The Practicum and Internship Hours

Practicum experiences are only available to students who have been admitted to the major. The required practicum experiences, which total seven credit hours, must be completed before the internship can be undertaken. In most cases, only one practicum can be taken per quarter.

EDU PAES 490.10 (3 credit hours, prerequisites EDU PAES 685 and 660.01), which provides practical experience in conducting graded exercise testing, is a required practicum. Other practicums that are available to complete the seven credit hour requirement include:

• EDU PAES 490.11: Body Composition Evaluation (2 credit hrs)
• EDU PAES 490.12: Muscular Strength and Endurance (2 credit hrs)
• EDU PAES 490.13: General Fitness Evaluation (2 credit hrs)
• Cardiac Rehabilitation (taken as 3 credit hours of independent study under EDU PAES 693.20, prerequisite EDU PAES 686

The practicum experience is designed to help students develop a high level of theoretical and technical proficiency in these areas in preparation for the internship experience. Students indicate their intent to take a practicum by submitting a Practicum Request Form to their advisor during the seventh week of the quarter prior to the quarter in which they want to be enrolled. Upon his approval, students enroll by registering for EDU PAES 490.XX. The practicum hours are arranged.

Students are also required to complete a 300-hour on-site internship (EDU PAES 589.01 or EDU PAES 598.02, 15 credit hrs each) before graduation. This is done during the senior year. Internship applications must be submitted to Dr. Swain, the internship coordinator, two quarters before the internship. Registration in EDU PAES 589.01 and EDU PAES 589.02 will not be permitted if the application is submitted late.

The available internship opportunities are very specific to the particular internship sites. If an affiliation can be established, students may propose to work at a new internship site, however they should understand that it could take more than two quarters for this establishment to take place. An Internship Guide should be obtained from Dr. Swain or the PAES website to assist with internship planning. Internship sites are also advertised in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and in the monthly Career Opportunities Bulletin of the American College of Sports Medicine. These publications are available for review in the Office of Student & Alumni Services in A100 PAES Building.

Students who intend to pursue graduate study with a research emphasis may do a research internship. The student must have a 3.0 GPA or better and must obtain a faculty sponsor. A research project is first approved by the faculty, and then conducted, reported in a manuscript, and presented orally.

Other Career Advancing Professional Experiences

The graduate colloquium in exercise science (EDU PAES 886) is offered every quarter on Fridays at 1:30 pm. Graduate students and faculty present research proposals and results of their research. The students in the undergraduate exercise science major are encouraged to attend these meetings to learn about research, current questions in the field, and new perspectives on exercise science and health behavior.

Faculty and graduate student research is an ongoing process. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to become involved in this research. By assuming certain associated responsibilities, students can take active roles in various research projects. Assistance with research projects will result in either acknowledgement of the contribution to the research in the acknowledgement section of the manuscript, or, if sufficient activity is undertaken, the participant might be listed as a co-author of the manuscript.

Professional Organizations

Aerobics and Fitness Associations of America
15250 Ventura Blvd, Suite 310
Sherman Oaks, California 91403
818/905-0400 or 800/445-5950
http://www.afaa.com/

American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 22091
www.aahperd.org

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
7611 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 201
Middleton, WI 53562
608/831-6989
http://www.aacvpr.org/

American College of Sports Medicine
P.O. Box 1440
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1440
317/637-9200
www.acsm.org

Association for Worksite Health Promotion
310 N. Alabama St., Suite A100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317/636-6621
http://www.acsm-iawhp.org