Practicum Information for Organizations

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in Western's Health Studies and Kinesiology practicums.

What is a Practicum?

A practicum provides an opportunity for a fourth-year undergraduate student to support your organization’s initiatives. By offering them the chance to apply their skills and knowledge our students can gain practical experience in their field. Students are required to work with a supervisor from your organization who has the education, training, and experience necessary to support and mentor a student in their skill development.

Our students have diverse academic backgrounds that span a wide range of specializations, such as health promotion, wellness and fitness, health policy, research, exercise science, health and safety, mental health, and so much more. With their interdisciplinary knowledge and skill sets, our students are capable of working on a variety of projects.

We offer three practicum courses: Health Studies, Kinesiology and Clinical Kinesiology

Practicum Details

  • Practicums are part-time (6-8 hours per week) and unpaid
  • Practicums begin in September and January
  • Students receive course credit
  • Health Studies and Kinesiology students can complete a one term or full year placement
  • Clinical Kinesiology students complete a full year placement

The Matching Process

  1. Your organization will submit a Practicum Proposal indicating proposed tasks and projects
  2. Our Experiential Learning Coordinator identifies interested students whose interests and goals align with the organization and the proposed project(s)
  3. We will forward student resumes to you for review
  4. You will select your student(s) for placement; there is no obligation to select a student if you do not feel that there is an appropriate match

Examples of Projects and Tasks

  • Research activities (literature reviews, environmental scan, focus groups, surveys, interviews, ethics review)
  • Individual and group fitness training
  • Program planning and implementation
  • Social media; researching and sharing content, writing blogs
  • Preparing information resources for clients and patients
  • Creating online training courses for clients and staff
  • Assisting with business operations
  • Patient intakes and electronic record keeping
  • Preparing reports, presentations, policy briefs
  • Planning and facilitating wellness and recreation activities

Benefits to Your Organization

  • Our students are well-versed in relevant health-related knowledge and theory and its application to practice; they are full of fresh ideas
  • An opportunity to see future grads as potential employees
  • Provide valuable career-related experience during a student’s undergraduate studies

Organization's Responsibilities

  • Assign a supervisor to assist the students to identify goals and clarify roles and responsibilities
  • Treat the students with respect, with expectations like those of your employees
  • Provide students with relevant training and professional development opportunities, if available
  • Monitor the students' progress, and provide formal/informal feedback on a timely basis to both the students and to the university

Contact Us

Please contact us (see left or below) to learn more about how our students can contribute their knowledge and skills to your organization.