Work Experience

Work Experience Courses#

Many Work Experience courses are required as part of certificate and degree requirements or can be taken as elective units. Work Experience credit counts towards total degree units and are CSU-Transferable.

GENERAL WORK EXPERIENCE EDUCATION (WORK 272):
A program of on-the-job learning experiences designed to assist the student in developing occupational effectiveness. Employment need not be related to vocational or occupational major.

OCCUPATIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE EDUCATION (270):
On-the-job learning experiences for students employed in a job or internship related to an occupational major or career path. Students develop workplace competencies, critical thinking skills, and problem solving abilities through the creation and achievement of job-related behavioral learning objectives.

• Mesa also offers Occupational Work Experience 270 as a discipline specific option (ie: CHIL 270) taught by a discipline faculty member can be required or an elective option of a degree or certificate program.

As college credit is earned for a Work Experience course, students will need to pay tuition and fees similar to any other class. Students are encouraged to check with the Financial Aid/Student Accounts Offices to see how payment for this course may be covered. Students are also advised to speak with a Counselor to determine if and/or how enrollment in Work Experience may impact an education plan.

View Work Experience courses for Spring 2025

Work Experience Requirements#

• Students participating in Work Experience must first secure a position, paid or unpaid, to receive college credit.
• Credit is earned based on 54 hours of paid or unpaid employment/internship/volunteer work per unit the student is enrolled.
• Internship sites are required to designate a Site Supervisor who can provide regular training,  supervision, and work direction for the student.
• A Work Experience placement must provide new and expanded learning related to a student's education or career goal to be eligible for academic credit.
• Every student sets 3 learning objectives (SMART goals), in consultation with their site supervisor and approved by the internship instructor, to ensure new and expanding learning related to their major or education.
• Work Experience instructors visit sites to consult with Site Supervisors on students' progress toward learning objectives and overall performance twice during the semester. Work Experience course credit is earned by successful progress of learning objectives and completion of hours. 

WE Credit & Hour Requirements - WE Hours Must Be Completed Within Course Dates:
1 unit - 54 Paid | Unpaid Work Hours
2 units - 108 Paid | Unpaid Work Hours
3 units - 162 Paid | Unpaid Work Hours
4 units - 216 Paid | Unpaid Work Hours

Steps to Enroll#

• Get $$$ for Workforce Training! Apply for the Mesa Impactship Program: Interning with a Purpose
• Be a current SDCCD/Mesa College student (Apply at http://www.sdmesa.edu/apply/) 
• Secure a job, internship, or volunteer position (Paid or Unpaid)
• Watch the Online Work Experience Orientation and complete the Orientation Quiz
  • Save quiz as file (PDF) to your computer and upload the file into WE Application
• Complete the Online Work Experience Application (Spring 2025) - Watch the WE Application Tutorial for assistance as needed.
  • NOTE: Spring 2025 Work Experience Application available now!
    
• Minors Under 18 Years - Must submit an approved work permit to Mesa WE Coordinator
• Completion of Employer Agreement by Site Supervisor - emailed to Site Supervisor automatically once student WE Application has been submitted)
• Attend mandatory Faculty Work Experience Orientation with Work Experience Instructor (in-person or remote, details provided by faculty)

Once ALL forms and requirements are approved, the Work Experience Instructor will send an email to you with an ADD/permission # to enroll in the Work Experience class shortly before the semester begins.

*NOTE: Students in paid/unpaid positions may be required to complete additional requirements or forms to onboard and work for a company. Students completing an unpaid internship or volunteer position at Mesa College or SDCCD will be required to submit the SDCCD Volunteer Form and additional forms to their hiring department. Please ask your direct supervisor of your department about what is expected and the process. 

Interested in receiving a one-time $1000 payment (AKA stipend) or hourly compensation to offset expenses during your workplace training & enrollment in a Work Experience course? Check out and apply for the Mesa Impactship Program (MIP) to check your eligibility!

Find Work! - Resources & Support#

Contact a Mesa Internship Coordinator – Mesa offers assistance & resources in applying for workforce training or internships, but a placement must be secured by the student in order to be eligible and approved to enroll in Work Experience.

Resume Help - Update your resume & schedule an appointment with a Mesa Career Peer Ambassador on Handshake for assistance with highlighting your skills

Handshake SDCCD Job Board - Activate your FREE account to to search for jobs/internships, explore careers, register for career events, schedule appointments, and more! Use your MySDCCD email to login and apply for positions. 

List of Job Boards – There are tons of job search engines out there. This is a list of tools that focus on jobs and internships for students, some are more specific to certain student populations and/or industry so check them out.

Medical / Clinical Volunteer Opportunities - Apply for volunteer and internship oppportunities available in the medical / healthcare field. 

