• Full-Time Employment: Typically 40 hours per week and may include benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. Full-time employment allows students and graduates to gain valuable experience while building a long-term career path.

• Part-Time Employment: Usually fewer than 30 hours per week and often offers flexible scheduling for students balancing school, work, and personal commitments. Part-time positions provide valuable work experience, income, and opportunities to develop transferable skills.

• Informal Internship: A short-term learning experience related to a career interest or field of study. Internships may be paid or unpaid and typically do not offer academic credit. These experiences help students explore career options, build professional networks, and gain hands-on experience.

• Formal Internship: A structured learning experience connected to academic coursework and supervised by faculty. Formal internships may be paid or unpaid and can provide academic credit while allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting.

• Apprenticeship: A paid training program that combines on-the-job learning with classroom instruction. Apprentices work alongside experienced professionals while developing industry-specific skills and earning wages, often leading to industry-recognized credentials and full-time employment.

• Clinical Experience: Supervised hands-on experience commonly required in healthcare and related programs. Clinical experiences allow students to apply technical skills in real-world environments while working with patients, clients, or professionals in their chosen field.

• Job Shadowing: An opportunity to observe professionals in the workplace and learn about a career field. Job shadowing helps students explore career interests, understand daily job responsibilities, and gain insight into workplace expectations and culture.

Work-based learning encompasses various educational strategies that integrate real-world work experiences with classroom learning. It's an approach that allows you to gain practical skills, knowledge, and insights by directly applying what you learn in an authentic work environment. Work-based learning experiences can take many forms, including internships, apprenticeships, part-time and full-time employment, job shadowing, mentorships, and service learning projects. Gain practical experiences, skills, and insights that can enhance your employability and readiness for career advancement.

Benefits of Work-Based Learning

Students who participate in work-based learning can:

• Apply classroom learning in real-world settings.

• Build professional skills and career readiness.

• Gain experience for their résumé.

• Explore career interests and pathways.

• Network with employers and industry professionals.

• Earn academic credit through eligible experiences.

Learn More

• Apprenticeships

• Internships (coming soon!)

• Micro-Internships (coming soon!)

• Job Shadowing (coming soon!)