Field Experiences

Health & Physical Education

Student Teaching

Students on the PK-12 licensure track will work in a variety of school settings through teaching methods classes (HPEP 374, HPEP 377, and HLTH 465) gaining experience working with students in area schools as they prepare for their capstone course HPEP 482- Directed Teaching in Elementary and Secondary physical education and Health (10 Credits). This course is supplemented by HPEP 483 Seminar in Teaching.

Students on the Health Promotion track will work in a variety of community settings as part of their courses as well. The final capstone course HPEP 484- Internship will provide students an opportunity to work in a community health setting gaining experience and implementing techniques and content learned in courses.

Therapeutic Recreation

Successful completion of the degree program requires practical experience, beyond the classroom.

The following progression and requirements are identified below:

Senior Internship

Eligibility for senior internship requires successful completion of all coursework in the academic curriculum. The student must maintain a 2.50 GPA in Therapeutic Recreation coursework, and a 2.25 GPA overall. The senior internship reflects a 560 hour, minimum of 14 weeks placement, to be taken during Spring semester Senior year, or fall for those students who have permission from the Program Coordinator. Placement must be in an affiliated agency, and supervision carried out by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS®) University and National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) standards will be adhered to throughout this experience.

Therapeutic Recreation program database for internship

The career center has an extensive database to assist the student in obtaining appropriate therapeutic recreation placements.

Certification Examination

Upon graduation, students become eligible to sit for the national certification examination through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). The processes for application are the responsibility of the graduate, and the university cannot enter into the process. The application is available on the NCTRC website.

Athletic Training

Clinical Rotation Plan

Clinical rotations are designed to build upon previous assignments and classroom/laboratory experience.

Following completion of the first semester, the student gains exposure during the second semester in ATTR210 (Basic Skills in Athletic Training). Students are required to complete a directed clinical observation experience. The initial placements are determined by class size and student transportation needs.

During the semester, the student will rotate through three directed observation experiences. At least one of the rotations will be assigned at an affiliated site. At the completion of each rotation, the clinical supervisor and/or the student mentor submits an evaluation.

Once admitted to the professional program, the student will complete five Clinical Methods courses/clinical experiences. Each course involves additional lab sessions that emphasize psychomotor skills. Students are required to complete a series of allied health/medical observation rotations during one of the Clinical Methods courses.

Prior to the beginning of the first clinical experience, the student will complete a statement of goals and strengths and weaknesses. At the conclusion of each Clinical Methods course, the student will reflect on the experience. This reflection along with clinical evaluations of the student's performance and proficiency indicators will provide the clinical faculty with information to help the student enhance their clinical knowledge.

Clinical Internship

The purpose of the clinical internship is to provide athletic training students with an additional opportunity to gain practical experience in an external private sports medicine clinic or educational setting which is involved in athletic health care.

The athletic training clinical internship is an active learning experience for the student and serves as a professional field experience and early career experience for them to apply their skills and knowledge. The internship experience also provides the students with the opportunity to work under the direct supervision of another skilled professional in the deliverance of athletic health care in an on-site athletic training/sports medicine establishment.

The student receives 12 semester hours of credit for the internship experience. The student is expected to spend a minimum of eight hours per day, for the equivalent of five days per week, for 12 weeks at the internship location. During the internship semester, students essentially become a member of the facility staff. They will be expected to conduct themselves in the same professional manner as the full time staff. The conclusion of the internship experience will involve the student returning to campus to make a presentation to his/her peers and faculty.

Students must file appropriate documents with the department or program curriculum committee requesting permission to register for the internship. Students will select an appropriate internship site in consultation with the program director. Students will be expected to explore multiple possible sites prior to the final selection. While the completion of the necessary steps for the internship will be a joint venture, it is the student's responsibility to initiate all procedures.

Given the limited opportunities for exposure to private sports medicine clinics or for experience in large athletic settings such as NCAA Division IA programs, the clinical internship is the ideal solution. Students will be able to select their internship site according to their career goals and will work cooperatively with the program director to arrange for the internship experience. The obvious advantage of this arrangement is that Longwood students will gain visibility and networking contacts for themselves, the program, and the college. The CAATE Standards encourage sponsoring institutions to utilize a variety of health care facilities to supplement student experiences in the primary clinical setting.

Kinesiology

Practical experience is one of the greatest assets of any professional regardless of career objectives. Supervised internship experiences provide an opportunity for students to synthesize, transfer, and apply learning gained through previous study.

Purposes of the internship:

To provide the students with opportunities to assess skills and competencies in leadership, supervision, administration, and consultation through practical application;
To provide the students with opportunities to develop career enhancing skills and interests;
To provide opportunities to field test theories, concepts, and philosophies developed through previous academic and other experiences; and
To provide opportunities to refine career objectives in the health fitness field, utilizing both personal assessment and evaluation by the academic institution and the practicum agency.

The B.S. Kinesiology Internship Program is coordinated by the Kinesiology faculty. The faculty work with students and external facilities to place, oversee and evaluate interns. The internship is an 8-credit hands on course in which students are provided the opportunity to apply the principles they have learned from class in a health and fitness setting.

There are a number of prerequisite courses that students must complete prior to be cleared for enrolling in the internship.

Students are assigned specific tasks and responsibilities and are held responsible for completion of the field experience.

Outdoor Education

Each student is required to complete a practicum experience that will enhance his/her growth and development in the Outdoor Education field.

The time involved in the practicum will involve a minimum of 135 contact hours equivalent to 3 credit hours.

Students are encouraged to choose a program that will extend their knowledge and experience beyond what they experience in the minor program. Students must be in a leadership position and must be supervised by someone at the site who can attest to their practicum requirements and work.

Practicum experiences have ranged from working at Environmental Education programs, National Outdoor Leadership School, summer adventure camp programs, Youth Conservation Corps, Wilderness Therapy programs, wildlife agencies or assisting in teaching an outdoor education class.

Field Experiences

Health & Physical Education

Student Teaching

Therapeutic Recreation

Senior Internship

Therapeutic Recreation program database for internship

Certification Examination

Athletic Training

Clinical Rotation Plan

Clinical Internship

Past Internship Sites Include:

Kinesiology

Example Internship Sites

Outdoor Education

Contact