We are flexible in our use of terminology to describe career-related work experience for our students. Sinclair students are primarily interested in obtaining on-going part-time jobs where they can get some career-related experience while continuing to take classes each quarter and earn some money. A career-related job opportunity does not have to be called a Co-op or Internship by the participating employer. Co-op at Sinclair is considered paid, on-going career-related employment, continuing from quarter to quarter, while the student remains enrolled in classes each quarter.  Many Sinclair students are also interested in one-quarter only Internships; in fact, some of our degree programs require this. These work-based learning experiences can be paid or unpaid, but in most cases are paid. 

Most Business students and some Liberal Arts majors can earn 3-9 credit hours of academic credit as part of their degree program.  Both Co-ops and Interns register for 3 or 6 credit hour Internship courses. The number of credit hours depends upon the number of hours worked per week.  Three credit hour Internships require a student to work 15-20 hours per week for an entire academic quarter (10-12 weeks).  Six credit hour Internships require a work schedule of 30-40 hours per week for the entire quarter. 

Students earn academic credit based on what is learned in the workplace, not for working. Workplace learning must be documented through a structured series of academic assignments completed by the student and supervised by an instructor from their academic department. These assignments include developing learning objectives for a work/learning contract, completion of a paper or project and an evaluation at the end of the quarter.  Students earn a letter grade (A-F) based on completion of these assignments, as well as their job performance.   

The work-based learning experience includes assignments from a variety of tasks related to the base of skills and competencies a student develops in his or her academic coursework.  These assignments act as the foundation from which the Intern develops his or her work/learning objectives.  An ideal Internship or Co-op job provides a range of work experiences and duties that enhance the student’s transition from school to work and allows the employer to observe and evaluate performance in a variety of situations.

Specific guidelines are listed for each academic major by clicking on the menu to the left.

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