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Majors

Human Performance

Internship Program

WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?

An internship is a structured educational experience which incorporates productive work experience as a regular part of a college student's curriculum. It represents a partnership between the student, employer, and UW-Eau Claire. Through an internship experience, students are provided with the opportunity to improve their basic work skills, test career choices, develop professional competence, and witness classroom theories and principles being applied in real world situations.

WHY AM I REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN INTERSHIP IN HUMAN PERFORMANCE?

The internship experience is an essential part of your undergraduate education that is intended to supplement theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom while promoting your continued personal growth and professional development in the field. A well-designed internship merges theoretical with practical knowledge and adds relevant experience to your resume. While completing an internship, you will learn more about your chosen profession, continue to establish your professional network, and gain confidence in your ability to work in an actual human performance setting. Completion of an internship may also enhance your job search as many companies use their internship programs to recruit and pre-screen prospective employees. The primary objectives for our internship program include the following:

  • To facilitate the student's transition to post-college life.
  • To help integrate and bring successful closure to the undergraduate experience.
  • To provide regular opportunities for self-reflection regarding one's personal readiness.

Internships are currently offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters each year. The required time commitment is a minimum of 30-40 hours per week for at least 12 weeks. Many placements exceed this minimum time requirement in accordance with facility needs. Some employers, for example, offer internships that last six to eight months in duration.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE HUMAN PERFORMANCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM?

You are eligible to complete an internship if you are a junior or senior Kinesiology major who has completed the following courses:

  • KINS 251 Introduction to Human Performance
  • KINS 355 Human Performance Lab Assessment
  • KINS 358 Health Fitness Instruction
  • KINS 464 Programming in Gerontology and Special Populations

Students who are completing an internship must maintain current American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certification or equivalent. You will also be required to satisfactorily complete a background information disclosure check prior to the start of the internship experience.

Students are responsible for searching and selecting an internship that is closely aligned with their professional goals and interests. All prospective internship placements must ultimately be approved by the Department of Kinesiology. No one at UW-Eau Claire can guarantee that every student who wants an internship position will obtain one. Since most internship positions are awarded on a competitive basis, you should begin your search as early as nine months before the anticipated starting date. Some students start looking up to three years ahead in order to secure an internship that best meets their individual needs and professional goals.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

During your freshman year:

  • Meet with your academic advisor to discuss tentative academic and career goals.
  • Complete KINS 190 Concepts in Kinesiology, a required course that introduces students to the major including an examination of history, philosophy, careers, and current issues.
  • Take advantage of the available Career Services resources (e.g., working with a career counselor, career testing, SIGI Plus Online at (www.uwec.edu/career) to further clarify your own personal interests, skills, and values.
  • Explore and research career opportunities in the field by attending career information events on campus, using the Career Discover Center, and conducting informational interviewing and or “shadowing” in your chosen career area.

During your sophomore year:

  • Continue to consult with your academic advisor to review your academic and career goals.
  • Complete KINS 251 Introduction to Human Performance, a required course that introduces students to the foundational concepts associated with physical activity, fitness, and health that underlie the advanced study of exercise prescription that occurs later in the curriculum.
  • Apply for admission to the academic program and outline a tentative plan of study that highlights your remaining coursework following completion of KINS 251.
  • Join a professional organization related to your chosen major and/or career.
  • Explore the possibility of doing some volunteer work related to your career choice.
  • Begin developing your resume/portfolio and continue networking with other professionals.

During your junior year:

  • Work with your academic advisor to explore choices that will be available to you after graduation: graduate study, full-time employment, or other.
  • Complete KINS 355, 358 and 464, required courses in which students learn to develop, implement, and evaluate exercise prescriptions for healthy individuals and special populations.
  • Research internship placements, job descriptions, and work settings related to your career.
  • Begin applying for internship positions for your senior year.
  • Consider completing a pre-internship practicum, independent study, volunteer work, and/or summer employment to further build your resume.
  • Attend a professional conference and/or sit for a national certification exam.
  • Attend a graduate school workshop.
  • Continue networking and adding to your resume/portfolio.

During your senior year:

  • Register for and complete your required internship (KINS 491, 494, or 498).
  • Complete your remaining coursework in the major.
  • Reflect on skills and abilities that you have developed during your undergraduate education.
  • Attend additional workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and the job search process.
  • Refine and finalize your resume/portfolio.
  • Research potential employment opportunities.
  • Use Career Services for setting up and preparing for interviews with prospective employers.
  • Inventory personal and professional contacts that might help with your career development.
  • Apply for and take the necessary examinations for graduate study and professional schools.
  • Complete applications for graduate and professional school.

HOW DO I FIND AN INTERNSHIP THAT MATCHES MY INTERESTS?

Try to gain some practical experience in the field prior to applying for internships in order to build your resume and better prepare yourself to make decisions about the types of facilities you would like to intern with.

Career Services maintains a database of employers interested in hiring human performance interns, and also hosts Internship Mania, an event where students meet with employers to discuss internship possibilities. There are a wide variety of Internet databases where employers post internship positions in the field as well. Students can also find internship opportunities by joining professional associations and attending regional and national conferences.

