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Internship Information

EXSC  Orientation to Internships

The outcome of the MS Exercise Science degree experience is to prepare graduate 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 Internship 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 Internship offers Exercise Science majors the opportunity to take important steps toward future success.
  • Internship 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 specialists. Students may obtain Internship experiences in any region of the country. 
  • The Internship 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, Internship Experience reflection, midterm/final student and Site Supervisor evaluations, and documented project or case study. 
  • The Internship typically occurs at or near the end of the academic program when all or most of the required courses are complete. Students register for Internships in a similar manner to didactic courses for a range of 1-6 credits based on type and length of the experience, and the student’s outstanding credits needed for graduation (33 minimum needed to complete master’s degree requirements). The student’s advisor will assist in determining the number of credits each student should register for specific to the experience.

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 Internship experience, what your next steps are after graduation, and where you think you might want to start your career. Use of the Download Career Plan document would be a good place to start. 
  3. Review the list of Approved Practicum/Internship 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 Download guidelines for a Cover Letter
  6. Meet with your academic advisor to review your degree audit and verify the number credits of Internship you need along with outstanding degree requirements to graduate with a minimum of 33 credits. Review the list of known Internship sites and discuss what your post-graduation plans are as you begin your career.
  7. Verify your Practicum site selection with the Faculty Practicum/Internship Coordinator (FPC, Dr. Gazsi).
    1. If the selected site is on the ‘approved’ site list, prepare Cover Letter to 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. Students are required to complete a minimum of 600 internship hours with at least 300 hours in a full-time capacity.
      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 Download certifications include 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 the 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. Students are required to complete a minimum of 600 internship hours with at least 300 hours in a full-time capacity. 
      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 Download certifications include 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. Complete the Internship Registration Form (Canvas modules) - this triggers your course registration for the Internship. The form must be signed by your advisor and the Program Director.
  3. Student completes all LVC requirements (see Checklist) and those of the site. Copies 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 Holly Verdelli, verdelli@lvc.edu.

 

More information will be available as the Internship 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.