Syllabus – effective 2013
RT 292 Practicum (all sections)
Central Washington University
Recreation and Tourism Program
Introduction: A Practicum is a field experience in which you work in an organization to gain skills and
knowledge of your chosen profession in recreation and tourism. A Practicum is also a good way to enhance
your resume for the next steps of completing RT 490 Cooperative Education or your Internship. A Practicum
may be paid or unpaid (volunteer), full-time or part-time, during the school year or summer, or on campus or off
campus based upon your personal situation (transportation, place of residence, financial requirements and so
on).
Course Description: Prerequisite: permission of advisor as evidenced by finalizing the Practicum Agreement
form. Forty (40) “on-the-job” hours of practical experience per credit hour earned. A maximum of three
credits may be earned in the same agency/program. The student repeats the course to accumulate the required
credits. A minimum of one credit must be taken as a service learning activity.
Both RT majors and RT minors are required to complete 6 credits of RT 292 Practicum. An additional 4 credits
of RT 292 may be applied to the elective area with prior advisor approval.
Students may register with any advisor for a 1 credit, 2 credits, or 3 credits section. With 3 choices of credits
and 4 advisors, there are 12 sections of RT 292.
RT Advisors and their contacts:
CWU – RT Advisors for Internships
Dr. Carla Jellum
Phone: 509-963-2568
E-mail: jellumc@cwu.edu
Dr. Heather Bell
Phone: 509-963-2770
E-mail: bellh@cwu.edu
Dr. Barbara Masberg
Phone: 509-963-1969
E-mail: masbergb@cwu.edu
Dr. Robert Perkins
Phone: 509-963-2292 /2740
E-mail: perkinsr@cwu.edu
Recreation and Tourism Program
Central Washington University
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7565
(Note: the 9 digit zip code must be used for mailings)
Fax:509-963-2787
homepage: http://www.cwu.edu/~family-consumer
The FCS Office FAX # is: 509-963-2787
Course Documents: (on Canvas)
- Practicum Agreement form
- Practicum Bi-Weekly Log
- Site Supervisor’s Final Evaluation of Student
- Final Report (requirements are in this Syllabus)
Assessment: Student performance is evaluated based upon the student’s completed and timely submission of
the Bi-Weekly Log; the Site Supervisor’s evaluation of performance; and a Final Report.
Practicum students are evaluated by their site supervisor on the following performance criteria.
These are the criteria named on the site supervisor’s evaluation form.
Demonstrate professional practice to meet workplace standards
Dependability (attendance & punctuality)
Relationship with Co-Workers (cooperative, flexible)
Motivation (initiative, self-starter)
Attitude (accepts criticism, interest in personal and professional growth)
Judgment (common sense, maturity in decision making)
Organization/Efficiency
Communications Skills (oral and/or written)
Demonstrate ability to effectively produce and manage projects and activities in diverse groups
Demonstrate critical, conceptual and analytical thinking skills
Demonstrate
competencies
in
planning,
marketing,
administration,
risk/legal,
budgets/accounting, leadership, information technology through core curriculum and approved
electives
Customer Service Skills
Steps in the process
1. Securing a Practicum
Find the Practicum site/project: Use all resources (want ads, networking, personal contacts and so on) including
RT faculty to identify an organization and position in which you would like to gain experience.
a. Communicate with your CWU Advisor about the type of opportunity you are pursuing in order to make sure
the organization and position would fulfill the RT 292 requirement.
b. Communicate with the organization about opportunities, application, hiring and job description (written or
verbal)
c. Upon getting the position, prepare a draft of the Practicum Agreement (form is on Canvas) and meet with
your CWU Advisor to go over the form
d. Make corrections and editorial changes to the agreement (the final draft should be typewritten)
e. You sign the agreement, have your Site Supervisor review and sign it, and turn it in to your CWU Advisor
personally or place of his/her mailbox by giving it to a receptionist in the FCS Department Office (Michaelsen
Hall 100). Make your own copy of the agreement for your records.
2. During the Practicum
a. When you begin the practicum, e-mail or phone your CWU Advisor to let him or her know you have begun
your practicum and identify the best way for communication. You must use your CWU Groupwise for e-mail
communication.
b. Record your hours and tasks on the form provided (the “Bi-weekly Log”), and maintain a journal of your
practicum activities (what you did and what your progress is toward fulfilling your objectives). Bi-weekly
means every two weeks, or every other week. Sometimes advisors ask their students to submit a report every
week, not every other week. Some practicums will be completed long before the end of the quarter.
c. On a bi-weekly basis (due dates will be posted and emailed to you the first week of classes) complete the
Practicum Bi-weekly Log and sign it; have your Site Supervisor verify and sign it, and then mail it or drop off
to your CWU Advisor by the due date. It is always a good idea to copy the signed form for your records.
d. Maintain effective communication with your Site Supervisor and CWU Supervisor as directed and/or
needed.
3. Final Evaluations and Reports
a. When you are nearing the end of your practicum experience, before the final week, provide your Site
Supervisor with the Practicum Site Supervisor Evaluation of Student. Schedule a meeting with your Site
Supervisor in order to go over his/her evaluation of your performance. The signed evaluation form is
due with your Final Report.
b. Complete a Final Report in which you summarize the documentation of your experience as well as
address your performance. This report is due upon completion of your practicum.
.
Incompletes: By the end of the quarter, if your work has been satisfactory, but you have not completed your
hours and/or submitted all required paperwork, you will receive an “I” or Incomplete grade. An “I” is a
privilege that is granted only to students whose work has been satisfactory to this point. (If you are on financial
aid, you may want to inform that office and check whether your financial aid will be negatively impacted for the
following quarter).
BAM/April 2014