BHPE — Practicum Information for Students
This information is pertinent to students in the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership (ETOL), Physical Literacy (PL) and Sport and Recreation Management (SR) majors. Students in the Athletic Therapy (AT) major follow a different model. To learn more about the Athletic Therapy major practicum model please click here.
Agency: an organization that provides students with a supervised practicum experience.
Agency Contact: a representative from the Agency that ensures all policies and procedures are followed between MRU and the agency. This representative could fulfill the role of practicum agency supervisor as well.
Practicum Coordinator: the MRU staff member that manages all practicum placements. They are the liaison between the practicum agency and the student. The Practicum Coordinator establishes a relationship with the agency and helps determine if a position is appropriate and that it aligns with the program's learning objectives. Once approval has been given for a particular position, the Practicum Coordinator will advertise the position to the students. The Practicum Coordinator also approves the practicum placements that students bring forward. This person also ensures compliance with all administrative policies and procedures.
Practicum Agency Supervisor: the student's direct supervisor within the agency. This person agrees to support the student in a supervisory and mentoring capacity. They will orientate, direct and assess the student on a regular basis. This includes assessing the student's performance within their role, completing evaluations and reviewing these evaluations with the student.
Practicum Instructor: the Faculty member responsible for student assignments and evaluating the student experience for the duration of the placement. The role of the instructor is to assimilate all theory taken to date in the program and ensure the student attempts to engage with it in their practicum site. Making the link between theory and practice will take collaboration between the instructor, student and practicum agency supervisor. Students will receive personalized support from their practicum instructor which ranges from academic guidance to career coaching.
The foundation of all practicum experiences within the BHPE is HPED 2050 — Professional Practice. All students in all Majors (Athletic Therapy, Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership, Physical Literacy and Sport and Recreation Management) take this course in their second year of the degree. As noted in the course description below this course is a blended course that will address various professional practice topics through assignments with a total of 52 hours of practical shadowing and observation within an approved agency.
HPED 2050 – Professional Practice
(3 credits) 2-hour lecture, 52-hour practicum
There are common knowledge, skills and abilities required to enter the workplace in the health and physical education discipline across all majors in the Health and Physical Education Degree. This course will consist of two components. The first component will entail a review of common theory across disciplines including professionalism, ethical behaviour, business practice, interdisciplinary communication, conflict management and confidentiality. The second component of this course will entail practical shadowing and observation in each student's discipline.
Prerequisites: Health and Physical Education 1000 and 1020
Upon completion of HPED 2050, students in the Physical Literacy (PL), Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership (EL) and Sport and Recreation Management (SR) majors are required to complete a second practicum course, HPED 3050 — Practicum. This course is usually completed in the third or fourth year of the degree. As noted in the course description below, 160 hours are required with an approved agency.
HPED 3050 — Practicum
(3 credits) 1-hour lecture, 160-hour practicum
This is a formal industry experience with an assigned organization in the health, ecotourism & outdoor leadership, sport, recreation, and/or physical activity industries. Participants will be required to participate in the specified hours of practicum and to complete assignments. Students will be accepted into the practicum upon completion of the course prerequisites or consent of
the department chair.
Prerequisites: Health and Physical Education 2030 and 2050
Students in the Athletic Therapy (AT) major will complete ATTH 2050 — Professional Practice and then move onto Athletic Therapy specific clinical and field placements. For more information on the Athletic Therapy practicum model please click here.
The practical component of HPED 2050 will require you to do 52 hours of job shadowing and observation. Paris and Mason describe what this means.
Paris and Mason (1995) define job shadowing:
"Job Shadowing is a work experience option where students learn about a job by walking through the workday as a shadow to a competent worker. The job shadowing work experience is a temporary, unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest to the student. Students witness firsthand the work environment, employability and occupational skills in practice, the value of professional training and potential career options. Job shadowing is designed to increase career awareness, help model student behaviour through examples and reinforce in the student the link between classroom learning and work requirements. Almost any workplace is a potential job shadowing site."
Where to start
HPED 2050 and HPED 3050 are offered every semester: Fall (Sept-Dec), Winter (Jan-April), Spring/Summer (May–August). Students cannot do HPED 2050 in the spring and HPED 3050 in the summer of the same year. The student must complete all practicum requirements, including the hours, within the semester of registration. All hours must be completed within the semester timelines.
HPED 2050 and HPED 3050 are unpaid practicums. Expenses that are incurred by the student may be reimbursed by the organization.
Yes, you can seek practicum opportunities in Canada as well as internationally. If you are interested in pursuing international practicum opportunities you are required to follow the procedures outlined by International Education. To initiate the process you simply reply yes to doing an international practicum on your declaration of intent to do a practicum. You will work closely with your Practicum Coordinator to have your placement approved and the Coordinator of International Education to have your international experience approved.
The deadlines for students to submit a Declaration of Intent for International Work Experience are as follows:
- Summer placement: February 15th
- Fall placement: March 15th
- Winter placement: October 15th
Here is a highly recommended resource for an international practicum.
By starting to plan early, you can be financially prepared for your practicum experience.
- Practicum course fees
- Relocation expenses are incurred by the student who completes a practicum placement in a town or city outside of Calgary.
- Travel expenses to and from their practicum site (many practicum placements will require the use of a vehicle)
- Paying rent on a different place to live for four months
- International placements
- Visas and work permits
- Travel insurance
- Living expenses
You will need to notify your Practicum Coordinator of your intention to do a practicum course by completing the Practicum Course - Declaration of Intent form. This declaration form will be made available to you by email to your mtroyal.ca address at the start of every semester, one semester prior to doing the course. This notification ensures that you will receive further support and communication regarding your placement in the months prior to the start of your practicum. The deadlines for each semester are:
- Spring/Summer practicum: February 1st
- Fall practicum: March 1st
- Winter practicum: October 1st
The prerequisite courses required to do HPED 2050 are:
- HPED 1000 — Issues in Health and Physical Education
- HPED 1020 — Leadership and Communication
The prerequisite courses for HPED 3050 are:
- HPED 2030 — Statistics and Research Methods
- HPED 2050 — Professional Practice
Once you have declared your intent to do HPED 2050, you will be invited to an information session that explains where to find the resources and placements. You will also be added to the Practicum Preparation D2L site where all the steps are explained.
Once you have declared your intent to do HPED 3050, you will be invited to an information session that explains where to find the resources and placements. You will also be added to the Practicum Preparation D2L site where all the steps are explained.
If you require accommodation at your placement then you should inform your Practicum Coordinator of your needs. She will work with you so that arrangements can be made. Be assured that your Practicum Coordinator cannot disclose personal information to an agency without written consent by you.
Guidelines for Students Who Experience Disabilities is available through your Practicum Coordinator.