KINES 495B Internship Information

MOVEMENT SCIENCE OPTION

The upper-level internship in Movement Science (KINES 495B) is a very valuable experience for students in this option and within the curriculum. It provides the opportunity for students to enter the work world and use their skills and knowledge in a supervised environment. It is during the internship that the integration of the course of study and the application of skills and knowledge begins to evolve. Therefore, it should be structured to be as realistic as is possible and include as many hands-on experiences as is practical based at the internship site supervisor’s discretion. Ideally, students should follow the same work schedule as their on-site supervisor.

Pre-Internship Procedures: All arrangements must be completed one semester prior to the start of the internship. It is the responsibility of the student to make the initial contact with the agency or organization to inquire about the possibility of being accepted as an intern. If the organization is willing to accept the student, the campus faculty coordinator will then finalize the arrangements; corresponding will include the following: (1) general information about the internship, (2) a letter of agreement to be signed by the organization’s on-site supervisor, and (3) an online evaluation form to be completed by the supervisor at the completion of the practicum.

The student is responsible for arranging an interview if distance permits. If this is not possible, the student must contact the organization via phone to discuss with the on-site supervisor the expectation of the organization and the conditions of the internship.

It is important that the organization understand that it is under no obligation to accept students or keep them on if serious problems arise during the time contracted. Also, the student will have no obligation to complete the practicum if the situation is not a positive learning experience. It is expected that the student will assume the responsibility for his/her personal needs.

Conditions to be met as part of the practicum: The Kinesiology internship coordinator will keep in touch with the student and the on-site supervisor with phone calls and/or correspondence as needed.

Each student intern is required to:

1. Keep a journal of daily activities, which should also include a self-evaluation of the performance. This 6 credit Kines 495B internship is to be 270 hours of practicum experience over the length of the semester. For additional credits, you must complete 45 hours/credit of practicum experience.
2. Summarize his/her activities and self-evaluations at the end of every 90 hours (90-Hour report format) and discuss this report with the on-site supervisor. The on-site supervisor should sign the report to indicate he/she has read it. Reports are to submitted to the internship coordinator via:
   
   - Uploading to CANVAS Kines 495B with scanned supervisor’s signature
3. Each student will be required to develop a professional research poster of the facility services, specialties and unique experiences. Interns will meet back on The Pennsylvania State University campus to present their information at a poster forum for the Department of Kinesiology during the internship semester. [Further details exist on CANVAS]
4. Fulfill all responsibilities to the best of their ability. Absences for personal reasons are not permitted except in emergency. Permission must be received from the on-site supervisor and the Kinesiology internship coordinator. The student is expected to follow the organization’s established policy for absences due to illness.

All questions concerning the conditions of the practicum should be directed to:

Lori A. Gravish Hurtack, M.S.,
Kinesiology Internship Coordinator
268F Recreation Building, University Park, PA 16802
and/or via phone (814) 865-1326.

The on-site supervisor is asked to evaluate students on their performance and to write a brief statement describing their strengths and weaknesses by filling out the “Online Evaluation Form” link provided in an e-mail. This evaluation should be submitted to the Kinesiology internship coordinator the last week of the student’s practicum. The date to be returned as indicated in the on-site supervisor’s original e-mail.