Health and Human Performance Internships

What is an internship/What is not an internship?

An internship is a structured academic experience that takes place in an established facility/program and includes a variety of professional duties within that setting. An internship is not a job for which the student also receives academic credit.

How do I find an internship?

Students are responsible for finding their own internship location, one that fits within their academic program and desired learning experience. Students should work with their advisor to determine appropriate internship host sites; further, students are encouraged to have multiple internship site ideas before setting up a meeting with their professional academic advisor and faculty mentor. Sites such as LinkedIn, Chegg, and Career Services provide internship location assistance that would be advantageous for students.

Host Agency Information:

In order to supervise an intern, the host agency must have an established sequence of policies, training, and responsibilities for intern students. If the agency has not previously hosted intern students, the agency must develop such a written plan before intern can be placed in that setting.

The host agency must have designated internship supervisor who is an employee of that agency. This individual must demonstrate appropriate training and education to properly implement the required learning sequences. Typically, this means at least a master's degree or a bachelor's degree with advanced certifications.

The student can (and should) be paid a stipend to offset expenses, but may not be paid as an employee. Typical stipends range from $300.00 to $1,000.00 and/or provide specific housing, travel and/or food allowances. The student may not currently be, or have previously been, a regular employee of that facility.

Student Responsibilities:

The following steps represent a sequence of requirements for final internship placement, evaluation, and academic credit.

Step 1: Enroll in the internship course. Talk with your professional academic advisor and faculty mentor about how many credit hours of internship that you should take. One credit hour= 40 hours of on-site internship work. Most emphasis areas require a minimum of 3 credit hours equating to 120 hours of on-site internship work. However, more internship credit hours can be taken.

To be eligible, the following class work must have been completed*:
                        HHP 200 Personal Wellness
                        HHP 210 Introduction to Health and Human Performance
                        HHP 220 Responding to Emergencies
                        HHP 340 Tests and Measurements in Health and Human Performance

            Plus, for Health Promotion or Exercise Science Interns, 2 of
                        HHP 390 Physiology of Exercise
                        HHP 440 Kinesiology
                        HHP 445 Clinical Exercise Physiology or HHP 447 Instrumentation

            For Recreation Interns, 2 of
                        HHP 272 Recreation Leadership
                        HHP 371 Leisure Programming
                        HHP 450 Program Organization and Administration

* Permission may be requested to take internship when coursework is in progress or not completed.

Other prerequisite classes may be required by specific agencies. The prospective intern must demonstrate a minimum grade point average of 2.0 overall, 2.25 in the major and no grade below a C in the classes above in order to be approved for placement.

Step 2: Read through the internship manual. downloadable version of the internship forms and manual

Step 3: Research potential internship locations using Career Services.

Step 4: Discuss possible sites with your professional academic advisor and faculty mentor. You may seek out a site that has not previously hosted an intern, but it must be approved as worthy of University credit by the faculty supervisor. Sites where the student is currently employed are not acceptable.

Step 5: Write a cover letter of application to the site along with a resume. Have it reviewed by Career Services and complete the “Career Services Appointment” form, then submit to faculty supervisor via blackboard. Send to internship site location.

Step 6: Follow up any of your applications with phone calls or visits to the site.

Step 7: Upon receiving an internship offer or rejection, respond to the site with either a letter of acceptance or a letter of regret ("Thank you for your consideration").

Step 8: Provide your internship site supervisor with a copy of the “Agency Responsibilities” and “Agency Evaluation.” Have site supervisor complete “Internship Acceptance Form.” The internship supervisor will complete the "Agency Evaluation" at the end of the internship.

**THE STEPS ABOVE SHOULD BE ACCOMPLSHED BEFORE YOU START THE SEMESTER OF YOUR INTERNSHIP.

Step 9: During the first week of the semester (BEFORE STARTING INTERNSHIP), submit “COVID Waiver,” “Resume & Cover” and “Internship Acceptance Form” to respective locations in BB.

Step 10: Keep a daily log and reflection of daily activities and hours worked. Turn in the “Daily Reflection” (formatting found on BB submission area).

Step 11: Arrange for and complete an internship “exit interview” with the internship site supervisor. Have supervisor complete “Agency Evaluation” form. Provide the internship supervisor with the faculty supervisor's email address or office address. The internship supervisor should submit the evaluation directly to the faculty supervisor.

Step 12: Turn in “Final Project” to BB submission site. This project is a final online portfolio that displays the internship experience and information learned.

Assignment of grade

A letter grade (A, B, C, D, U) will be assigned at the end of the internship. Completion of the internship with satisfactory evaluations does not guarantee the student will receive an A. Students must demonstrate learning through various assignments and activities submitted through BB.

Forms to complete

For more information about HHP internships contact:

Fall Internships: Emily Washburn eewashburn@fhsu.edu

Spring Internships: Drew Gannon ajgannon@fhsu.edu

Summer Internships: Macy Klaus msklaus@fhsu.edu

Career Services

Find Internships Career Services General Information Resume and Cover Letter

Career Services Appointment Form

Disclaimer- Not all academic programs require internships. Please check with your academic advisor to determine if and when you are taking your internship.