Health, Exercise & Rehabilitative Sciences Internships & Practicum
The HERS Department prioritizes hands-on experience, which is why we incorporate internships and practicums into our programs.
Our students take part in numerous internship and practicum experiences every year, preparing them for the variety of careers and graduate school programs.
Clinical Exercise Science
You’ll complete a 600-hour clinical internship prior to graduation.
This intensive field experience will give you hands-on, supervised practice with a variety of target rehab populations and diagnostic services.
Our students are well-prepared after graduation, which is why our graduates are in-demand at clinical sites across the Midwest.
View the Clinical Exercise Science internship handbook (PDF).
In addition to your internship, you’ll complete two practicums through Winona State’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program.
First, you’ll gain 100 hours’ of experience designing rehabilitation exercise programs for community members who have chronic heart, lung, and other metabolic conditions.
Community members gain a supervised rehabilitation plan aimed at improving their health and overall well-being.
Then during your second practicum, you’ll practice your clinical diagnostic testing skills by performing stress tests, EKGs, and cardiovascular assessments.
Exercise Science
As an Exercise Science student, you’ll complete a 600-hour internship before you graduate.
This intensive field experience will give you hands-on, supervised practice in an area of your choosing. Think fitness centers, performance clinics, corporate settings–even Mayo Clinic.
WSU students are often sought out because the internship experience gives them an edge compared to other students entering the field.
View the Exercise Science internship handbook (PDF).
Before entering your internship, you’ll complete two practicums through the Friendship Center’s Active Wellness Center or Winona State’s Employee Wellness Program.
You’ll gain at least 100 hours of experience taking what you learned in the classroom and applying it.
During your practicums, you’ll create and implement effective exercise programs for health and wellness.
Movement Science
Movement Science majors complete 100 hours of practicum experience.
You will complete a 40-hour practicum in your second year as a Movement Science major, where you’ll be shadowing a professional working in your desired career field.
During your final year, you’ll complete a 60-hour practicum through Winona Survivors Unite in Exercise (WSUE). Through this experience, you will help cancer survivors improve their strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall wellbeing.
By the end of this practicum, you’ll be familiar with the effects of cancer on a patient’s physical health and have real-life practice creating custom exercise plans and conducting physical assessments.
Public Health
All Public Health majors will complete a 600-hour hands-on internship before you graduate.
Students have interned at Mayo Clinic, local county health departments, a variety of clinics, and more. We’ve even had a student intern at a religious congregation as a Spiritual Ecologist.
This field experience will give you supervised practice with a variety of populations, health needs, and program development.
In addition to your internship, you’ll complete 64 practicum hours in the community.
Your practicum allows you to job shadow and gain experience in developing and promoting health education programs.
Students has completed their practicums in data entry, community outreach, health education, nutrition specialists, and more.