General Work Experience (WEXP 198) education assists students in learning about the world of work and is open to all students regardless of major or job. Like vocational work experience, it is designed for students wanting to apply skills learned in the classroom to their actual job.

College credit (1-3 units) will be earned for working in the student’s current job per semester. No more than six (6) units may be earned in the program. One (1) unit of credit may be earned for every 75 hours of paid work experience or for every 60 hours of unpaid experience. Students must have a cooperative employer by the end of the second week of the semester to remain in the program.

Vocational Work Experience (WEXP 498 and the 498 series) provides students with opportunities to develop or add marketable skills related to their vocational study programs.

Eligible students must:

• Be working in a paid or non-paid job or internship related to career goal. Students who do not have a job or internship and would like assistance should contact the Work Experience and Internship office at (916) 608-6552. Students must have a cooperating employer by the end of the second week of the full semester or by the end of the first week of an eight week (or summer session) to remain in the program.
• With employer’s assistance, establish new on-the-job skills that will be documented
• Attend a one-hour weekly career management class or qualify for the “Returning Student” status. However, attendance is required for everyone for the first orientation session.
• Register for 1, 2, 3, or 4 units. One unit of credit may be earned for every 75 hours of paid work experience or for every 60 hours of unpaid experience. A total of 16 units may be earned in Vocational Work Experience.
• Students working in their college majors and taking, or have taken, a course in that area should enroll in that area’s work experience class (for example, a teacher’s aid should enroll in ECE 498 and a sales clerk should enroll in BUS 498)

Interested students may earn college credit in the following majors:

Accounting
Administration of Justice
Anthropology
Biology
Business
Business Technology
Chemistry
Communications & Media Studies
Computer Information Science
Dance
Early Childhood Education
Environmental Technology
Gerontology
History
Kinesiology & Athletics
Management
Marketing
Music
Nutrition
Photography
Social Work/Human Services
Theatre Arts

• You have completed a semester work experience course with a C grade or better.
• You are working a paid or non-paid job or internship.
• You must attend the class that meets each week. This class will cover workforce and career transition issues.
• Your grade and units are earned based on your performance in the workplace (developing new skills) and classroom assignments.

• You have completed a semester work experience course with a C grade or better.
• You are working a paid or non-paid job or internship.
• No class attendance is required for this program except for the first orientation session. However, you must establish new on-the-job skills with your employer and complete the necessary forms.
• Your grade and units are earned based on your work performance and outside homework assignments that emphasize career transition.