Internship FAQs

This page offers answers to common questions regarding internships or field placements in the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation.

If you have additional questions, please contact the internship coordinator for your program:

• Health Promotion: Brittni Strickland, brittnistrickland@weber.edu
• Outdoor & Community Recreation Education: Jon Griffith, jonathangriffith2@weber.edu
• Physical Education: James Zagrodnik, jameszagrodnik@weber.edu
• Sport Coaching Education: Chad Smith, chadsmith6@weber.edu

• Do I pay tuition for internship credits?

  Yes. Internships are part of the credit hours necessary for graduation, thus you must be enrolled and pay all tuition and fees for required credit hours. Some internship sites may carry additional costs, such as transportation, materials, etc.

• How and when should I contact the department about an internship?

  The internship coordinator and faculty members have several resources for finding internships. Staying in close contact with them during your junior and senior years is recommended, as you will be more aware of internship opportunities available to you. If you have a potential internship opportunity, contact the internship coordinator for your program to discuss the objectives and goals of the internship as well as the job description. The internship must be approved and relevants forms completed before starting the internship.

• What should I consider when selecting an internship?
  • Goals and/or learning outcomes from the internship
  • Skills you have and how you can contribute to an agency or organization
  • The location of your internship (consider travel time)
  • Whether the internship site represents a similar setting to where you would eventually like to be employed
  • Whether the internship site is located in an area of the country where you would like to live

   

  The internship coordinator for your program can help you determine how appropriate a particular site may be for your goals, including future job placement, networking opportunities, and other considerations.

• Where can I find an internship?
  • Talk with  internship coordinator for your program about available internships.
  • View lists of potential internship sites for Health Promotion and Outdoor & Community Recreation Education.
  • Contact WSU Career Services for potential internships. Jacob Wilkey (jacobwilkey@weber.edu) advises students in the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions.
  • Talk to previous students/classmates about their internship experiences.
  • Call agencies or organizations and ask about available opportunities.
  • Connect with any local agency, organization, business, or department where previous volunteer experience has been given.
• What advice is available for contacting agencies to inquire about internships?

  First, develop a list of agencies where you would like to do an internship.

  Next, find the name and contact information of the program manager or director. The internship coordinator for your program may be able to assist you with this. Call or email this person and set up an appointment to meet with them in person to discuss potential internships. Before the meeting, do some background research to learn more about the agency, what they do, who they serve, etc.

  During the interview, articulate the following: what you want to learn in your internship, what your skills are, and how you can contribute to their agency. Prepare to discuss possible learning objectives that relate to your field.

  Do not wait until the last minute to contact agencies. Start exploring options for internships at least 2 to 3 months before you want to start.

• What happens if I’m let go from my internship?

  Students are expected to accept internship positions with a seriousness of purpose and to perform your work accurately and responsibly. If the work performance does not meet reasonable standards and expectations of the internship provider, the provider is not obligated to continue your internship.

  Discharge may occur for many reasons such as:

  • Unsatisfactory performance
  • Incompetence
  • Irregular attendance
  • Inability to perform expected tasks
  • Habitual tardiness
  • Lack of dependability
  • Damaging relationships between the agency and its partners, etc.

   

  Circumstances that might lead to a student being discharged are carefully documented and reviewed. As a safeguard for all parties, the case might be referred to the department chair, dean, and if deemed appropriate, legal counsel.

  If you find yourself terminated without ample warning, you should immediately communicate with the program director and/or the internship coordinator for your program. Be prepared with the following information:

  • Your city and state location
  • The name of the agency where you were interning
  • Your immediate internship supervisor’s name
  • The office telephone number and email of your on-site supervisor
  • A full written explanation of the possible reasons for the impending or immediate termination

   

  The HPER department reserves the right to contact the internship supervisor to check student progress, address problems, determine the value of the internship, provide input, explain expectations, and more. This typically occurs at least once per internship in the form of a site visit, but will often include other communication with the internship provider.

• Can I receive compensation from my internship while receiving credit?

  Yes. However, if you are completing your internship at your current place of employment, the internship responsibilities must be above and beyond normal work duties (i.e., students cannot receive internship credit for completing tasks that are already part of their job description at work). Some internship sites provide a stipend or other compensation, which is acceptable. More information regarding internships is available from the Department of Labor.