College of Education and Human Development
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Message from the Internship Program Director

Employers, increasingly, prefer to hire people with prior work experience in a relevant field. Graduates who have the right attitude and possess a range of effective communication, organizational and management skills are keenly sought by industry recruiters. A Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (RHT) equips students with these essential skills and experiences, largely through the provision of an internship requirement. The Schoolar's internship program has proven invaluable to students in allowing them to apply skills and knowledge gained at the University in a practical context and in preparing them for a career in the areas of Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Sport Management, Therapeutic Recreation, or Tourism and Events Management.

All RHT interns are required to work full-time at an approved agency for a minimum of 400 (or 480 hours for students in Therapeutic Recreation) of professional practice over a period of 10 to 12 consecutive weeks in a given semester prior to graduation. Upon successful completion of this experience students receive academic credit. The internship program establishes a three-way partnership agreement between the participating agency, George Mason University (through the Internship Program Coordinator and/or the University Supervisor) and student. Partners assume responsibilities, perform functions, and receive benefits as a result of their involvement in the program. Students in the Internship are supervised directly by professionals in one of the six aforementioned career areas, who communicate directly with the University Supervisor. While each learning experience will differ depending on the type of agency, situation, and duration, dedicated faculty will guide and assist the student through their professionally-oriented learning experience. At the end of their internship, students are able to enter their chosen profession with confidence.

For further information on the RHT Internship program please contact:
  Dr. Cindy Waddell, Ph.D.
  Departmental Internship Program Coordinator
  School Recreation, Health and Tourism
  College of Education and Human Development
  George Mason University
  10900 University Boulevard, MSN-4E5
  Manassas, Virginia 20110