Colorado Sports Medicine - Student Internship Program
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Internship Description
The CU Sports Medicine Student Internship Program offers CU undergraduate students an opportunity to learn more about Sports Medicine and get involved in the daily operations of our department. This internship is an excellent opportunity for those interested in pursuing a career in Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, or Orthopedic Medicine. Sports Medicine interns work under the supervision of the Sports Medicine staff providing quality health care for the University of Colorado Intercollegiate programs. Interns must be self-motivated, reliable, flexible, and professional. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:
- Weekly hours can vary anywhere from 8-25 depending on sport assignment and competitive season
- Assist with taping, pre and post-practice treatments, therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation programs, practice and competition coverage, first aid, and all other team needs
- Set-up facilities for daily practice, conditioning, and competitions
- Distribute water, athletic training supplies, and emergency equipment
- Maintain cleanliness of the training rooms
- Completion of Sports Medicine Practical Skills
- Other duties and responsibilities as defined by the Sport Medicine staff related to the health care of CU student-athletes
All interns are required to be enrolled in at least 6 hours at CU with a minimum of 2.75 GPA.
Internship Credit
Interns can earn up to 6 credit hours as a junior or senior and 3 credit hours as a sophomore beyond the minimum academic requirements. Â
Please visit:Â http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/ugrad/volunteering.html
This internship does not necessarily need to be taken for class credit. It can be performed on a volunteer status.
 Open House
In late fall/early spring, an Open House will be held to present the internship program, review application process, and give applicants an opportunity to ask specific questions.  Once the official date for the Open House is selected it will be advertised on the Buffs Bulletin & through the Integrated Physiology department. Â
Application Process
Interested students may apply for the Sports Medicine Student Intern Program after the completion of their first semester at CU. Internship applications are accepted once a year in the spring for the following academic year. Please note that this internship is a semester to a year-long commitment.Â
Applications may be completed by clicking on the link listed below. Application submission opens at the start of the spring semester and close on March 1 at 11:59pm Mountain Time.  Applications received after the March 1st deadline will not be considered.  Selection of interns will be based on their application, GPA, and the professional interview.  Please reserve your questions for the Open House. If you have specific questions not answered on this webpage or during the Open House, contact Janae Bell at Janae.Bell@colorado.edu.
Procedures and requirements for applicants consist of:
- Application form (Click Here to Apply)
- Resume (submitted within the application)
Frequently Asked Questions
Athletic Training QuestionsWhat is an athletic trainer?
- Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. The NATA Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.
Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of ATs have a master’s degree. Learn more about the education of athletic trainers. (https://www.nata.org/about/athletic-training).
To learn more about athletic training as a profession, please visit the National Athletic Training Association’s website.
- Unfortunately, no. The University of Colorado does not offer an Athletic Training degree program. However, this internship is an excellent way to gain exposure and experience to aid you in your journey towards becoming an athletic trainer. Many of our interns have graduated from CU and have gone on to pursue a Master’s degree in Athletic Training. If you are interested in becoming an athletic trainer, please visit the NATA website for more information (https://www.nata.org/about/athletic-training/education-overview).
How does the application process work?
- Interested students must fill out the application and submit a resume. The application opens in the beginning of the Spring semester and closes March 1 at 11:59pm MST. Any applications submitted after this time will not be accepted. Applications are reviewed and candidates are chosen for a professional interview shortly thereafter. We will then select the final candidates and offer them a position in the program before Spring Break or by the end of March at the latest. Openings vary from year to year depending on the number of returning interns and the needs of each sport.
- Yes. While we keep applications from each cycle, interested students must apply each year. Due to high interest and a varying number of openings, students not accepted that meet the applicant criteria are encouraged to apply again.
- We prefer to hire for the full year so that interns may get the opportunity to experience the different sport seasons. Occasionally we do hire December graduates for the Fall semester, but we will not bring in new interns for the Spring semester only. Hiring takes place only once per year for the following school year.
- No. CU students must complete one semester before applying to the internship program.
How many days/hours do interns work per week?
- The number of days/hours per week worked by interns varies based on sporting assignment and season of competition. Football interns may work 4-7 days/week during in-season football while other sports may work 2-3 days/week. Hours are capped at 25 hrs/week during the school year. On average, football and basketball interns work 15-20 hrs/wk during their competition season while other sports average 10-15 hrs/wk during their competition seasons.
- While we do offer opportunities for our interns to shadow our amazing physicians, their time and responsibility are primarily dedicated to the assigned team. This internship is designed to provide interns exposure and experience to the physical medicines (athletic training, physical therapy) and the full scope of collegiate sports medicine.
- Having a good attitude. Open to learning, feedback, and correction. Team player. Good communication skills with athletic trainers, sports medicine staff, coaches, and peers. Look for opportunities to improve your skills, observe evaluations/treatments/rehabilitation programs. Ask questions. Be an extension of the athletic trainer to aid in the overall operation and organization of the athletic training room.
- Upon arrival, interns will typically help with setting up water/Gatorade and supplies needed for practice. They may then help with any other pre-practice tasks assigned by the athletic trainer. Interns will attend practice to hand out water, help with wound care, and be an extra set of eyes and hands for the athletic trainer. Interns are not permitted to assess, treat, or give medical advice or recommendations to the athletes or coaching staff beyond what they are trained and certified (CPR/AED). After practice, interns will aid in breakdown of water/Gatorade and medical supplies and may then assist the athletic trainer with post-practice tasks.
- While we commend you for your enthusiasm, the likelihood of you making these decisions is slim to none. But we do encourage our interns to ask questions of our athletic trainers (at appropriate times) to learn more about the decisions behind these plans. Many sports will, however, have Masters of Athletic Training students working and learning from the athletic trainers to complete educational requirements for their degree in Athletic Training. These students will have the task to determine plans of care.
How do I take the internship for credit?
- Interns may take the internship for credit through the IPHY department or they can participate as volunteers. Sophomores may take up to 3 credit hours/semester while Juniors/Seniors may take up to 6 credit hours/semester. 1 credit hour = 45 working clinic hours. Based on average hours of past student interns, it is recommended that interns take 1-3 credit hours for the semester unless they are assigned to football – interns can work enough hours during fall football to earn up to 6 credit hours. Please visit http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/ugrad/volunteering.html for more information. For answers not found through this website, students can contact Dr Shi with the IPHY department at Jia.Shi@colorado.edu.
- Quick answer: no. First year interns may work on volunteer status or take the internship for IPHY internship credit. However, interns that are invited back after their first year are hired as employees are paid hourly or may work via work study. Invitation to return as an intern is not guaranteed and is based on the intern’s overall performance and professionalism.