- To expose students to the availability of career opportunities that can be achieved with an educational background in Kinesiology.
- To introduce students to specific career pathways and certification prerequisites, as well as internship opportunities within Kinesiology.
- To offer students many enriching professional development, skill-building lectures and assignments, professional interview, and completion of observation hours within a professional setting.
- Complete forty-five hours of hands-on experience within the field of fitness, wellness, allied medicine, sports management, or a research setting.
- Facilitate effective communication with the internship site coordinator, site supervisor, clientele, patients, and peers throughout the entire internship experience.
- Conceptualize areas within the discipline of study in terms of what you observe, measure, and quantify in order to provide educationally sound insight in both oral and written format.
- Document accurate representation of practicum hours completed within a log with educationally sound reflection of insight into the internship experience, learning outcomes, and areas of improvement.
- Disseminate information presented by Kinesiology peers pertaining to practicum experiences, successes, and learning outcomes during an internship presentation or career fair.
- Gain knowledge, skills, and abilities within a perspective field of study that instills confidence.
- Demonstrate professionalism and ethics throughout the entire internship. This includes compliance with the following areas: internship supervisor(s), patients, clientele, and internship coordinator and staff assistants.
- General information about the practicum,
- The practicum placement contract is to be signed by the organization’s on-site supervisor, and
- An evaluation form is to be completed by the supervisor at the completion of the practicum.
- General information about the practicum,
- The practicum placement contract is to be signed by the organization’s on-site supervisor, and
- An evaluation form is to be completed by the supervisor at the completion of the practicum.
Click on a course to reveal more information.
KINES 295B is a one-credit required course for students in the Kinesiology academic program. It is the first of the practicum courses that expose students to general and specific career information, observational experience, research, and professionals in Kinesiology related fields of study.
KINES 295B Course Objectives
Students can choose from a variety of sites, including but not limited to schools, allied health facilities (i.e. physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant), fitness centers, university courses, and community or corporate health and wellness programs. Students are required to choose a field that directly relates to their career goals and/or expected professional certifications.
Students must complete a minimum of twelve hours of hands-on experience in that field.
Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: second-semester standing.
Enrollment for this course is with permission only. To enroll for this course at Penn State Altoona, you must contact Tracey Elkin at [email protected].
KINES 395B provides a supervised experience in leading and assisting in tasks associated with fitness testing and prescription in a variety of settings.
KINES 395B is a one-credit required course for students in the Movement Science and AEH (University Park only) option of the Kinesiology curriculum. KINES 395B is not required for students enrolled in the Kinesiology Exercise Science option.
This course is the second of the three practicum courses completed under the supervision of, but not limited to, a fitness instructor, strength and conditioning coach, wellness director, physical therapist, chiropractor, medical physician, sports marketing director, or faculty mentor. This course allows each student the opportunity to receive an introduction to hands-on experience within the health, wellness, research setting, or medical profession.
KINES 395B Course Objectives
Students must complete a minimum of forty-five hours of hands-on experience in that field.
Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: KINES 295B and fifth-semester standing.
Enrollment for this course is with permission only. To enroll for this course at Penn State Altoona, you must contact Tracey Elkin at [email protected].
KINES 495B is a six-credit required course for students in the Movement Science and Applied Exercise Health (AEH) Options within the Kinesiology curriculum.
KINES 495B requires students to complete gainful leadership and experiential learning in workplaces or research settings with the expectation that these experiences will allow them the opportunity to apply and integrate content from all their courses with success and insight. Therefore, the internship experience should be structured to be as realistic as possible and include as many hands-on experiences as is practical based on the internship site supervisor’s discretion. Ideally, students should follow the same work schedule as their on-site supervisor.
The Movement Science practicum occurs in a variety of settings, including but not limited to research laboratories, professional fitness centers, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, community health and wellness programs, hospitals, and collegiate and professional sports venues. They learn the day-to-day requirements of being "on the job" or "in the lab," including professional management practices and ethical considerations.
Practicums are evaluated on an ongoing basis with the student intern, on-site internship supervisor, and/or faculty member involved in the process. Internships can be completed either on- or off-campus.
Students must complete 270 hours of hands-on experience in that field.
Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: KINES 295B, KINES 395B, seventh-semester standing and 2.00 cumulative GPA or greater cumulative GPA and nine credits of 400-level KINES courses.
Enrollment for this course is with permission only. To enroll for this course at Penn State Altoona, you must contact Tracey Elkin at [email protected].
Practicum Placement
Pre-Practicum Procedures: All arrangements must be completed prior to the start of the internship. It is the responsibility of the student to make 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. Correspondence will include the following:
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. During the site interview, the student is required to review the practicum contract with the agency supervisor, discuss completing the required hours of observation (six credits = 270 hours), and address any immunizations/tests needed to comply with agency policies, and/or CPR/First Aid certification.
All students are required to obtain Professional Liability insurance.
Students are not permitted to select various sites/change sites within a given term.
KINES 495C is a three- to six-credit required course for students in the Exercise Science, Science Option within the Kinesiology Curriculum.
KINES 495C places students in the workplace with the expectation that the experience will allow them the opportunity to apply and integrate content from all the courses in the program. They will be placed at professional fitness centers, rehab facilities, senior centers, and wellness centers. They will learn the day-to-day requirements of being "on the job," such as time management, record keeping, client interactions, feedback delivery, fitness program establishment and implementations, business and management practices, as well as ethical considerations. The practicum will provide as many hands-on experiences as is practical based on the internship site supervisor’s discretion. Ideally, students should follow the same work schedule as their on-site supervisor.
Practicums are evaluated on an ongoing basis with the student intern, on-site internship supervisor, and/or faculty member involved in the process. Internships can be completed either on- or off-campus.
Students must complete 180 hours (four credits) or 270 hours (six credits) of hands-on experience in that field.
Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: KINES 100, KINES 101, KINES 200, KINES 202, KINES 295B, and fifth-semester standing. This course is offered annually as the last course in the major.
Enrollment for this course is with permission only. To enroll for this course at Penn State Altoona, you must contact Tracey Elkin at [email protected].
Practicum Placement
Pre-Practicum Procedures: All arrangements must be completed prior to the start of the internship. It is the responsibility of the student to make 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. The correspondence will include the following:
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. During the site interview, the student is required to review the practicum contract with the agency supervisor, discuss completing the required hours of observation (three-six credits = 135-270 hours), and address any immunizations/tests needed to comply with agency policies, and/or CPR/First Aid certification.
All students are required to obtain Professional Liability insurance.
Students are not permitted to select various sites/change sites within a given term.
