Internships

Park and Recreation Management Degree Program

Internship Manual

PRM 401 (12 hours)

Introduction

A recreation and leisure services services education program is judged by the level of performance its graduates are perceived to have attained. While a thorough knowledge in a variety of areas is essential in the preparation of the competent entry-level recreation professional in municipal, outdoor, therapeutic, church, military, or commercial recreation, it provides only the basis upon which the individual will function professionally. The application of the generalist recreation education process can take place only in real life situations. It is essential that the internship provide an opportunity to personalize the knowledge in a practical enviroment. To facilitate this goal, a 400 hour intership experience is provided as an integral part of the curriculum.

The Park and Recreation Management Division mandates intership experience. This manual delineates the philosophy and objectives of the intership, the policies and procedures, forms records, and reports to be submitted. It is intended that the knowledge obtained in the classroom and previous selected practical experiences will be utilized during the internship experience. The major purpose of the internship is to provide the student opportunities to apply and personalize this broad knowledge base. At the completion of the internship, the student should be able to function as a competent entry-level recreation professional.

The student, the agency, and the University all benifits from this experience. The practitioner-professional and University faculty must work together if this experience is to be worthwhile. Every leisure delivery professional should be interested in the recruitment and professional preparation of talented young people. The intership, therefore, is one area for cooperation in making a valuable contribution to the preparation of tomarrow's leaders in recreation and leisure services.

Grade Criteria

At the end of the semester a comprehensive analysis of the internship experience will be submitted on a computer disc (word or word perfect format) to report on the guidelines. This computer disc must be completed in a scholarly format and submitted at the final on-campus debriefing session. When the intership is over, all typed monthly reports along with disc will be placed in the interns file. These reports and the on-site supervisors evaluation, will be the basis for a final grade. A "Z" or pass/fail grade is given for the 12 semester hour internship.

Policies and Procedures for Students

Students will be guided through their intership experience with the following instructions. No deviation from these instructions is permitted unless approved by the students advisor.

The Student's Perspective

The central purpose of the internship is to:

1. Help the student-intern make an effective transition from the classroom to a practical application. After the initial orientation to the intership setting, an assignment of one or more major programs will be carried through to completion.
2. Help focus the student-intern to look upon him/herself in much the same manner as a beginning full-time professional.
3. Develop personal skills in recreational leadership and utilize appropriate techniques, procedures, and processes of evaluation for participants, programs, administration, and facilities.

Prior to Internship

1. The Internship may be taken any semester after the students's junior year, but if at all possible, it should be taken during the last semester, the summer preceding the last semester, or, the semester post curriculum requirement of the student's program.
   -The following courses (15 hours) must be completed prior to the Internship: PRM 194, 200, 302, 391, 392, 400, and 471.
2. Successfully pass the Pre-Internship Examination with a score of 70% or greater.
3. Placement procedures must be completed by the end of the semester immediately preceding actual internship.
4. Have an overall G.P.A. of 2.0 with a 2.5 G.P.A. in the professional core in Park and Recreation Management.
5. The following items must be completed, verified and on file with the Park and Recreation Management faculty advisor prior to beginning the internship experience.
   -Signed Agreement.
6. Internship site selection:

• The site selected for visitation may be identified through consultation with your advisor.
• The agency selected should be appropriate to an area of preprofessional interest.
• The students advisor has the authority to accept or reject the student's choice for the internship.

NRPA Student Branch- http://www.nrpa.org/index.cfm?publicationid=23