An internship is an off-campus or on-campus work experience job that is designed to enhance student learning in the classroom. Through work experiences, students achieve “Learning Objectives” designed to help expand career options, learn about the ‘work culture’ and develop new job skills.
To enroll in an internship class during the fall and spring semesters, students are required to enroll in 7 or more units at SMC during that semester, including the internship class. For the summer session, students are required to enroll in an extra 3-unit class in addition to at least one-unit of internship credit. Students may avoid the 3-unit class requirement during the summer and winter sessions if they have been enrolled in 7 units at SMC the previous semester.
In order to enroll in an internship, students are required to attend a one-hour Internship Orientation meeting at the beginning of the semester. Call the Career Services Center for the orientation meeting schedule, or get the information on our website: www.smc.edu/internship.
Students earn college credit based on the number of internship hours worked. Each unit of college credit requires 60 hours of unpaid (volunteer), or 75 hours of paid hours of work per semester. The General Internship Classes are listed in the Schedule of Classes under Counseling and Testing. The classes are Counseling 90A, B, C, and D and range from 1 to 4 units of credit. General Internships need not be related to the student’s educational or career goals.
F-1 students must see the immigration Coordinator at IEC before enrolling.
Many departments at SMC offer Internships specific to a student’s major or career goal. Internships combine on-the-job learning experiences with college curriculum and are for students beginning, changing, or advancing in a career, or moving ahead in a major.
For further information or for help in finding an internship, call the Career Services Center, (310) 434-4337, or go to our website www.smc.edu/internship.