Work Experience
The Work Experience Education program offers students an on-the-job learning experience in a job, internship or volunteer position related to their major.
Paid or unpaid placements are eligible. Students are supported by faculty as they explore career pathways, learn professional skills, and gain real-world training in the workplace through this non-traditional class.
Student Learning Outcomes
WEE allows students to:
- Earn college credit for work/internships toward certificate/degree requirements
- Be employed in paid, unpaid or volunteer placements
- Apply critical thinking, research, analysis and resolution for work-related objectives.
- Convert classroom instruction to the work environment through learning objectives.
- Develop and apply competencies in the workplace and within course-related activities.
WEE is offered as two different options:
- Discipline-specific (aligned with your coursework and counting toward a specific major, degree or academic focus, like BUSE 270, CHIL 270, AGRI 270).
- General (aligned with your job/career opportunities and counting for elective credit, like WORK 270).
WEE Credit & Hour Requirements:
Work Experience Education credit is awarded based on 54 hours of work/internship per unit the student is enrolled in.
- 1 unit - 54 Hours Unpaid | Paid
- 2 units - 108 Hours Unpaid | Paid
- 3 units - 162 Hours Unpaid | Paid
- 4 units - 216 Hours Unpaid | Paid
Pre-enrollment Requirements & Forms
Must complete all six steps before receiving an add code:
- Secure a job, internship, or volunteer position (paid or unpaid): Employer or designated worksite representatives must agree with the intent and purposes
of Work Experience Education and indicate so by signing the student’s Application
& Employer Agreement (see below).
- Need a WE placement? Use you MySDCCD email to activate and apply for City College-approved positions with a Free Handshake Job Board account
- Watch the Work Experience Orientation (25-minute video): Includes overview of program and required steps for student. Upon completion, an orientation quiz must be completed and submitted. Follow instructions in the online form to submit.
- Complete and sign Work Experience Application (now submitted as an online form): The WE Application is completed before the start of the term by the student in order to provide details of their WE placement and receive an add/permission # to enroll in a WE course.
- Complete and sign Employer Agreement: Emailed directly to and completed by Site Supervisor, the WE Employer Agreement is completed before the start of the term by the Site Supervisor in order to agree to supervise a student's WE placement and for the student to receive an add/permission # to enroll in a WE course.
- Submit the above completed and signed application and quiz on or before the Monday before the add/drop deadline for the semester. Once approved, you will be sent an add code by your faculty.
- Login to Canvas and enroll in and complete the SDCCD Gender Equity, Sexual Harassment and Violence Prevention (Canvas). Should be completed as early as possible in the term -- final deadline is the semester's withdrawl deadline.
ONCE YOU ARE ENROLLED:
- Complete and sign Learning Agreement: Includes learning objectives and must be signed by the employer/site supervisor, student,
and work experience instructor, ideally during the first site visit (see below). Includes three measurable job-oriented learning objectives.
- Learning Objectives Resource Guide and Worksheet: Includes guidance and resources in drafting your required measurable job-oriented learning objectives.
- Learning Objectives Resource Guide and Worksheet: Includes guidance and resources in drafting your required measurable job-oriented learning objectives.
- Complete Cumulative Work Record: Utilized throughout the semester and completed by the student. Completed by the student
and submitted to instructor.
- Final evaluation and post-work experience survey for student and employer/site supervisor: Documents will be shared during the term.
Only if needed:
- Unpaid Work Experience Volunteer Form: required for all unpaid work experience. Completed by student and signed by Work
Experience Coordinator/Instructor and Risk Management.
Utilize Work Experience Online Forms Checklist to reference the above steps to complete the Work Experience process.
Program Contacts:
Nicole Vargas | Marco Guajardo |
Work Experience Education Coordinator | Work Experience Education Program Assistant |
Office: BT-215 | Office: BT-215 |
Phone: (619) 388-3488 | Phone: (619) 388-3488 |
E-mail: nvargas@sdccd.edu | E-mail: mguajardo@sdccd.edu |
The goals and assignments for completion are formulated with industry under the direction of the college instructor. The grading system is the same as for other subjects offered by the college and the time spent for preparation and training is also comparable.
Adequate records are maintained to determine satisfactory progress and attendance. Students may be required to comply with and maintain work-related standards (i.e. dress and grooming for students in the Cosmetology program). Excessive absences may result in exclusion from the program.
All prospective students are required to attend an orientation program and complete an application and employer agreement before enrollment.
Have questions? Start here: Work Experience Education Student Handbook