Internships

All RTS majors are required to complete 600 hours of internship. The hours may be divided into a 200 hour placement and a 400 hour placement or all 600 hours may be completed in one agency. The internship is the culminating experience for the degree in Recreation and Tourism Studies. It can only be completed after the majority of course work has been completed and the student has passed the University's Writing Proficiency Exam. If a student chooses to divide the 600 hours, the 200 hour placement may be completed during the junior year. The 400/600 hour placement may only be completed after all RTS courses have been completed.

RTS 366 Internship Seminar

The internship seminar is a 1 credit hour course that all RTS majors must take prior to completing a 200, 400, or 600 hour internship placement. The seminar helps to prepare students for the internship experience. A variety of internship issues are discussed in the course and include; agency identification, internship goals, and internship expectations. The RTS Internship Manual is reviewed in detail. Students may take RTS 366 the semester prior to completing the internship. A major requirement for the course is for the student to obtain a signed internship agreement with an agency. The student cannot get a final grade for the course until an agreement is signed. Students will receive a grade of incomplete until a signed agreement is produced.

RTS 368, 369 Internship

During the internship, students are expected to assume major responsibilities in the development, implementation, and evaluation of appropriate recreation and leisure services. All RTS majors with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation must be supervised by a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) at the internship agency.

RTS 368 (12 credit hours)

RTS 368 is a 400 clock hour senior internship placement. All RTS courses must be completed prior to enrolling in RTS 368. Students are required to complete both a short and long term project.

RTS 369 (3 credit hours)

RTS 369 is a 200 clock hour internship. Students are required to complete a short term project.

** RTS majors choosing to complete all 600 internship hours at one agency must register for RTS 368 and 369 (15 credit hours).

RTS majors choosing to complete the 600 hours in two agencies must register for RTS 369 the junior year and then RTS 368 the senior year.

Recent Recreation and Tourism Studies internship placements include the following:

InVirginia
Alexandria Parks and Recreation
Augusta Medical Center
Backbay National Wildlife Refuge
Camp Easter Seal
Chesapeake General Hospital, Mental Health Unit
Chesapeake Parks and Recreation
Civitan Acres, Eggleston Services
Dam Neck Naval Base, MWR
DePaul Hospital, Physical Rehabilitation Unit
DePaul Hospital, Behavior Medicine Unit
Destination Williamsburg
Eastern State Hosptial
Festevents
Glouchester County Parks and Recreation and Tourism
Gold Key Resorts, Clarion at the Oceanfront
Hampton Family YMCA
Hampton Roads Sports Commission
Harbour Pointe Medical and Rehabilitation Center
Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Virginia Beach
Johnston Willis Hospital, Physical Rehabilitation Unit
Lake Taylor Hospital
Maryview Center for Physical Rehabilitation
Maryview Nursing Center
Medical College of Virginia, Physical Rehabilitation Unit
Nauticus Maritime Center
Naval Security Group, MWR
Newport News Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Norfolk Amphibious Base, MWR
Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau
Norfolk Festevents, Inc.
Norfolk Naval Base, MWR
Norfolk Parks and Recreation
Northern Virginia Training Center
Obici Hospital
Oakwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Portsmouth Invitational Basketball Tournament
Portsmouth Naval Hospital, MWR
Portsmouth Parks and Recreation
The Pines Residential Treatment Center
Ramada Inn on the Beach, Virginia Beach
Riverside Behavior Center
Riverside Psychiatric Institute
Riverside Rehabilitation Institute
Salem V.A. Medical Center
Sandbridge Eco Sports
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Mental Health Unit
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Physical Rehabilitation Unit
Sentara Nursing Center, Virginia Beach
Sentara Nursing Center, Portsmouth
Southeastern Virginia Training Center
Sportrock Climbing Center, Alexandria
Tidewater AAA
United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Virginia
Virginia Beach Convention and Visitor Bureau
Virginia Beach Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation
Virginia Beach Resort & Conference Center
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Virginia Treatment Center for Children
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hampton
Veterans Affairs Medical center, Salem
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Westminister Canterbury, Virginia Beach
Westminister Canterbury, Richmond
Winchester Rehabilitation Center

Out of State:
Barrier Island Station Resort Vacation Village, Nags Head, NC
Best Western Pink Shell Resort, FL
Coconino County Parks and Recreation, Flagstaff, AZ
Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Las Vegas, NV
Fisher Island Resort, Fisher Island, FL
Key Largo Resorts, Key Largo, FL
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Sarasota, FL
Hilton Head Resorts, Hilton Head, NC
Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Riverdale, MD
Maryland School for the Blind, Baltimore, MD
Marriott Vacation Club International, Hilton Head Island, SC
Mercy Hospital, Springfield, MA
MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, MA
New Age Health Spa, Neversink, NY
Rocky Mt. National Park, CO
Resort Recreation & Tourism Management, Cathedral City, CA
Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel, FL
San Diego V.A. Medical Center, San Diego, CA
Skyland Trail. Atlanta, GA
South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, TX
The Hills Fitness Center, Austin, TX
The Shepard Center, Atlanta, GA
United States Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation, The Island of Diego Garcia
United States Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation, Rota Spain
Wilderness Inquiry, Minneapolis, MN