Internships

Expected Learning Objectives and Outcomes

The internship is designed to be a culminating experience in which you have the opportunity to put into practice what you have learned throughout your fitness courses. It is also designed to be an opportunity to gain experience in the specific area of interest for each individual student. Therefore, some of the expected learning experiences/outcomes from the internship include, but are not limited to:

  • Demonstrate the use of health and fitness field and laboratory instruments, techniques, procedures and equipment
  • Demonstrate the ability to administer appropriate test protocols for evaluating the components of physical fitness (cardiovascular endurance, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.)
  • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and interpret exercise-testing results
    Demonstrate the ability to develop individualized exercise prescriptions, which are based upon exercise test results including modality, intensity, frequency, and duration.
  • Develop the ability to describe and develop an exercise prescription plan, which encompasses the initial prescription, the maintenance of that prescription and re-evaluation strategies
  • Demonstrate leadership incorporating methods in aerobic exercise, strength conditioning and joint flexibility
  • Demonstrate the ability to implement an exercise prescription
  • Demonstrate personal and teaching methods in lifetime fitness activities such as: skill in walking/jogging, cycling, swimming, aerobic dance, exercise techniques, cardiovascular fitness equipment, strength training, stretching, and racquet sports

Finding a Site

Many Fitness majors find an internship site from a listing of sites that previous students have used. Others use Internet searches, telephone directories, and/or listings from professional organizations. Once you find a site that appeals to you, obtain approval to work at that site through the Fitness Program Director. This approval must be granted prior to your registration for the internship.

Requirements

he minimum work requirement for a 12 credit hour internship is 40 hours per week for an entire semester (14 weeks for fall or spring, 12 weeks for summer). You may adjust the number of weeks you work by changing the rate at which you accumulate hours. To be eligible for ESS 450, students must have completed all other requirements for graduation (e.g., all course work, acceptable GPA, etc.). Fitness students should register for ESS 450 section 001.

Forms

Download the Board of Regents Agreement (Now required for all interns). The other forms (including the contract, position description, work progress reports, and employer evaluations) are available in a packet that you can receive from the Program Director.

Steps

  1. Select an internship site.
  2. Obtain approval from the ESS-Fitness Program Director.
  3. Register for ESS 450 section 001 for 12 credit hours.
  4. Select the appropriate (field or clinical experience) BOARD OF REGENTS AGREEMENT from the College of SAH forms web page. Complete and print two copies then have the authorized person at your internship site sign and return both copies to the ESS-Fitness Program Director. The Director will get the appropriate university signatures and return one copy to your internship site supervisor for his or her records. PLEASE DO NOT ALTER THE FORM. Contact the ESS-Fitness Program Director if alterations are requested.
  5. You must also complete an INTERNSHIP POSITION DESCRIPTION, and CONTRACT/AFFILIATION AGREEMENT prior to starting your internship.
  6. Turn-in all 4 completed WORK PROGRESS REPORT forms (one form for each quarter of your internship).
  7. Have your supervisor fax or mail-in two completed EMPLOYER’S EVALUATION forms (one at the middle and one at the end of your internship).
  8. Turn-in a completed INTERN REPORT. Your report will help other UW-L students to assess the site you have done your internship at. In addition to the steps below, you may wish to attach other relevant materials (e.g., business cards, pamphlets, photographs, etc.). Please use the following guidelines to complete your intern report:
    • Your cover page should contain your name, the starting and ending dates of your internship, and site information (including site name, supervisor’s name, address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and web page addresses).
    • Answer the following questions in the body of your report:
      • What specific duties and responsibilities did you have as an intern?
      • What qualifications does the site require of their interns?
      • Was your experience relevant and challenging?
      • How did you use your existing skills?
      • What new skills did you acquire?
      • What was your housing situation?
      • Were you paid? If so, how much?
      • Did you receive fringe benefits (such as paid certification fees, free admission to events, clothing, meals, housing, etc.)?
      • Did your internship experience lead you to an employment opportunity?
      • Would you recommend this site to other UW-L interns?
      • What other comments would you like to make regarding you experience?
  9. All materials must be received on or before the LAST DAY OF CLASSES.