The Department of Health and Exercise Science believes the internship program affords students the opportunity to apply acquired cognitive understanding and psychomotor skills and is a valuable supplement to their learning experience. Consequently, there is an expectation that the internship will foster learning and the acquisition of useful professional skills. Internships failing to meet these objectives will not be approved.

Typically, the student intern will be a junior or senior working towards a major or minor in Exercise Science or Applied Leadership Studies minor. The department expects the student to have completed the necessary courses to meet the objectives of the internship and possess the habits and motivation to benefit the sponsoring agency.

Prerequisites

Successful completion of 32 semester hours, overall.

Internship requirements specific to Exercise Science and Applied Leadership Studies interns:

The internship must be at least 36 working hours per credit. Internships are offered on a credit/no credit basis only. Internship credits vary.

The student must complete a daily log of internship activities (submit to the faculty supervisor within one week after completing the internship). This journal should include observations, responsibilities, resource materials collected, and recommendations associated with the internship.

The student must complete a type-written, post-internship paper detailing and evaluating the internship experience (no more than three pages). Submit this document to the faculty supervisor within one week after completing the internship.

The supervising faculty member may implement additional requirements deemed appropriate as part of the internship agreement. If so, these expectations should be clearly defined and included on the internship contract.

Steps leading to approval/completion of the internship

1. Obtain the Internship Packet from the Career Center. This packet will contain the Internship Registration Form, Student Internship Agreement, Learning Plan, Evaluation forms, and other necessary forms and information.
2. Secure an internship site. It is incumbent upon the student to find his/her internship site; the supervising faculty member, Career Center, and internship site supervisor must all be in agreement regarding the internship site.
3. Select a faculty supervisor in the HES Department and obtain his/her signature on the internship contract.
4. Complete all forms required by the Career Center and comply with established Career Center and HES internship procedures.
5. Complete internship.
6. Submit your journal, paper, and any other agreed upon material to the supervising faculty member.

Students have completed internships with the following:

• EuroTeam Physical Therapy - Decorah, IA
• Winneshiek Medical Center - Decorah, IA
• ReeFuel - Decorah, IA
• Decorah Chiropractic - Decorah, IA
• West Side Dental - Decorah, IA
• Gundersen Clinic - Decorah, IA
• Decorah Rehab Services (Gundersen) - Decorah, IA
• Nena Amundsen Lifetime Wellness Program, Luther College - Decorah, IA
• Luther College Athletic Performance - Decorah, IA
• Howard County Regional Health System - Cresco, IA
• Geico Insurance - Iowa City, IA
• Arkansas State University - Jonesboro, AR
• University of Iowa Strength and Conditioning - Iowa City, IA
• University of Missouri Athletic Performance - Columbia, MO
• University of Minnesota Athletic Performance - Minneapolis, MN
• University of Wisconsin Strength and Conditioning - Madison, WI
• University of Nebraska Strength and Conditioning - Lincoln, NE
• Sojourner Center - Minneapolis, MN
• Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN