Summer 2010 - Westmont's Internship Program
By participating in an internship, a student may test classroom theories in a real work setting, assess personal strengths, hone personal skills, and begin a network of employer contacts. The undergraduate years are an excellent time to explore work options. An additional benefit is that employers and graduate schools look for applicants with one or more career-related experiences.
What is an internship? An internship is a semester-long, work-learning arrangement. It is major-specific or general and supervised. The experience takes place in an off-campus setting, is part-time, and may be paid or unpaid. It is combined with a reflective, academic study that helps one learn by doing. Important elements that distinguish an internship from a short-term job or volunteer work are an intentional self-directed learning strategy, critical reflection on what it means to integrate faith and learning in the workplace, verbal and written reflection, and an emphasis on professional development.
At Westmont, internships for academic credit are available to juniors and seniors in the fall and spring semesters. Hours vary to accommodate the specific requirements of the internship, the student's major and the student's course load. For more information contact Jennifer Taylor, the Director of Internships at 565-6085 or stop by the Internship Office on the top floor of Voskuyl Library.
July/August 2010 Summer internships are highly encouraged.
Generally, students do not earn academic credit for summer internships, although they can provide some valuable, pre-professional experience and will look great on a resume. For local, ministry-based internships, students have the option of earning elective credit during Mayterm. Regardless of the term, internships provide an opportunity to practice classroom knowledge and skills in the workplace. Santa Barbara offers a multitude of work opportunities. What's more, some internships allow students to explore iissues of diversity and justice, thereby fulfilling a general education requirement. The most recent listings for local internships may be found here. These opportunities represent both local and non-local employers.
Serving Society
Outside of a service-oriented internship, students have the option of fulfilling the Competent and Compassionate Action area of the GE requirement another way. By enrolling in APP-191SS - Serving Society for zero credits in advance of, or, at the beginning of the term, a student elects to do a minimum of 12 hours of community service over the course of the semester.* Options for service vary widely. A list of participating organizations may be found on the left-hand menu, "Community Partners 2009-2010," under the sub-heading Forms. This is not an exhaustive. Some reading and written reflection is required. The student's hours are documented and his or her work is evaluated by a supervisor in the community. Requirements include the following:
- Meet with the Service Coordinator for orientation.
- Complete the Preliminary Response sheet.
- Submit a completed Internship Learning Agreement Form (ILAF) to the Internship Office by the due date. (The ILAF is not complete unless it is signed by the Westmont Service Coordinator and the worksite supervisor.)
- Serve a minimum of twelve hours over the course of the semester at an approved worksite. Six hours of service must be completed by midterm.
- Complete the assigned reading.
- Write a Serving Society paper based on the course assignment.
- Meet with the Service Coordinator at mid-term to submit/discuss your Serving Society paper.
- Supervisor submits evaluation & documentation of service hours.
- Student Evaluation-plus-hourly-log is due no later than Tuesday of finals week.
For more information, please contact Mrs. Jennifer Taylor, Director of Internships (jtaylor@westmont.edu or 805.565.6085).
* APP-191SS is not available in May- or Summer-term.