabus, including the requirements for your notebook:

Selection of Practicum/Internship Site: The selection of the practicum/internship site must be approved by the supervising member of the Physical Education Department. Students should select site(s) which will allow them to develop and enhance skills required in settings in which they are interested. Also, students should view the practicum/internship experience as the opportunity to determine if the experience at the specific site might represent a desirable career route.

Student Evaluation: Each student completing PE 296/496 will be evaluated by the supervising faculty member based on a) written and verbal evaluations from the supervisor at the practicum site and b) a notebook/portfolio outlining and describing activities and projects during the practicum experience.

Notebook Requirements: You will need to turn in a notebook to your faculty supervisor at the end of your hours.  Your grade comes from both your on-site supervisor's evaluation of you and from your notebook.  It should include a log of your hours, a daily journal, evidence/documentation of anything in which you participated, programs you designed, classes you taught, activities that went on during your time there, etc.  Include pictures if you want. Also, it must include a two-page paper from you summarizing your experience, i.e. why you chose that particular site, what you liked/disliked, what you learned, whether that particular type of job still interests you as a potential career path, etc. Make it neat and organized and put it in a folder or three-ring binder. Samples of other students’ notebooks from previous practicum experiences are available to view in Dr. Lyons’ and Dr. Crews’ offices.