Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Human Performance HP 698 HP 698: Internship Sport & Exercise Psychology Capstone Experience SUPERVISORS: Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. & Jedediah Blanton, Ph.D. Dr. Kamphoff (Email) cindra.kamphoff@mnsu.edu (Phone) (507) 389-6112 (Office) 171 Highland Center North Dr. Blanton (Email) jed.blanton@mnsu.edu (Phone) (507) 389-1264 (Office) 169 Highland Center North DESCRIPTION: This course allows students to earn their capstone experience in a hands-on setting, while also requiring academic perspective and personal reflection to enrich and compliment the graduate student s education. Therefore, students are required to be self-motivated and exemplars in time management, due to the rigorous nature of the course requirements in addition to internship site expectations. Specifically, students will be compiling a portfolio of their internship experiences, weekly logs, evaluations, and any material created during the internship experience. OBJECTIVES: Students who successfully complete an internship capstone course will: 1) Gain practical experience in a specific setting related to the practice and/or science of sport and exercise psychology. 2) Readily identify and apply theoretical and empirical knowledge from their formal education to the specific settings of the internship site and the practice and science of sport and exercise psychology. 3) Prepare a portfolio demonstrating their knowledge and level of expertise and experience as it readily applies to their career goals within sport and exercise psychology. 4) Demonstrate excellence and earn high professional remarks regarding their ability to successfully and positively influence the field of sport and exercise psychology PREREQUISITES: Students must meet the following criteria prior to his/her enrollment in the Sport & Exercise Psychology capstone internship experience. 1) A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.0 2) Completion of 18 credit hours of graduate academic course work at Minnesota State University, Mankato 3) A signed contract with an on-site internship supervisor allowing the student to complete the required hours for the internship experience. 4) Student must host a proposal meeting with the faculty in Sport & Exercise Psychology to indicate how their skills will be utilized and enhanced through the internship experience. 1
INTERNSHIP EVALUATION: The internship capstone experience in Sport & Exercise Psychology toward earning a graduate degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato is both a privilege and an assumption of responsibility. The student is asked to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours (150 working hours) in a professional setting. This experience is graded on a pass/fail basis. In order to receive a passing grade, students must complete ALL required aspects of the internship curriculum in an adequate fashion as determined amongst the Sport & Exercise Psychology faculty and the internship site supervisor. The instructor reserves the right to submit an unsatisfactory grade for any individual who violates any university policy or any law of the State of Minnesota or the state in which the individual is completing their internship experience or if the individual engages in any acts which expose the Minnesota State University, Mankato Sport & Exercise Psychology program to disrepute. INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS: 1) Portfolio Students must create a professional portfolio containing weekly log entries, resume/cv, career goals, mid-term evaluation, final evaluation, and all materials created during the internship experience (examples would include any curriculum or promotional material designed for the internship site as evidence of the student s work) a. Weekly Log The student must write a weekly report of their internship experience. This document should include a summary of hours worked and specifics about the settings in which those hours were earned. Additionally, the weekly log should also include a statement of reflection about the experience, any skills gained, weaknesses identified, and overall growth as a professional in sport and exercise psychology. This weekly log should be thorough and precise, as it serves as the most direct evidence of completing the internship experience. A weekly log entry should be 3 typed pages in length (double-line spaced) accompanied by the internship weekly log form. A different peer-reviewed journal article should be summarized and referenced within each weekly log entry. b. Resume/CV Students should prepare and polish their resume and/or CV to highlight their skill set upon completion of the internship. c. Career goals Students should prepare a 3-4 page purpose statement describing their career goals upon completing their graduate degree. The internship experience should help the student recognize what kind of professional position they would like to earn or create. d. Mid-term Evaluation & Final Evaluation The on-site internship supervisor is required to complete two evaluations of the students work during their capstone internship experience. Copies of each document should be included in the final portfolio indicating the on-site supervisor s opinion on the student s professional development and conduct during the internship experience. These evaluation forms should be sent directly to the internship faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato by the site supervisor e. Additional materials Any marketing or curricula materials the student creates during their internship should be included (with on-site supervisor s permission) as evidence of their work during the internship experience. * The Portfolio must be submitted to the supervising faculty one week in advance of the defense meeting or grade submission deadline for the semester in which the student is enrolled, whichever date is earliest. 2
