By definition, an internship is a supervised learning experience under the tutelage of a schooled professional. By practice, an internship is an opportunity for students to gain work experience in the career field associated with their studies. Not only do internships provide students with a realistic understanding of day-to-day aspects of a particular industry, but internships also offer important opportunities to network with professionals in the field. An internship may make students stronger candidates for jobs after graduation because of the industry insights gained while interning.
Sometimes, companies extend job offers to interns who have performed exceptionally well and who have proven themselves hardworking, attentive, proactive, adaptable, and respectful. Even if a company is not hiring at the time an internship ends, a student who has shown these attributes is more likely to get an excellent letter of reference.
Department of Kinesiology students have completed internships with many organizations in a variety of capacities, to include:
- Local and nationally franchised Fitness and Recreation Centers and gyms
- Assisted living and Alzheimer's care facilities
- CMU Varsity and Intramural Athletic teams; Hamilton Rec Center at CMU
- Golf Clubs and Associations
- Colorado Discover Ability (CDA)
- District 51 Schools
- St. Mary's Hospital, Family Health West, Community Hospital, Delta County Memorial Hospital
- Local Orthopedic, Physical Therapy, and Rehabilitation Clinics
- Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans Administration Medical Center
- Powderhorn Ski Resort
- Special Olympics
- USA Volleyball Women's National Team
- STRIVE
- Club, College, and Professional Sports Organizations across the country
Internship Opportunities
Department of Kinesiology majors can discover available internships in several ways:
- Contact internship coordinators to discuss internships in your degree field
- Adapted Physical Education: Dr. Jill Cordova ([email protected])
- Athletic Training: Dr. Alli Powell ([email protected])
- Exercise Science: Dr. Gannon White ([email protected])
- Fitness and Health Promotion: Dr. Kristin Heumann ([email protected])
- Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies: Sarah Shrader ([email protected])
- Sport Management: Dr. Sean Phelps ([email protected]) or Dr. Sloane Milstein ([email protected])
- Contact the CMU Career Services Office.
- Register through Handshake, an online internship resource that connects employers/organizations with CMU students.
- Directly approach and discuss internship opportunities with the organization with which you would like to intern.
Registering for an Internship for Credit
Kinesiology majors can apply for an internship and earn credit towards their Kinesiology degree by discussing the plan with their advisor and requesting permission to register for a KINE 499 Internship, which varies from 3-12 credit hours and is open to Senior Kinesiology students in good standing.
Each credit is equivalent to 45 hours of work as an intern.
As you get ready to take an internship, there are steps you will need to follow. Please review the information below (you can also find the steps outlined here).
STEP 1: Meet with Faculty Internship Coordinator
- Contact your faculty internship coordinator to discuss options in your field of study.
- Your internship coordinator will help determine if your internship meets Colorado Mesa University’s standards to receive college credit.
STEP 2: Complete Paperwork
- Request the Digital Internship Paperwork and in 2-3 business days you will receive an email from DocuSign to complete the digital paperwork process.
- Use this link to Request Digital Internship Paperwork
STEP 3: Submit Internship Experience in Handshake
- Once you have determined where you will complete your internship, you'll need to submit an internship "Experience" in Handshake.
- Log into Handshake, then from the "Career Center", click on "Experiences" and "Submit Experience".
- Link to View Step-by-Step Directions to Submit an Experience in Handshake
STEP 4: Register for Course
- Work with your faculty internship coordinator to register for the course and you can begin your internship.
- Internship tuition is the same as any other class for credit (i.e. a three-credit hour internship costs the same as a three-credit class; and a nine-credit hour internship is equal to the cost of three, three-credit hour classes).
STEP 5: Begin Your Internship
- Be sure to check in regularly with your faculty internship coordinator and complete the required coursework.
- Complete your internship evaluations in Handshake by the posted deadline. Departments use these evaluations to ensure students have had the most fulfilling internship experience possible.