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Ypsilanti, MI 48197
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Purpose of the Internship
The internship is the final requirement before graduation. You must complete all courses in the program and have a GPA of 2.75 before initiating an internship.
The purpose of completing an internship in Exercise Science is twofold. First, to
further develop applied practical skills based on the theory, knowledge and
principles learned in the classroom and laboratory. You will have the opportunity
to observe, participate and learn from experienced health professionals to
prepare you to function effectively and efficiently in
the professional setting of your choice. Second, and extremely important, the
internship enables the student to develop professional behavior with both other
professionals and patients/clients. The internship is your first exposure to the
professional world. The impressions you leave will follow you during your
professional career.
Internship Options
There are two options available for completing this requirement.
1) 600-hour off campus practical experience. The student identifies an approved off-campus agency (i.e., hospital, corporation, community center, strength and conditioning clinic) and performs 600 hours of supervised practical experience. This translates into 15 weeks of 40 hours/week. This is a volunteer experience, however, some agencies will offer some type of stipend ranging from free lunch and parking to $650.00/month. These may also be more competitive to secure.
2) Senior Thesis
Instead of the 600-hour internship, you may have the option of performing
a research project under the guidance of a faculty member. This option is
recommended for students who plan on pursuing graduate (Ph.D.) studies
in Exercise Physiology. Specific requirements are still being determined.
If interested contact Shel Levine, Program Coordinator for more details.
What type of intership do I want?
When choosing the type of internship you want to do, you should answer the
following question: What would you like to do for your professional career? If you
want to go into cardiac rehabilitation, obviously, you should select an internship
in cardiac rehabilitation. Other possible areas for internship include: clinical
exercise physiology, corporate fitness/wellness center management, worksite
health promotion, strength and conditioning, pre-professional preparation, and
community fitness/personal training.
Other contributing factors that can help you
decide on an internship are: time
commitment, compensation, and location. However,
these should not be major
determinants.
What if I do not know what I want to do professionally?
If you are not sure what path you want to pursue, it is always best to do a clinical
based internship. You can always work in any field with a clinical internship. In
fact, some corporate facilities look for employees who have completed a clinical
internship. On the other hand, cardiac rehabilitation programs most likely would
not hire a person who did not do a cardiac rehabilitation internship.
When can I do my internship?
The internship is the final obligation to be completed in the program before
graduation. There are two requirements that must be completed before you may
start an internship. First, you must have achieved candidacy. Second, you must
have completed all courses in the major. This includes: PHED 300, SPMD 325,
SPMD 410, SPMD 430, SPMD 431 and SPMD 432. Accordingly, plan ahead! If
you want to graduate by a certain semester make sure all courses are taken on
time. Some courses are only offered during certain semesters. You may not take
a required class during your internship. This may potentially be a disservice
to the agency.
Where can I do my internship?
There is no automatic placement process for internships. Most internship sites
have an interview process in place to select student interns. You may choose
where to apply for an internship. However, remember some sites are extremely
competitive, especially during the spring/summer semester. You may choose to
do your internship in either cardiac rehabilitation programs, hospital-based
wellness center, physical therapy clinic, physician’s office, corporate-based
wellness center, university, team sports organization or community-based fitness
center settings. Other sites must be approved by the internship coordinator.
Can I do my internship at the same facility I did my practicum (SPMD 325)?
Your internship should be performed at a different facility than your practicum. The
reason being, the advantages gained by new experiences and viewpoints
outweigh the comfort level gained at a previous facility. In certain instances,
internships at the same facility as a practicum will be allowed if you can
document that new experiences will be learned. In other words, the internship
will not be a repeat of the practicum.
What types of internships are available?