Resources for Job Seekers with Disabilities - Access tools, search sites, and information on disability employment and work-related accomodations.

Career Resources - Check out Mesa Career Services for articles, videos, & tools to find open positions & stand out to employers

Child Development Students#

Need CHIL 151 as a co-requisite to CHIL 270?
Students pursuing the Child Development degree must take CHIL 151 and 270 together as combo classes at the same campus because the class content and field experience assignments are aligned. Students following this track must have a job/internship/volunteer placement at a licensed, early childhood education program that serves children 5 years of age and under and must be directly supervised by California Mentor Teacher, or by a classroom teacher who holds the California Master Teacher permit. CHIL 151/270 will only be offered through City College during the Spring 2025 semester so please plan accordingly:

CHIL 151 - CN # 80243 - Collins, Rebecca - City-Web

Employer Partners#

Work Experience is a partnership between company sites, students, and San Diego Mesa College. Work Experience is a structured educational process that combines real-world work experiences with regular academic or vocational instruction and is an integral part of the community college curriculum. Work Experience strengthens student learning and builds effective work habits and career awareness. Students receive college credit and develop workplace competencies through hands-on experiences within industry.

Employer Benefits:

• Participation in the Work Experience program provides access to a pipeline of qualified, motivated candidates, and increases awareness and interest in your organization.
• Recruit new potential employees by hosting a paid or unpaid intern through Work Experience.
• Nurture a student’s career exploration and emphasize desired skills and training needed for success.  

Employer Site Supervisor Role & Commitments:

• Beginning of Term: Collaborate with student and Work Experience instructor at an in-person visit to develop 3 learning objectives (SMART goals - projects, tasks, or skills) for the student to achieve throughout semester.
• During Term: Oversee daily tasks and responsibilities of the student. Check in to answer questions, conduct training, provide appropriate equipments/materials, and ensure progress of objectives, projects, and skills.
• End of Term: Evaluate the student’s work performance, growth of skills, completion of projects, and approve Work Experience hours. Provide written and verbal feedback on the student’s performance. 
• Workplace Coverage: Students in unpaid (volunteer) internships receive Workers Compensation Coverage through SDCCD. Paid interns are required to be covered by the internship site's Workers Compensation insurance. 

View the Work Experience Internship Labor & Employment FAQs

Want to Hire a Mesa Work Experience Student?

• Contact Shawn Fawcett - Work Experience Coordinator at sfawcett@sdccd.edu for details & next steps
• Review the Mesa Impactship Program (MIP) for ways employers can receive funding to cover all or some of student wages for workforce training positions. 

Handbooks & Resources#

• Instructor/Staff Work Experience Handbook
• Student Work Experience Handbook
• Work Experience Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Employer / Site Supervisor Work Experience Overview
• Learning Objectives Resource Guide & Worksheet

Work Experience Forms#

Work experience online forms change every semester. Make sure you are completing the correct forms for the semester you are enrolled in.

View Fall 2024 Work Experience Online Checklist for form links. 

Spring 2025

Before Enrollment:

• Online SDCCD Work Experience Orientation
• Work Experience Application 
• Employer Agreement - Emailed directly to and completed by Site Supervisor 

After Enrollment in Work Experience Course:

• Work Experience Online Forms Checklist
• Learning Agreement 
• Cumulative Work Record
• Final Evaluation (Completed by both Student AND Site Supervisor - Same link, 2 form submissions)
• Student Work Experience Survey

Optional - Highly Encouraged!

• Site Supervisor / Employer Work Experience Survey

Gender, Equity, Sexual Harassment & Violence Prevention Training

All WE students must complete this training prior to submitting a Cumulative Work Record, but you are encouraged to complete the training prior to logging your Work Experience Hours. This training includes an introduction to educational and workplace regulations and guidance regarding sexual harassment including how to recognize, report, and prevent sexual assault and harassment. 

1. Self-Enroll in Canvas in the Gender Equity, Sexual Harassment and Violence Prevention Training Course
2. Complete the training. Organized into 3 modules: Key Concepts, Reporting and Response, Awareness and Prevention, you will find a series of short videos and supplemental handouts for review. Hit the "next" button at the bottom right to move through the course content.
3. Submit documentation of completion. Print your grades to PDF. Save file to your computer. Upload file into the Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Proof of Completion Form (Spring 2025).

WE Employer Database#

Check out the list of employers below that have supervised Mesa College Work Experience students for jobs, internships, or volunteer positions in previous semesters. 

Need Help?#

Questions?
Contact Shawn Fawcett for if you have questions or concerns.

Shawn Fawcett, Ed.D.
Work-Based Learning Coordinator
Work Experience Coordinator
sfawcett@sdccd.edu