Internship Sites: Minimum Expectations
EXS 490 – Internship in Exercise Science
Information for potential new sites/supervisors
Internship Course Description: Students will complete a semester-long supervised experience at a pre-approved health, fitness, wellness, sport, research, or clinical facility appropriately affiliated with Grand Valley State University. During the experience the student will complete an independent activity (special project) and by the completion of the experience further the student’s entry-level knowledge, skills, competencies, and abilities required within their profession.
EXS 490 Learning Objectives
Course Objectives: After successful completion of the course students will be able to:
- Extend profession-appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities identified by exercise science professional organizations
- Apply exercise science theory learned in the classroom to internship experience
- Build leadership skills within an exercise science profession
- Demonstrate professional and personal skills essential for success in the profession
- Produce a professional standard poster to communicate their experiences and skills gained during the internship
- Maintain a regular record of hours spent at the site including experiences and skills gained
Internship Site Requirements
Through the course of their internship, students should have the opportunity to develop some or all of the following skills:
- experimental research design
- data analysis, health screening
- exercise testing
- exercise instruction/coaching
- exercise prescription
- program design
- behavior change strategies
- health and lifestyle counseling/coaching
- communication
Students will register for the internship course at GVSU (EXS 490) selecting either 6, 9 or 12 credits. The number of credits determines the number of hours to be worked over the course of the semester
- 6-credit course requires 300 hours
- 9-credit course requires 450 hours
- 12-credit course requires 600 hours
Grand Valley State University must have a University Affiliation Agreement with the internship employer organization, this is a legal contract coordinated by GVSU’s compliance team, the exercise science internship coordinator & the employer organization.
Preceptors/Supervisors onsite at the employer organization overseeing interns in the field ideally have: 4-year degree in a related field, nationally recognized certifications, 5 years of experience, previous experience supervising or mentoring students and an AED on site.
Student experiences will vary by professional setting. The employee supervisor and student will prepare an individual student plan based on the employer’s expertise, discipline and needs while also considering the student’s skill set and areas for growth.
The following practices are experiences that most students should engage in to foster student development and learning.
- Assist and administer fitness or exercise evaluations.
- Assist in developing individual and or group fitness/exercise programs.
- Assist and educate participants in proper use of equipment.
- Compete a ‘special project’ developed in coordination with the employee site supervisor.
- Enforce site policies, rules and regulations to assure participant safety.
- Keep records and files on program participants secured and confidential.
- Supervise and interact with participants on a regular basis.
- Assist in and/or develop an understanding of the organization’s operations, including emergency procedures.
- Share knowledge, skills and materials with your cooperating supervisor.
- Develop an understanding of the responsibilities of the various positions within the organization.
- Develop an understanding of the organization’s mission and vision.
- Develop an understanding of the marketing and promotion of the organization and its services.
- Teach educational classes related to health, wellness, fitness and or athletic performance.
- Develop an understanding of budget management.
- Develop an understanding of equipment maintenance & purchasing.