Want to Learn More?
Turn Your Work, Internship, or Volunteer Experience into College Credits
Work Experience courses are offered every semester, though you won't find most of them listed in the standard semester class schedule. Instead, your course is custom-built around your specific needs, including start date, schedule, and credit or noncredit hours.
We look forward to helping you put your degree to work. Your resume and transcript will thank you for it.
How to Get Started
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Prepare Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview Skills, you can:
- Enroll in WORK 96 or WORK 496 (noncredit) Professional and Essential Skills or attend an MPC Career Services Workshop.
- Find an Internship That Fits Your Goals:
- Search on Your Own: Explore these resources to find a job, internship, or volunteer experience.
- Connect with Your Program’s Department Chair: Visit their office hours to learn about past internships and networking opportunities relevant to your field of study.
- Meet with the MPC Work-based Learning Coordinator. Visit MPC Career Services during their office hours:
- Fill out the Internship Interest Form.
- Schedule your appointment with the Work-based Learning Coordinator to work on your resume and explore placement options.
- Schedule Your Enrollment Appointment:
- Once you have your internship details (start date, weekly hours, and supervisor information), Schedule a Meeting with the Work Experience Education Faculty Coordinator to complete your enrollment in a WORK 97, 98, 99 or the equivalent 400 Course.
Appointments outside of office hours and at the Marina Campus are available upon request. Translation can also be provided by request. Se puede proporcionar traducción durante la reunión a pedido.
Built-In Opportunities
Many MPC programs have chosen to incorporate Work Experience classes as part of their degree and certificate requirements. These programs include:
Design Your Own
If your program doesn't have Work Experience built in, you can still participate. Units qualify for MPC general education credit and are transferable to CSUs.
Lecture/lab courses provide employment and business skills, while work experience courses are designed to align with your job or internship role.
Classes & Certificates to Choose From
MPC’s Work Experience Education combines classroom learning with real-world experience. Whether through a job, internship, or volunteer placement, these programs help students build essential workplace skills and prepare for future career opportunities.
Credit Classes
Workforce Skills
Public Service & Civic Engagement
Workforce Essentials
Noncredit Classes
Workforce Skills
Public Service & Civic Engagement
What Your Semester Will Look Like
Follow this plan to make the most of your experience and document activity thoroughly.
Before the Course Starts:
- Book an Appointment during office hours.
- Have your worksite supervisor sign your placement agreement.
- Work with your worksite supervisor to create three measurable and specific learning objectives.
- Record the learning objectives and have your instructor approve them.
During the Semester:
- Focus on achieving your learning objectives at work.
- Log your hours worked and link your recorded hours to your learning objectives as you progress through the course.
- Use the Office Hours Scheduler as needed to check in with your instructor.
- Coordinate and schedule your worksite visit with both your instructor and supervisor. Use the Worksite Visit Scheduler to book the meeting.
Three Weeks Before the End of the Semester:
- Review your checklist to make sure you have everything completed.
- Have your employer fill out your performance evaluation.
- Write a final reflection on your experience.
- Add your new skills to your resume.
- Consider re-enrolling for the next semester!
Learning Objectives
What is a Learning Objective? A learning objective is a measurable goal set to enhance your skills, solve a problem, or gain new job knowledge through your work experience. It goes beyond routine tasks and must be specific, measurable, and aimed at a clear result.
For Each Learning Objective, Answer:
- What will you attempt?
- How will you accomplish it?
- When will you complete it?
- How will success be measured?
Each Semester, Set New Objectives: Create specific, achievable goals, and have them approved by both your supervisor and instructor. It’s your responsibility to ensure mutual agreement on these objectives.
Explore Available Internships
- Monterey Bay Jobs - Find a Job you Love Locally in Monterey Bay
- County of Monterey Internship Program - Valuable Internships with the Local Government
- United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance service (VITA) - Learn How to Prepare Taxes From the IRS & Earn College Credits
- CSUMB Academic Internships & CSUMB Internship Partners
- Monterey County Works - Upload Your Resume for Job & Internship Consideration
- WayUp - Search for Paid Internships all Over the United States
- HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities - Open Doors With HACU Internships
- White House Internship Program - Explore Paid Internships to Influence Change on a National Level
- NSA Cybersecurity - Start Your Cybersecurity Internship with the NSA
- NSF (National Science Foundation) - Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
- USAJobs - Internship Opportunities
- GoGovernment - Federal Internship Finder
- Idealist - Social Impact Internships
- American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Abroad - Global Internships
- CoolWorks - Jobs in Cool Places
- Nonprofits in Monterey County
The possibilities are endless. Here are some of the places where MPC students are earning college units while gaining valuable work experience.
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Preparing Students for Professional Success