You must locate an internship on your own. Once you have identified a specific company, you will need to develop a job description with the employer and submit it, along with information about the company to the Internship Coordinator. REMEMBER - all internship worksites must be approved by the internship coordinator in order for you to receive academic credit.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

Prepare your internship application materials and start your internship search as early as possible. Update your resume and attach a cover letter indicating the position you are applying for, a summary of your strengths, and information as to how the employer may contact you. Do you have questions about resumes and cover letters? Ask your academic adviser, internship coordinator and/or attend a Career Services Resume/Cover Letter workshop. Be aware that some employers might require additional application materials as well (e.g., application form, academic transcript, letters of reference).

Many employers will also require students to complete a face-to-face and/or telephone interview as part of the application process. Here are some suggestions regarding job interviews:

Before an Interview:

  • Try to anticipate the questions you might be asked during the interview. Need help? Ask your internship coordinator, read materials on interviewing found in the Career Services Resource Lab and/or attend a Career Services Interviewing workshop.
  • Research the company and develop a list of questions that you would like answered about the internship position you are interviewing for.

After an Interview:

  • Send a letter thanking the employer for the interview.
  • Check your answering machine and e-mail regularly, and promptly follow-up on any messages you receive.

Refer to the Career Services website at www.uwec.edu/career for additional suggestions on the job search process, resume writing, interviewing, and so forth.

I HAVE RECEIVED AN INTERNSHIP OFFER WHAT'S NEXT?

Your internship is finalized when (a) an agreement is reached between you and your employer, (b) you have completed the "Approval for Human Performance Internship" form and submitted the associated documentation, and (c) your employer has read and signed the University contracts mailed by the Internship Coordinator. At that point you will be cleared to register for the internship and must pay your tuition and internship course fee. The application deadline is April 30th for summer internships, July 31st for fall internships, and November 30th for spring internships.

IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION I NEED TO KNOW?

Internship Contracts. As previously described, internship facilities need to complete two contracts with the University. The University Affiliation Agreemen (Adobe Acrobat file) addresses the main legal issues associated with the completion of an internship. The Program Memorandum (Adobe Acrobat file) describes the responsibilities of the student intern, internship facility, and Department of Kinesiology. You probably want to share these sample contracts with prospective employers prior to accepting an internship in order to be certain that they can agree to them. The official versions of the contracts will be sent directly to the internship facility after you have accepted an internship offer and received Department approval.

During the Internship. In addition to the work that you will perform for your employer, you will (a) complete an individual learning plan describing your goals for the internship, (b) submit weekly reflective journals to the internship coordinator, and (c) participate in periodic electronic bulletin board discussions with other interns. These course requirements are delivered in a web-based format so you will need Internet access throughout the course of the internship experience.

The On-site Visit. The internship coordinator will try and visit you at least once during your internship if possible. During this visit, they will meet with you and your internship supervisor to discuss how your work is progressing.

Problems. Most internships progress smoothly. However, if there is ever a problem between you and your employer which cannot be resolved, please discuss this problem with the internship coordinator immediately.

Performance Appraisal. Your employer will complete a performance appraisal prior to the end of your internship experience and submit it to the internship coordinator. The Department of Kinesiology also recommends that each employer conduct an exit interview with you before you leave the company. At this meeting, your employer should review your performance appraisal with you. Your employer may also use this interview to discuss future employment opportunities with you. You will be given the opportunity to evaluate the quality of your internship experience prior to its completion as well.

Internship Evaluation. Within four weeks of the completion of your internship, you must submit any outstanding materials that you have compiled in support of your individual learning plan to your internship coordinator. Your final grade for the internship experience will be based on completion of your individual learning plan, weekly reflective journals, electronic bulletin board discussions, and feedback provided by your internship supervisor.

Contact Information. The Department of Kinesiology internship program is administered in cooperation with Career Services. For additional information about the Human Performance internship program, please contact: Dr. Jeff Janot, Internship Coordinator, Department of Kinesiology, McPhee 229, 715-836-5333 (Phone), 715-836-4074 (FAX), janotjm@uwec.edu

EXAMPLES OF RECENT HUMAN PERFORMANCE INTERNSHIPS

Clinical/Medical Fitness

  • Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix, AZ
  • McMahon Chiropractic and Physical Therapy in Eau Claire, WI
  • MedX of Estes in Estes Park, CO
  • Sacred Heart Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation in Eau Claire, WI

Commercial Fitness

  • East Bank Athletic Club in Chicago, IL
  • Gold's Gym in Eau Claire, WI
  • Lifetime Fitness in Minneapolis, MN
  • 24 Hour Fitness in Denver, CO

Community Fitness

  • Eau Claire YMCA in Eau Claire, WI
  • University of Minnesota Campus Recreation in Minneapolis, MN
  • UW-Eau Claire University Recreation in Eau Claire, WI
  • Vail Cascade Club in Vail, CO

Sport Performance

  • Acceleration Minnesota in Arden Hills, MN
  • HEAT Program at St. Cloud Orthopedics in St. Cloud, MN
  • University of Notre Dame Strength and Conditioning in South Bend, IN
  • U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO

Workplace Health Promotion

  • Fitcorp in Boston, MA
  • Health Fitness Corporation in Minneapolis, MN
  • Land's End Comer Fitness Center in Brookfield, WI
  • Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
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