Kinesiology

Internship In Wellnes Handbook

Health Promotion and Wellness Degree

See also Intern Handbook in Adobe .PDF

Table of Contents:

 

Internship Deadlines

Application for Internship:

Spring Internship:  November 1st

Fall/Summer Internship:  April 1st

 

Application requirements

Application form (Form F) with signatures

Resume

One page cover letter to accompany your resume

 

No Application will be accepted after the deadline. 

 

Student must meet with Internship supervisor prior to leaving campus.

  

 We are in an age of preventive medicine and developing positive lifestyle habits. The Health Promotion and Wellness curriculum at Missouri Southern State University is aimed at providing the undergraduate student with entry level skills and the knowledge necessary to function competently in a wide range of fitness and wellness employment opportunities. Graduates may seek professional opportunities in the following areas:

  •          Hospital health promotion / wellness programs
  •          Community health roles
  •          Corporate or industrial fitness / wellness programs
  •          Fitness clubs
  •          Personal trainer / wellness consultant
  •          Other health related opportunities
  •          Graduate school (exercise physiology, cardiac rehabilitation, nutrition)

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Philosophy of the Internship

     It is imperative that each Health Promotion and Wellness major gain extensive exposure to the professional field. The internship experience is a catalyst to assist the student in relating textbook knowledge and classroom discussions with the actual, practical job experience. Most entry-level jobs in this profession are gained by experience. An internship can help the student build professional experience and enhance a resume and network with professionals in the field.

     The internship should be viewed as an actual job: the student should be prompt, fulfill all time commitments and responsibilities. Any appointments; personal, medical, or school, should be made during free time, not during time of scheduled internship hours. Any such incidents or other inappropriate behavior is to be reported to the university supervisor for appropriate action, which can include dropping the student from the course.

     This experience is the beginning of your professional career and should be approached with the utmost integrity. You are a representative of the university and the Kinesiology Department. Any actions that jeopardize the image of either, will result in appropriate disciplinary actions by the Kinesiology faculty and/or the Dean of Students, and can result in being entirely dropped from the Health Promotion and Wellness program.

     Missouri Southern State University accepts no liability for health, accident or tort claims. Students should review and obtain insurance coverage that they deem appropriate and/or the cooperating agency may require. Professional insurance should be a serious consideration through professional organizations, such as AAHPERD or ACSM.

     Students must make application for internship during Priority Registration the semester prior to the semester of the internship. No applications will be considered after the stated deadlines. This experience must be the final semester of the student’s college career and is often most successful if placed during the summer months. During the 400 hours it is hoped that the student will learn all that is possible from the agency.

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Objectives of the Internship

 A.  Student Objective of Internship

  1. An opportunity to learn by experience what it means to be a full-time health promotion and wellness professiona

  2. An opportunity to expand his/her knowledge of the profession and personnel in the profession.

  3. An opportunity to observe, practice, and apply theory.

  4. An opportunity for self-evaluation.

  5. An opportunity to begin the transition from undergraduate student to professional worker.

  6. An opportunity to further his/her professional education under careful guidance of agency and university supervisors.

  7. An opportunity to expand and develop better human relation skills.

 B.  University Objectives of Internship 

  1. Improve the educational process and enlarge the scope of the curriculum.
  2. Provide a laboratory for application of theory.
  3. Provide continuing opportunity for evaluation of the student’s needs, abilities, and progress leading to adjustments in curriculum.
  4. Provide an opportunity for faculty contact with professional practitioners.
  5. Provide an opportunity for continuing evaluation of the entire curriculum as well as the internship program.
  6. Increase the scope and influence of the Kinesiology department’s services.

 C.  Agency Objectives of Internship

  1. Gives the agency an opportunity to share in the preparation of future professionals.
  2. Provides an opportunity to recruit trained workers and to evaluate prospective staff candidates for future employment.
  3. Provides a contact with educators in the field and assists in relating agency service to current theory and practice.
  4. Stimulates professional staff and strengthens in-service training programs.
  5. Provides an opportunity to experiment with variations in program due to additional staff.

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Responsibilities of the University Student

1.    Satisfactorily completed the Health Promotion and Wellness course requirements with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all university course work.

2.   Complete application (Form F) with resume and one page cover letter. These must be typed and are due on or before the stated deadline.  
       
      No application will be accepted after the deadline. 
 
3.    Select an agency to accomplish your Internship (preferably an agency, the type of which you hope to gain your entry level position upon graduation.
      Contact the supervisor of the agency.
 
4.    Meet the university instructor to inform him/her concerning the name of the agency,supervisor’s name, address and phone number. 

5.    After university instructor’s approval of the selected agency, complete Form F and return to the university instructor.
     
6.    During your experience with the agency:

         a.  Meet with university instructor prior to leaving for internship

         b.  Dress appropriately for the occasion.

         c.  Familiarize yourself with agency regulations.

         d.  Be non-critical of the agency’s philosophy, methods, and leadership.

         e.  Meet with the agency supervisor to develop goals and objectives for the internship experience.

         f.  Consult the agency supervisor when confronted with problems.

        g.  Conduct yourself in a positive manner as a representative of Missouri Southern State University

        h.  Inform agency supervisor if you cannot attend during the agreed upon hours.Conduct yourself as an employee of the agency.

        i.  Contact the university instructor with any concerns or problems that may arise at the internship site

        j.  Submit all paperwork (log sheets) to university instructor on weekly basis (it is usually easiest to fax this info to 417-625-9773).

