EXSC Internships

All exercise science majors have to have one of the following classes to graduate:

  • EXSC 49003 — Internship in Exercise Science
    Provides opportunities for students in Exercise Science to gain experience in clinics, hospitals, fitness centers, athletic training facilities or related settings. Pre- or corequisite: EXSC 35303. Prerequisite: EXSC 33503. See Item 1 below for details.
  • EXSC 4050V (3 hrs) — Independent Study
    Provides students an opportunity to pursue special study of research problems. Typically involves 150 hours of research experience. See your advisor for details.
  • EXSC 498HV — Kinesiology Honors Thesis/Project
    For Honors Students — See your advisor after reviewing the college Honors Program's Program of Study.

10 Details about Internships

Frenklyn Piggie and Victoria Needels work as strength and conditioning interns at Train NWA in Fayetteville.1. Students sign up for the 49003 internship class in the same semester as, or anytime after taking, EXSC 35303 — Lab Techniques, as it's a prerequisite or corequisite. You need to have already completed EXSC 33503 (Mechanics) by the time you take internship, making 33503 a prerequisite. The 49003 class is offered every semester (fall, spring, 10-week summer).

We suggest students taking internship in the summer after their Junior year, fall their senior year, or spring their senior year. Summer is always easier to get into. Summer session is 10 weeks long, from the end of May to the beginning of August.

If you do not get into it for your "final" semester (i.e., you need it to graduate), you can still walk in graduation with up to 6 hours left to complete. You will receive your diploma after completing all requirements. For example, some students who don't get into Spring Internship still walk in May and take Internship over the summer.

2. A few weeks before class starts, students will get an email with a survey in which they indicate their professional goals — and preference for site if they have one. Additionally, students will receive information about completing the required background check and CPR/AED certification. The background check will be due by the first day of class, and the CPR/AED certification will be due no later than one month after the start of the semester.

3. Here are the sites with which we have established relationships. We prefer to send all students to these sites because we know they provide a high academic experience.

4. If the student really wants to have an internship site that is outside of the list, they must show that it is a unique experience (not just another site in the same area of what we offer). Keep in mind that the site must also be in a clinic, hospital, fitness center, athletic training facility or related setting.

Establishing Your Own Internship Site

  • Sites will only be reviewed once the student is enrolled in the Internship Class.
  • The site must be approved at least 4 weeks before the start of the semester.
  • While most of our affiliated internship sites are in Northwest Arkansas, students can pursue out-of-area opportunities if a formal affiliation agreement is finalized prior to the start of the term. The summer session offers an ideal opportunity for students to complete internships in their home city or state. To ensure sufficient time for processing, any requests received within 30 days of the semester start date will be ineligible for consideration.
  • Study the Guidelines for Establishing an Internship Site. After you and the internship site host read it, complete and sign the request form linked there and email it to alsulliv@uark.edu. (You may wish to save the completed form for your files.)

5. Based off the survey, we do our best to match students up to their desired sites. However there is no guarantee.

6. Students should not depend on internship class for observation hours as required by physical therapy, occupational therapy etc. programs.

7. Students are assigned a week or two before the semester starts. We do not allow "switching" because it creates a nightmare for filling the needed sites. Even if students don't get their "first" choice, they still have a great experience.

8. One of the major requirements of the class is to complete 112.5 hours of experience. This is spread out through the semester based off a schedule established with you and your internship site. You cannot “front load” your hours and be done before the end of the semester. Interns must log hours 14 out of 16 weeks per semester, and 9 out of 10 weeks in the summer to complete the internship.

9. Students are REQUIRED to attend the following 2 group meetings (NO EXCEPTIONS):

  • First Tuesday of the semester 8:15-9:15 a.m. (via Zoom)
  • Last Thursday of the semester 8:15-9:15 a.m. (via Zoom)
  • An afternoon time will be available for those who have class during this morning time.

All other meeting times are at your internship site (see above).

10. The primary purpose of an internship is to provide students with structured opportunities to engage in new professional challenges and acquire experiential learning that complements their academic studies. The program is designed to ensure that students gain a breadth of practical experience while enhancing their professional competencies and résumés. It is important to distinguish between the expectations associated with permanent employment and the defined learning objectives of an academic internship. Accordingly, students are not permitted to use their current place of employment to fulfill internship requirements. Internship placements must offer new learning opportunities that are distinct from the student’s existing job duties and responsibilities.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s criteria for distinguishing paid and unpaid internships, students participating in academic internships through this program are not eligible to receive direct compensation. Exceptions may be considered for formal, externally sponsored internship programs — such as those offered by Apple, Nike or the Mayo Clinic — that require compensation as a condition of participation. In such cases, students must obtain prior approval to receive stipends, housing allowances, travel reimbursements or other forms of payment.