PEP 495: Exercise Science Internship
Department of Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences

Instructor: Len Kravitz, Ph.D.
UNM meetings: 8:00 am when scheduled (in B59, new Ex Phys Lab)
Office: Johnson Center 1160, Phone 277-4136, Messages 277-5151
Email: lkravitz@unm.edu
Web Site: www.unm.edu/~lkravitz (go to UNM > Internship Details)
Office Hrs: Mon 9:30 am to 10:30 am; Wed 9:30 am to 10:30 am and 1:15 pm-3:00 pm
Special Discussion: COE Background Check Information for PEP495 Students

I. Course Description:
The student will work for a minimum of 180 hours in a fitness establishment, corporate fitness (sponsored by a business or agency) location, or clinical setting.
(15 weeks x 12 hrs/week = 180 hrs for 3 UNM credits hours)

II. Credit Hours/Registration Information
3 to 6 credit hours

III. Prerequisites
Current enrollment in or successful completion (B- or better) of PEP 470 Designs for Fitness; Admitted into the Exercise Science program

IV. Objectives
The objectives of the internship are to:
1. Provide the student with an opportunity to work in a fitness or clinical program in order to experience actual work conditions in a different setting under the supervision of professionals outside of the University (academic) environment.
2. Refine and gain confidence in the skills developed in the exercise science program.
3. Provide the opportunity to work effectively with professional colleagues
4. Allow the student to assess personal strengths/weaknesses as an exercise leader
5. Gain insights concerning the financial/business aspects of running a fitness/health promotion program

V. Rationale
An important aspect in the preparation of exercise scientists is practical "hands on" experience in the health promotion/fitness workplace. As such, the exercise science curriculum requires 6 credit hours of PEP 495 Internship to provide students with work experience (of their selection) from three different fitness/health promotion settings (Fitness, Fitness in Business, Clinical). In many cases, students have been offered employment after graduation by the workplace where they have completed their internship.

VI. Learning Activities
The student will spend 12 hours per week in one semester at the fitness/health promotion facility. Activities typically include fitness testing, exercise prescription, program development, exercise counseling, exercise supervision and exercise leadership. In addition, experience in program planning, data management, fiscal management, communication and conducting presentations may be included.

VII. Required Meetings
Week Date Location Held By
1 January 17 (8:00 am) UNM UNM Supervisor
5 February 14 (8:00 am) Resume Due UNM UNM Supervisor
16 May 1 (8:00 am) Portfolio Due UNM UNM Supervisor

Here are the ABSOLUTE deadline due dates that I expect to receive a logs.

February 1
February 15
February 29
March 21: Your Worksite Supervisor Mid-Term is due now!
April 4
April 18

You may finish your hours earlier. Turn in your LAST log entries with the portfolio on the FINAL meeting day. Your Final Worksite Supervisor evaluation is due the week of FINALS.

VIII. Evaluation
1. The UNM supervisor will initiate regular contact with your worksite supervisor.
2. The worksite supervisor must submit a midterm (post 8th week) and final (post 15th week) evaluation of the student’s performance
3. The student must submit to the UNM supervisor bi-weekly (every other week) activity reports (sent by email to Dr. Kravitz (lkravitz@unm.edu) to include:
a. Every day’s (dated) internship experience activities with a summary of the learning experience. (See example at end of syllabus)
b. Accumulation of hours during bi-weekly period as well as total accumulated hours. (See example at end of syllabus)
c. Bi-weekly reports due on WEDNESDAY’S (5 pts off grade for late or no reports) SEE DUE DATES ABOVE
4. Turn in Placement Form, Agency Acceptance Form ASAP to University Spvsr (Dr. Kravitz)
5. The student’s grade will be determined from a composite of evaluations made by the UNM supervisor and worksite supervisor including all of the following:

UNM Meetings (attendance/participation) 5 pts
Student's Resume (Due 5th week Meeting) (No late papers accepted) 5 pts
Bi-Weekly Activity Email Reports (5 pt deduction off grade if received late or not submitted) 10 pts
Worksite Evaluation by Worksite Supervisor Post 8th Week 25 pts
Worksite Evaluation by Worksite Supervisor Post 15th Week 30 pts
Exercise Science Bulletin Board (group project) 5 pts
Bulletin board must be up within the first 3 'school' days of month. Put names of students creating board somewhere on board
Internship or Career Portfolio/Presentation (Due Last meeting date) 20 pts
Total Points 100 pts
Reminder: No Late Projects accepted!