        
7.    Fulfill all requirements for the KINE 495 course.  (Forms G, H, I, and J)  Complete all forms. 
         a.  Complete portfolio & formal presentation or multi-media presentation of experience to faculty committee and practicum students 
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Responsibilities of the University Supervisor

1.  Go over the "Responsibilities of the Student" handout with the student.

2.  Collect the appropriate forms from the student which are due prior to starting the internship. 

3.  Act as advisor on student selection of agencies.

4.  Visit the student and/or the agency supervisor at least once with 2 telephone follow-ups (unless more is deemed advisable by the agency supervisor during the semester).*

5.  During the visit, the university instructor will:

       a.  Answer any questions which the student or supervisor may 
           have concerning internship.
      b.  Determine the student’s progress in understanding the overall
           goals of the agency as well as specific tasks assigned to him/her.
      c.  Ascertain the student’s attitude toward the agency and the field of
           Health Promotion and Wellness in general.
      d.  Act as liaison between student and agency supervisor in transferring
           suggestions that may improve the experience for the student.  
      e.  Provide the supervisor with the necessary information and forms to
           properly evaluate the student at the conclusion of his/her experience.

6.  Collect and evaluate all written work submitted by the student.

7.  Provide the Registrar with the final student grade.

8.  Express appropriate thanks to agency supervisors for their time and effort.

*  This applies to students located within a 200 mile radius of the campus; phone calls/emails only will be required for those students located outside the 200 mile radius.

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Responsibilities of the Agency Supervisor

 

1.  Be familiar with the philosophy of the Health Promotion and Wellness Internship.

2.  Complete FORM F and return to the student. 

3.  Inform the student of all policies and regulations he/she must abide by during his/her time at the agency.

4.  During the student’s experience, the greatest benefit could be obtained by him/her if he/she were able to experience as many of the following activities as it is feasible within the context of your agency:

     a.  Orientation concerning the purposes, aims, and policies of the organization.

     b.  Orientation concerning the policies of the agency.

     c.  Face-to-face leadership opportunities in a variety of situations.

     d.  Opportunities to talk with administrative officials of the organization.

     e.  Orientation concerning budget practices.

     f.  Opportunities to participate (or observe) in various planning aspects (programs, facilities, scheduling, evaluation, or management).

     g.  Periodic evaluation sessions to point out individual strengths and/or weaknesses of the student during their face-to face tasks.

     h.  Opportunities to observe supervisory techniques.

     i.  Opportunities to attend general staff meetings, board meetings, and/or committee meetings.

     j.  Any other experiences which may be unique to you specific agency and may be beneficial to the student.

5.  Establish goals with the student as to what will be accomplished.  Gradually develop the student's responsibilities with the agency as you determine his/her capabilities.

6.  Inform the university instructor of student's progress and any suggestions which will facilitate the experience.

7.  Maintain a record of the number of clock hours the student spends at your agency.

8.  Acquaint the student with agency resources in the form of books, pamphlets, brochures, reports, etc., During the student's experience, he/she is required to compile a notebook/file of pertinent information concerning programming, scheduling, budget, facilities, personnel policies, and other information which will assist in the learning process.

9.  Mail Form I to the university instructor at the completition of the student's experience.

10. Provide a letter grade for the student's performance.

     A  =  Excellent

     B =  Good

     C = Fiar

     D = Poor

     F = Unacceptable

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Requirements of the Student

  1.  Submit the Agency Acceptance Form (see FORM F) prior to the beginning of your internship experience.
  2. Meet with university supervisor prior to leaving campus.
  3. Submit goals and objectives as identified with agency supervisor.
  4. Submit weekly log (FORM G) containing a report of your daily experiences during your internship.  Submit a log report following each week of work.
  5. Submit a written report of your Internship Experience that summarizes what you learned as it applies to each Health Promotion and Wellness course you have taken.
  6. Submit sel-evaluation forms (FORM H) at midterm and with final paperwork.
  7. Submit a notebook containing information and materials gatered while at the agency.  Approache this as if you are starting your own usiness.  What resource material from the agency would help you succeed in your own agency?  This may include information on programs, personnel, policies, financial procedures, maintenance practices, problem solving techniques, facility planning, suppliers, promotional materials, sample class materials, etc.  This is to remain in the department as a resource for future students.
  8. Successfully complete a minimum of 400 clock ours at the agency.  The quantity and quality of these hours will be evaluated (FORM I) by the agency supervisor.  All requirements must be completed to pass the course.
  9. Prepare and present a formal presentation to a faculty committee and practicum students about your internship experience.
  10. Submit an evaluation of your internship experience (FORM J). 

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Form Information:

FORM F:

 AGENCY ACCEPTANCE OF INTERNSHIP STUDENT 

 FORM G:

 Weekly Log

 FORM H:

 Internship Experience

Self-Evaluation

 FORM I:

 Internship Evaluation

(To be completed by the Agency Supervisor)

 FORM J:

Student Evaluation of Internship Experience

See Intern Handbook in Adobe .PDF

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