Start Here: Orientation to Practicum

EXSC  Orientation to Practicum

The outcome of the Exercise Science degree experience is to prepare undergraduate students for diverse employment opportunities in the allied health industry.  The program’s faculty strives to create an active learning environment that encourages students to be engaged, intuitive, respected fitness professionals.  The program’s teaching philosophy incorporates theory, practice, and technology with an emphasis on participation in professional development activities.  These experiences will distinguish our students from more traditionally educated job seekers and improve their opportunities for leadership roles.  Students will graduate with an understanding of the importance of demonstrating an active lifestyle.

• The Practicum is one of the required experiential learning experiences designed to allow students to gain actual experiences in the Exercise Science field under the direct supervision of fitness, wellness, or exercise specialist. This experience is essential to the student’s preparation and education for entry into Exercise Science.  The Practicum offers Exercise Science majors the opportunity to take important steps toward future success.
• Practicum opportunities can be in various settings such as fitness, wellness, research labs, and hospital/rehab facilities where exercise specialists coordinate with rehab professionals such as Physical and Occupational therapists and Athletic Trainers for post-rehab fitness training. Experiences can range from strength & conditioning with athletes, cardiac and pulmonary rehab, private and corporate fitness centers, and health and wellness facilities for special populations under the direct supervision of fitness, wellness or exercise science specialist. Students may obtain Practicum experiences in any region of the country. 
• The Practicum is expected to enhance the student’s academic experiences and include academic requirements and a variety of assignments that document the experience and provide opportunities for reflection via required weekly logs, Immersive Experience reflection, presentation, midterm/final student and Site Supervisor evaluations, and documented project or case study presented at LVC Inquiry. 
• Practicum typically occurs at or near the end of the academic program when all or most of the required courses are complete. Students register for Practicum in a similar manner to didactic courses for a range of 8-12 credits based on type and length of the experience, and the student’s outstanding credits needed for graduation (120 minimum needed to complete bachelor’s degree requirements). The student’s advisor will assist in determining the number of credits and Immersive experiences needed and the specific courses the student must register for.

  Steps to finding and scheduling your Practicum experience:

1. Review the Practicum Categories to get an understanding of placement possibilities.
2. Reflect on what you want to get out of the Practicum experience, what your next steps are after graduation and where you think you might want to start your career. Use of the Career Plan Links to an external site. document would be a good place to start. 
3. Review the list of Approved Practicum sites. Approved sites are previously used and have an active Affiliation Agreement on file.
4. Read the Frequently Asked Questions to answer any immediate concerns.
5. Prepare your Resume and Cover Letter - contact the Breen Center for assistance. Refer to the EXSC specific guidelines Links to an external site. for a Cover Letter
6. Meet with your academic advisor to review your degree audit and determine the number of Immersive Experiences (IME) and credits of Practicum you need along with outstanding degree requirements to graduate with a minimum of 120 credits. Review the list of known Practicum sites and discuss what your post-graduation plans are, i.e. graduate school or begin your EXSC career.
7. Verify your Practicum site selection with the Faculty Practicum Coordinator (FPC, Dr. Gazsi) before contacting the site(s).
   1. If the selected site is on the ‘approved’ site list, prepare Cover Letter (see specific EXSC Guideineto be sent to the known site contact stating your request and why the learning experience would meet your unique learning needs. CC the FPC on the e-mail with the attached Cover Letter.
      1. If an approved site offers a student an interview, it is the student's responsibility to discuss their learning needs and the learning opportunities available at the site, the number of credits/contact hours needed to meet program and graduation requirements, semester/course dates, and the facilities hours of operation to determine if the desired placement is possible. Each credit of Practicum = 45 contact hours; the minimum for graduation is 8 credits, maximum is 12. 
      2. You must be supervised by an exercise specialist, not a physical or occupational therapist, athletic trainer, physician's assistant, chiropractor, etc. Some approved sites offer learning experiences for different health science disciplines - you are looking for an exercise specialist - certified is preferred. Common certifications Links to an external site. include personal trainer (CPT), exercise physiologist (EP-C), certified clinical exercise physiologist (CEP/RCEP), strength and conditioning (CSCS, could also be PES/NASM).
      3. If a Practicum experience is offered and student accepts, CC the FPC on the acceptance/confirmation of the offer.
   2. If a student is interested in a new facility (not previously contracted with LVC), contact the appropriate person via e-mail or phone to determine if an opportunity is available that meets your learning needs and the required credits/contact hours to meet program and graduation requirements, semester/course dates, and the facilities hours of operation to determine if the desired placement is possible. Each credit of Practicum = 45 contact hours; the minimum for graduation is 8 credits, maximum is 12.
      1. If the new site agrees to accept the student for the Practicum/Internship, provide the following information to the FPC in an e-mail, copying the site contact, to begin the process of procuring an affiliation agreement: full site name, weblink, contact name, phone#, e-mail address, and a brief description of the site/learning opportunities and why the site will meet your learning needs. The FPC will follow up with the site and inform the student to proceed with the next steps after the affiliation agreement is signed.
      2. You must be supervised by an exercise specialist, not a physical or occupational therapist, athletic trainer, physician's assistant, chiropractor, etc. Some approved sites offer learning experiences for different health science disciplines - you are looking for an exercise specialist - certified is preferred. Common certifications Links to an external site. include personal trainer (CPT), exercise physiologist (EP-C), certified clinical exercise physiologist (CEP/RCEP), strength and conditioning (CSCS, could also be PES/NASM).

Steps to follow AFTER site confirmation

1. Student maintains all communication with Site Supervisor and copies FPC on items of importance such as the requirements (drug test, background check, health requirements, etc.), final schedule, etc.
2. Student completes all LVC requirements (see Checklist) and those of the site. A copy of all forms, LVC and site, are provided to the Department. (LVC forms are uploaded through the EXSC Department Canvas course through ‘Assignments’. Copies of site-specific forms are to be submitted to Mary Geiger, mgeiger@lvc.edu.

More information will be available as the Practicum Handbook is finalized.

Summer Internship Opportunities

Information regarding internship offers received will be posted here. Internships are additional learning opportunities to gain additional experience in potential career opportunities. Check back often. Students are also encouraged to contact appropriate facilities to determine internship availability and discuss such opportunities with their advisors.

Summer 2021: Strength and Conditioning

Wagner College Sports Performance Summer Internship.pdf Download Wagner College Sports Performance Summer Internship.pdf

Summer 2021 Internship-2.pdf Download Summer 2021 Internship-2.pdf