5. Grading Scale
97 — 100 A+ 73 — < 77 C
93 — < 97 A 70 — < 73 C-
90 — < 93 A- 67 — < 70 D+
87 — < 90 B+ 63 — < 67 D
83 — < 87 B 60 — < 63 D-
80 — < 83 B- < 60 F
77 — < 80 C+

IX. Resume
For guidance in preparing a resume or cover letter the student is recommended to go to Dr. Kravitz’s WEB site:
(Click Here) for Resume Link

(Click Here) for Cover Letter Link for Students wishing help on writing cover letters

NOTE: Do NOT take any Responsibility for any Equipment at Internship Site

X. Portfolio (No late Portfolio’s accepted: Due on Last meeting date)
Each student shall collect flyers, information, handouts, and all written materials from the worksite and create an Internship Portfolio. The Internship Portfolio will be organized with topic headings in a notebook (see below for order). Top-loading sleeves may be recommended for some (not all) Portfolios. Students are encouraged to take photos of experiences and include them in the Internship Portfolio. Please note that 5 pts (of the total 20 pts) are awarded for professional presentation and organization of the notebook! Grading criteria for Portfolio at end of syllabus. The Internship Portfolio shall include the following:
1. Cover and/or title page: Your name and internship experience
2. Executive summary: 1 to 2 page-typewritten summary of internship
3. Bi-weekly reports
4. Student‘s goals and objectives with internship experience
5. Student’s resume
6. All material about worksite programs on health and fitness you can collect. Include materials and photos documenting your internship experience
7. All students will present their Internship Portfolio at the last Meeting date

XI. Career Portfolio Option (No late Portfolio’s Accepted)
This option is only open to those students who have completed an Internship Portfolio in a prior semester and wish to do a different creative project.

PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION: The student may create a professional portfolio exhibiting the student’s work in the health/fitness wellness area. Possible portfolio topics include, but are not limited to, work experiences, special projects from courses, presentations given, publications, funding/grants, wellness programs worked on, reviews, evaluations, service to organization/church/school, conferences attended, and public relations. Your portfolio may contain pictures, original letters, original flyers, newspaper articles and pertinent information describing your role in this field.

SAMPLE DAILY LOG ENTRY

1/27/2009 Tuesday
Today I met with Bradley, one of the exercise physiologists. He showed me how to use the electrical blood pressure machine and pulse oximeter. I got to take blood pressures and meet some of the phase III maintenance patients. These individuals have already completed phase I and phase II of the cardiac rehab program, and are now on a maintenance program. While the patients were exercising, I walked around the exercise room and talked with the patients and assisted them when necessary on the equipment. I observed a patient’s pulse on the pulse oximeter reveal bigemney sinus rhythm. It only seems to occur while this individual is exercising, and after a few minutes rest after, exercise, the bigemney rhythm subsides. This was exciting to see on my second day.

Day Hours 4.5
RUNNING TOTAL HOURS: 29
XII. What goes into a Letter of Recommendation? Categories Discussed. Each semester I write many letters of recommendation for ES students applying to graduate schools. These are topics I discuss.
1. Communication skills: written and verbal
2. Maturity: thinks & acts responsibly, exhibits self-control, accepts constructive criticism
3. Interpersonal relations: working with others, ability to follow directions
4. Resourcefulness: preparation and consistent performance in class activities
5. Perseverance: self-disciplined, self-motivated
6. Problem solving ability: ability to analyze and logically think through problems
7. Intellectual capability: open minded, perceptive, inquisitive
8. Understanding of key principles and concepts of profession
9. Leadership: ability to motivate and inspire others, ability to take charge
10. Initiative and self-confidence
11. Motivation for the profession
12. Overall professionalism in the quality of work presented for class assignments
13. Responsibility: reliability and dependability

Grading Criteria of Portfolio
(5 pts) Professional Presentation of Materials
(1 pts) Cover and/or Title Page
(3 pts) Executive Summary
(1 pts) Bi-Weekly Reports
(1 pts) Students Goals and Objectives
(3 pts) Student’s resume and/or Cover Letter
(6 pts) Materials Documenting Your Internship Experience

Total 20 Pts