2) Proposal Meeting Students must host a proposal meeting with the Sport & Exercise Psychology faculty to indicate how an identified internship site will advance the students skill set and complement their formal educational training. a. Students are required to bring a completed Internship Application Form Part 1 to the proposal meeting. b. The student should use a visual aid (e.g., PowerPoint) in the proposal meeting. The presentation should, at a minimum, include answers to the following questions: i. What is the internship opportunity specifically? ii. Why this particular internship site? iii. Where is the internship site located? Include details about the site s resources. iv. How is this internship related to the field of Sport and Exercise Psychology? How is this internship related to the proposing intern s career goals? v. What are the proposing intern s goals for this internship? What evidence will the proposing student use to indicate their success in accomplishing their goals? c. Once the internship is approved, students are required to have the Internship Application Form Part 2 completed by their internship supervisor after the proposal meeting and before the start of the internship. 3) Defense Meeting Students must host a defense meeting with the Sport & Exercise Psychology faculty to showcase their internship experience, skills learned, and connection between the internship experience and their formal educational training. a. Students are required to present their completed portfolio at the defense meeting, including a copy of the final evaluation from the site supervisor. b. The student should use a visual aid (e.g., PowerPoint) in the proposal meeting. The presentation should, at a minimum, include answers to the following questions: i. What was the overall experience like as an intern? ii. What duties/activities/projects/opportunities did you observe, participate in, or contribute to? iii. Recap your goals prior to beginning the internship. How effective were you in meeting or exceeding these goals? iv. What challenges did you face in your internship? v. How had your academic training prepared for your internship experience? 1. Can the faculty better help prepare students for internships? 2. What advice would you give your peers about internships and their academic training? * The Defense Meeting Visual Aid must be submitted to the supervising faculty one week in advance of the defense meeting or grade submission deadline for the semester in which the student is enrolled, whichever date is earliest. 3
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: Students are ABSOLUTELY EXPECTED TO REPRESENT THE MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO AND THE SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN THE HIGHEST REGARD POSSIBLE. Students are expected to participate actively in the internship setting. Students are expected to act professionally in all work settings. Students are expected to complete all requirements of the internship in a timely manner, including appropriate completion of weekly logs and timely submissions of mid-term and final evaluations. o Students are required to communicate and cooperate with their supervising faculty to determine the method for which weekly logs are turned in. Students are expected to initiate conversation with the instructor regarding misunderstandings or clarification in internship details. Students are expected to share on-site internship supervisor expectations prior to accepting an internship at any location. Students are expected to schedule meetings for the mid-term and final evaluations with on-site internship supervisors and Sport & Exercise Psychology faculty. Students are expected to ensure that their on-site internship supervisor sent the midterm and final evaluation to their internship supervisor via email at the midpoint and conclusion of the internship. Students completing similar internships, or internships at the same site, may work together during their internship, and may communicate about their internship experiences, HOWEVER, students must complete weekly logs independently, prepare their portfolio s (and all aspects within) independently, and must prepare their proposal and defense visual aids independent of one another. o Students at the same internship site must receive independent evaluations from their on-site supervisors. ON-SITE INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR EXPECTATIONS: Supervisors will oversee the internship experience Supervisors will clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the student intern within their organization. Supervisors will fill out and return all necessary forms to the internship faculty supervisor at Minnesota State University, Mankato via email. Supervisors will regularly communicate any concerns or issues regarding the student intern. Supervisors will conduct two formative evaluations during the student s internship experience (once at midterm and once the internship is completed) and share their evaluations via email with the Sport & Exercise Psychology faculty. 4
Academic Integrity: Academic Honor Code: You will be expected to uphold the principles of the University s Academic Honor Code, which is agreeing to fulfill your academic requirements in an honest and fair manner. Students who are found responsible for plagiarism, cheating or collusion (assisting another student in committing the act of cheating or plagiarism) will fail the course. For more information on Minnesota State University, Mankato s Academic Honor Code please see: http://www.mnsu.edu/supersite/administration/basic-stuff/policies.html#honesty. Student Conduct: Disruptive behavior in any setting related to the internship will not be tolerated. Disruptive behavior is defined as behavior that interferes with student learning, faculty teaching and/or any conduct that distracts from the internship site s daily business agenda. Please see the following website for more information explaining the Statement of Student Responsibilities at Minnesota State University, Mankato: http://www.mnsu.edu/supersite/administration/basic-stuff/policies.html#responsibilities. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and will be handled according to University policy. Examples include: 1) submitting the work of others as your own, 2) submitting others work as your own with only minor changes, 3) submitting others work as your own without adequate citations/references, or 4) multiple submission of the same work for more than one course without both instructors permission. Therefore, when you draw on, quote, or respond to the work of others in your writing, you MUST acknowledge that you are doing so. For example, if you read something in our text and paraphrase it in your documents, you must reference the text at the end of the sentence. If you use a quote from an author, you must include quotation marks around the quote with the citation and page number in parenthesis at the end of the quote. Accurate citation of sources is essential to the academic honor code. In this course, we will follow the APA manual when writing papers and referencing the work of others. Access for Students with Disabilities: Any student who feels she/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Please contact the Office of Disability Services at 507-389-2825 in Memorial Library (Rm 132) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students for students with documented disabilities. Procedures will be followed according University Policy: http://www.mnsu.edu/students/basicstuff/policies.html#asd 5