internships
One of the key academic and professional development experiences our students receive is field experience through internships. There are generally two internships required of the undergraduate student. One internship follows the junior year, after successful completion of prerequisite upper division courses, which prepares students for programming in a variety of settings. This 300-level internship is customarily a summer experience, entailing an 8-week, 320-hour exposure in an approved setting under both agency professional and university faculty supervision. This internship is followed by additional upper division coursework in preparation for the 400-level internship the following summer, entailing a 12-week, 480-hour experience with emphasis on supervision, administrative and management duties. Agency and university supervision is provided. For a more detailed explanation of the internship requirements, please read our handout.
The two internships combined earn the student 9 credit hours toward the degree and enhance preparedness for professional employment. Along with the portfolio, internships fill out the student's profile as a prepared and well-rounded individual ready for the challenges of the profession.
For a more detailed explanation of the internship requirements please read the following handout.
Current Internships
Students enrolled or currently completing a field experience may access and print out the necessary forms from this page. For requirements and due dates, please see the internship timeline.
Field Experience Understanding
REC 301, 400, and 433 Required Student Assignments
REC 583 Graduate TR Midterm Evaluation
REC 583 Graduate TR Final Evaluation
Internship Sites
The internship process is an important part of the student's education and preparation for their future careers, and can have an enormous impact on a student's future. Deciding where to fulfill this degree requirement can seem to be a daunting task. To help students get started, the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies has compiled a list of agencies/organizations where students have successfully interned in the past:
Community Recreation & Youth Development
Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA
Bedford Youth Soccer
Bethany Parks & Recreation
Boys and Girls Club of Stamford
Branford Parks & Recreation
Brookhaven Parks & Recreation
Canaan Parks & Recreation
Camp Happiness, City of Milford Camp Twin Lakes, Inc.
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA - Woodruff Family YMCA
Cheshire Parks & Recreation
City Of Milford Recreation Department
City of Waterbury Bureau of Recreation
CYC, Boy Scouts of America - Camp Sequassen
Coventry Parks & Recreation
Dolphin Journeys
East Hartford Parks & Recreation Greater Waterbury YMCA
Greenwich Parks & Recreation
Greenwich United Way
Guilford Parks and Recreation Department
Hamden Parks & Recreation
Hamden/North Haven YMCA
Manchester Parks & Recreation
Milford United Soccer Club
Monroe Parks and Recreation Department
Naugatuck Parks and Recreation Department
New Britain Parks and Recreation Department
New Haven Parks, Recreation & Trees
New Haven YMCA Youth Center
New Britain Parks & Recreation
New Milford Parks & Recreation
Newington Parks & Recreation
Newton Parks & Recreation Department
North Branford Parks & Recreation Department
Ocean Community YMCA
Office of Residential Life (SCSU)
Orange Park and Recreation
Orange Hills Country Club
Oxford Parks and Recreation
Plainville Park & Recreation Department
Quinnipiac University
Rocky Hill Parks & Recreation Department
Solar Youth, Inc.
Soundview Family YMCA
South Windsor Child Development Center
Supportive Children's Advocacy Network of New York
Stamford Parks & Recreation
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Wallingford Parks & Recreation
Weston Parks and Recreation Department
West Haven Parks & Recreation
Westport Parks and Recreation
Wolcott Park & Recreation Department
Woodruff Family YMCA
Winding Trails YMCA of Metropolitan Washington
Sports Management
Connecticut Junior Soccer Association CT Owls Baseball
CT Starters (AAU)
Future Stars Basketball Academy
Mohegan Tribe, Recreation & Community Services
Triple Crown Sports
New Canaan Field Club
JL Sports
Metro West Sports Center, LLC
Athletic Shoe Factory of New Canaan, CT
Westco Sports Center
Apex Direct
Zenith Velocity Youth Track and Field
XL Center, Hartford
Hudson Valley Renegades Baseball
Cape Cod Baseball League
Everson Soccer
WNBA Connecticut Sun
Therapeutic Recreation
Community Residence Inc. (CRI) Department of Children & Families (DCF)
Connecticut Juvenile Training School
Bridgeport Hospital
DMHAS Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (SWCMHS)
Jewish Home for the Elderly
Hall-Brooke Behavior Health Services
Haven Healthcare Center of Cromwell
Hospital for Special Care
Institute of Living / Hartford Hospital
Living Independently
Riverview Hospital for Children
Salmon Brook Center
SARAH. Inc.
Seminole Manor Nursing Home/Donalsonville Hospital, FL
Sister Anne Virginie Grimes Health Center`
Yale New Haven Hospital - Child Psychiatric Services
Kennedy Center, Inc.
Bay Pines VA Healthcare Center, FL
Travel & Tourism
For more information regarding Travel & Tourism internships please contact
Dr. Deborah Smith at smithd17@southernct.edu or (203) 392-6390