Earn College Credit While You Work
The Work Experience and Internship Program is designed for students who are near completion of their degree or certificate. Through an internship, you set goals and build professional skills while earning units toward your degree or certificate.
Requirements
To participate in Work Experience, students must:
- Have declared a major or career goal
- Have completed at least one semester in college
- Be in good academic standing with a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher
- Commit to an internship for the duration of the enrollment term (for example, 16 weeks, 12 weeks, or eight weeks)
Getting Started
Why wait? Make an appointment with your Work Experience Office on campus or use the following resources to get started today!
Enrolling in a Work Experience Course
There are three types of WEXP courses: 498, 298, or 198. Most students take WEXP 498 or WEXP 298. Some degrees and certificates require students to complete a WEXP 498 or WEXP 298 course. Other programs offer a WEXP course as an elective.
WEXP 498 courses are for students who are completing an associate degree an plan to transfer to a four-year college or university.
These units are only transferable to the California State University (CSU) system. CSU may accept up to eight (8) units of Work Experience 498 classes as electives when student's work is related to their major.
The University of California does not accept these units.
WEXP 298 courses are for students completing an associate degree or certificate without plans to transfer to a four-year college or university. The units may count as elective units, major units, or general education units.
These units do not transfer to California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC).
WEXP 198 is for students interested in exploring various career options who have not picked a major. The course is intended to help students acquire desirable work habits, attitudes, and career awareness. These units may count as general education units.
These units do not transfer to California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC).
The type of WEXP course you enroll in also determines the maximum number of units you can earn:
- In WEXP 498 or WEXP 298, you can earn up to four (4) units per semester.
- In WEXP 198, you can earn up to three (3) units per semester.
Repeating WEXP Courses
You can take a WEXP 498 or WEXP 298 course up to four times and receive up to 16 units total. You can take a WEXP 198 course up to two times and receive up to 6 units total.
Student who have participated in Work Experience before and passed with a grade of "C" or better are not required to attend weekly class, but will still meet with their instructor on a regular basis.
The type of WEXP course you enroll in also determines the maximum number of units you can earn:
- In WEXP 498 or WEXP 298*, you can earn up to four (4) units per semester.
- In WEXP 198, you can earn up to three (3) units per semester.
Repeating WEXP Courses
You can take a WEXP 498 or WEXP 298* course up to four times and receive up to 16 units total. You can take a WEXP 198 course up to two times and receive up to 6 units total.
Student who have participated in Work Experience before and passed with a grade of "C" or better are not required to attend weekly class, but will still meet with their instructor on a regular basis.
* Sacramento City College does not offer WEXP 298 courses.
Earning Units
The number of units you earn in a WEXP course is based on how many hours you work per semester, whether your internship is paid or unpaid, and the type of WEXP course you enroll in.
You must complete your learning objectives and course assignments to receive credit for a WEXP course.
Calculating Work Hours and Units
The number of hours you work determines how many units you earn. Units are determined as follows:
- Paid internship – .5 units per 37.5 hours worked during a semester
- Unpaid internship – .5 units per 30 hours worked during a semester
Work hours must be worked within the semester's start and end dates. Time spent in class or on assignments does not count toward work hours.
How Many Hours Can You Commit to Work?
Figure out how many hours you are able to work in a semester before you decide how many WEXP units to take.
For example, if you register for 1 unit for a paid internship, then you need to commit to working 75 hours within the semester to receive credit and pass the class.
| Session Length | Work Hours Per Week | Work Hours Per Semester | Units Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Weeks | 5 Hours | 37.5 Hours | .5 Units |
| 8 Weeks | 10 Hours | 75 Hours | 1 Unit |
| 8 Weeks | 20 Hours | 150 Hours | 2 Units |
| 8 Weeks | 30 Hours | 225 Hours | 3 Units |
| 8 Weeks | 40 Hours | 300 Hours | 4 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 2.5 Hours | 37.5 Hours | .5 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 5 Hours | 75 Hours | 1 Unit |
| 16 Weeks | 10 Hours | 150 Hours | 2 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 15 Hours | 225 Hours | 3 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 20 Hours | 300 Hours | 4 Units |
| Session Length | Work Hours Per Week | Work Hours Per Semester | Units Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Weeks | 4 Hours | 30 Hours | .5 Units |
| 8 Weeks | 8 Hours | 60 Hours | 1 Unit |
| 8 Weeks | 16 Hours | 120 Hours | 2 Units |
| 8 Weeks | 24 Hours | 180 Hours | 3 Units |
| 8 Weeks | 32 Hours | 240 Hours | 4 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 2 Hours | 30 Hours | .5 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 4 Hours | 60 Hours | 1 Unit |
| 16 Weeks | 8 Hours | 120 Hours | 2 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 12 Hours | 180 Hours | 3 Units |
| 16 Weeks | 16 Hours | 240 Hours | 4 Units |
Dropping or Withdrawing
Notify your instructor if you plan to withdraw from the course or if you have been terminated from your internship. It is your responsibility to officially drop the course. You may receive an "F" grade if you fail to drop the course through Admissions and Records or eServices.
Absences
You will be dropped if you miss more Work Experience course sessions than is allowed by your instructor. If you are in an unpaid internship position, then your supervisor will be notified that you are no longer enrolled in the Work Experience Course and that you are no longer covered under the Los Rios Community College District Unpaid Internship Agreement.
Work Experience Program Office
- Phone: (916) 484-8182
- Email: wexp@arc.losrios.edu
- Location: Career Center, Welcome and Support Center