Students gain insight into career options, requirements for different careers, as well as work experience and skills to become marketable for job opportunities and graduate school. Practicum is offered each semester including summer session and winter intersession.

Site contracting and ESHS 4950 registering

Think about what type of career or skill you want to experience. Connect with the program's Practicum and Internship Coordinator for ideas and advice. You can also talk with your faculty, advisor and/or the Career Center.

Explore teh list of past sites, look at sites in the geographical area that you plan to do your experience, do online searches of they types of placements you want to work at, or visit sites in person. 

Once you have dound a site you will then complete a Practicum Contract with the site and return it to the Coordinator for processing. You will then register for the course, complete your hours with your site within the semester and complete assisgnments via Canvas.

Completing a Practicum (ESHS 4950)

• Complete 40 hours at your site during the section dates that you selected. You will attend your site using the schedule you agreed upon with your site. For example, all 40 hours within one week, or Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for 10 weeks.
• We will use Canvas for all mentoring, assignments and feedback. 

Internships allow students to be fully immersed in the filed and day-to-day operations, where they will be challenged to understand real-world application, develop communication and leadership skills and to grow as professionals. The experience leads to greater clarity in career and life direction, hours requited for graduate applications and a competitive resume. Internships are offered during fall, spring and summer. 

Site contracting and ESHS 4980 registering

Internship Proposal and Contract

• You will compete a 1-credit Internship Preparation and Professional Development course one to two semesters prior to your internship. The course is specifically designed to provide you with the tools to search for, communicate with, secure and successfully complete your internship. 
• The semester prior to your internship you will complete the Internship Proposal and work directly with the Practicum and Internship Coordinator to help you finalize your placement.
• Upon approval of your proposal and acceptance to a position you will complete the Internship Contract/Agreement with the site. Submit the Internship Contract/Agreement to the Internship Coordinator. Generally, this is done four weeks before your internship start date.
• The Coordinator will work with you to complete al required documentation for the site and U of I. You will then be able to register for the course.
• You will complete your hours with your site(s) within a semester. We will use Canvas for all faculty mentoring, assignments and feedback.

Completing the Internship (ESHS 4980)

• You complete all of your hours at your site(s) within one semester. You will work with your supervisors and mentors at your site and the course instructors at U of I. Assignments help you to reflect on your experience, and mentorship helps you develop knowledge, confidence and professionalism. 

Tips for finding a practicum and internship site

• Decide on what type of career or experience that you want to explore and/or gain experience in. Friends, family, advisors, faculty, the Career Center and the Practicum and Internship Coordinator may be helpful in talking through this decision.
• Make a map of the geographical area(s) that you are willing to work within or travel to.
• Be open to a variety of sites. For example, if you want to be a physical therapist but have experience already, you can look into occupational therapy, public health, research or cardiac rehab to explore what they do and help you with patient care skills.
• Look for listed internships, jobs, as well as simply identifying businesses and companies.
• Talk to potential supervisors. You are looking for someone with education, skills, experience, relevant credentials and enthusiasm to help you learn and grow.
• Work on a two-minute pitch that describes practicum or internship, who you are, your goals and why you are contacting them.
• Watch for the Practicum and Internship Coordinator’s emails with opportunities, important dates and deadlines and reminders.

U of I Career Services

Are you looking for a job, wondering about your career, or preparing to apply to graduate school? U of I Career Services can help you with:

• Major and Career Exploration
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• Job and Internship Searches
• Mock Interviews and Interview Strategies
• Salary Negotiations
• Graduate School Applications 

U of I Advisors and Faculty

Set an appointment to talk with your U of I advisor or your professors for their assistance with career or degree planning.

Two practicums and one internship. Or one practicum and one PEP171 AT Observation class if you are on the AT track.

You can do a practicum in any semester or session: fall, winter, spring, or summer.

You can do your internship in the spring, summer or fall, but remember that your internship should be conducted at the very end of your degree, after you have completed all of your classes and practicums.

Practicum and internship experiences must be started and completed within the course/session dates in which you enroll.

Requirements of practicum and internship experiences MAY include any or all of the following:

• Current CPR certification (certain sites may require additional certifications)

• HIPAA training

• Bloodborne pathogen training

• Current immunizations 

• Background check

Note, the costs of these certifications are paid by the student.

Geographically you can go anywhere; however, these are the rules:

• The site has to be related to Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences. 

• What you observe and do at the site has to be related to Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences. 

• You can’t do your practicum or internship somewhere where you’ve already worked and you can’t get credit for something you have already done (no retrospective credit earning).

• You can’t do two practicum placements at the same site unless you will have a different role at the site. You can return to a practicum site for your internship.

Yes, you have to pay for each credit. Some placements are paid but they are hard to come by.

Set up a time to talk to the coordinator, and/or talk with your professor, advisor or the Career Center. You can also discuss your options with your academic advisor, professors, or the Career Services Center on campus.

We ask that you seek out a new challenge with each placement to build new experiences and your resume.

Yes. For any hospital you will need to complete their volunteer application procedures. Hospitals need to coordinate many volunteers and also make sure you are healthy and able to carry out your duties.

Generally, you must provide immunization records, complete a background check and complete their health, safety and confidentiality trainings.

If you plan to do your internship at a hospital, you will also need an Affiliation Agreement in place between the site and University of Idaho. The doordinator and site arrange this, but you need to plan for extra time to allow this to be completed.

A supervisor must have education, skills, experience and enthusiasm. We want them to guide, challenge and support you.

Yes, if they have all the education, skills, experience, and relevant credentials in their area of work. The University of Idaho coordinator can work with any new supervisor to coach them through their new role.

No. The internship must be completed in one semester.

Yes, but make sure these show up in your logs, and "working hours" should still be the vast majority of your hours.

Yes, if there will be learning, supervision and some practical application.

For example, a CNA or EMT course requires classes, tests and a rotation/placement where you apply your skills under supervision.

The process from thinking about a placement and starting one can take several weeks to several months. On average, it can take two months for practicum and six months for internship. 

No. The hold for the class will not be lifted until all steps are complete. You cannot start any placement until all steps are complete.

Yes. Contact the Internship Coordinator to talk about international options.