HPA 1035
Exercise Science Seminar
Syllabus Fall 2014
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-Mail:
Carma Repcheck, M Ed, Ph.D.
111 Trees Hall
412-648-3186
crs24@pitt.edu
Class Meetings:
Location:
Credit Hours:
Friday 10am-noon
TBATrees Hall
1
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to prepare students for their clinical internship experience and
future employment or graduate school. Students will learn how to research potential internship
sites, prepare a resume, cover letter, professional portfolio. The student will also be taught
proper dress for interviews and interviewing techniques for one on one, or group interviews. The
student will develop essential interpersonal communication skills and other skills that are
essential for the workplace. Representatives from various internship sites, including corporate
wellness facilities, hospitals, and the community will be invited to speak about internship
opportunities available within their facility.
Course Objectives:
 To professionally prepare exercise science and wellness students for their clinical
internship experience and future employment or graduate school
 To learn how to successfully create a resume, cover letter, and a professional portfolio
 To learn essential interview strategies and interpersonal communication skills
 To learn how to identify, choose, and be awarded an internship that matches specific
career goals and objectives
 At the end of this course, the student will have an internship assignment and be
ready to start at the beginning of the following semester.
 To aid students in acquiring appropriate certifications , ie.. CPR, HIPPA,ACSM
Methods of Evaluation:
 Attendance and Participation:
o Class participation and regular attendance are required.
ATTENDANCE POLICY 1 ABSENCE
2 ABSENCES
3 ABSENCES

NO PENALTY
1 LETTER GRADE
FAIL
Cover Letter and Resume:
o Each student must submit a cover letter and resume. These documents must
be approved by Career Services and Dr. Repcheck prior to contacting any
internship site.

Mock Interview:
o Each student will undergo a mock interview at Career Services. This is a formal
interview and students will be expected to dress and act appropriately. Not
attending the interview will result in an incomplete in Exercise Science Seminar
and a delay in the internship.
o Each student is responsible for submitting a typed summary detailing their mock
interview experience to Dr. Repcheck
o The mock interview must be done prior to contacting any internship site.

Speaker Questions:
+ Students should ask at least one question during the presentation.
+ Questions are expected as this allows for class room
discussion and shows respect for the presenter.

Book Summary- Students will read “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg and write a one page
summary of their long term goals, 18 month goals, and lessons learned from the book.

Required Internship Material including:
o Solidify internship site
o Internship Approval Form
o Copy of CPR certification card, other certifications as needed
o Clearances to work with children if appropriate
o Signed Contract

Submit all required materials on time and to the satisfaction of the instructor
NOTE: If a student fails to submit documents on time or fails to obtain
an internship site or submit the Location Approval Form by the due date
the student will receive a failing grade for Exercise Science Seminar and
must repeat the course prior to the internship experience. No
exceptions will be made.
Grading Scale:
100-90 = A; 89-80 = B; 79-70 = C; 69-60 = D; 59 and below = F
Attendance-30%
Resume and cover letter-20%
Mock interview report-15%
Class participation/Speaker Questions-15%
Book Summary-10%
Forms and assignments in on time 10%
Accomodations
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are
encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 140 William
Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890 [(412) 383-7355 for TTY], as early as possible in the term. DRS will
verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.
Tentative Course Schedule
DATE
Week 1
8/29/14
Week 2
9/5/14
Week 3
9/12/14
TOPIC
Introduction to Course
Overview of Clinical Internship – Requirements
and Guidelines
How to build a Resume
PRESENTER
Dr.Repcheck
Presenters: Senior Strategy Talk
How to build a Cover Letter
Dr. Nagle
Dr. Repcheck
Presenters: CMU
Pattye Strager, Alan
Degennaro
Fabiana Chiestwer
Gabe Lambright
Todd Hamer
Providence Point
Pitt I & R
RMU S & C
Week 4
9/19/14
Week 5
9/26/14
Week 6
10/3/14
Week 7
10/10/14
DUE:
Rough draft of
Resume
DUE:
Draft of
Cover Letter
Presenters: Career Services
Richard Fann
Interview Preparation/Portfolio Building
Dr Repcheck
Practice Interviews/Sign Ups/Overview of Sites
Dr Repcheck
Presenters: Falk Pulmonary Rehab
Allegheny Chesepeak PT
Pitt I & R
Shawn McCurdy
Dave Boynton
Jason Miller
**Mock Interviews at Career Services**
** William Pitt Union**
DO NOT COME TO Business Attire
TREES HALL
to be worn!!
Presenters:
GPGH
JCC Squirrel HIll
Diane McClune
Marsha Mullen
Mercy Behavioral Health
Children’s Institute
Sarah Fagan
Amy Haid
Pitt Athletics
Highmark
Endocrine & Metabolism Research
Chris Gilman
Lucy Dillon
John Dube
Week 8
10/17/14
Presenters:
Week 9
Presenters:
10/24/14
ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATE
DUE:
Final version
Cover letter &
Resume due
Week 10
Group Interviewing Practice
10/31/14
Week 11
11/7/14
Presenters:
VP Wealth Management PNC
Week 12
11/14/14
ON site behavior –expectations, review of courseweb
and logs
Week 13
11/21/14
Week 14
11/28/14
Thanksgiving Break
Week 15
12/5/14
Review Internship Contracts and EvaluationForms
Course Summary
CPR Certification
Kevin Repcheck
Kevin McLaughlin
DUE:
Approval form,
contract,
clearances, CPR