Grade Level:  11-12
Course #:   0530
Length:      1 Semester
Credit(s):    1-3 credit per semester may be taken for multiple semesters
Diploma:     Counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for all diplomas

Prerequisite:  Preparing for College and Careers; Career Information & Exploration

The Career Exploration Internship course is a paid or unpaid work experience in the public or private sector that provides for workplace learning in an area of student career interest. Unlike a cooperative education program in which students gain expertise in a specific occupation, the career exploration internship is intended to expose students to broad aspects of a particular industry or career cluster area by rotating through a variety of work sites or departments. In addition to their workplace learning activities, students participate in 1) regularly scheduled meeting with their classroom teacher, or 2) a regularly scheduled seminar with the teacher for the purpose of helping students make the connection between academic learning and work-related experiences. Specific instructional standards tied to the career cluster or pathway and learning objectives for the internship must be written to clarify the expectations of all parties — the student, employer, and instructor.

A minimum of 85 hours of workplace and classroom activities are required for one credit; 170 hours are required for two credits. 255 hours are required for three credits. Of the 85 — 255 hours (at least I hour a week or the equivalent over a semester or year) must be spent in related classroom instruction.

This course is exploratory in nature and does not qualify for reimbursement under the career-technical (vocational) funding formula.

Grade Level:  12

Course #:   5974

Length:  Full Year

Credit(s):  1-3 per semester, 6 credits maximum

Diploma:  Counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for all Diplomas

Required Prerequisite:   Complete at least one advanced career and technical course from a program or a program of study.  Student’s worksite placement must align to student pathway.

Work Based Learning Capstone is a stand-alone course that prepares students for college and career. Work-Based Learning means sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings, to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that foster in-depth, first hand engagement with the tasks required of a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction. Work Based Learning Capstone experiences occur in workplaces and involve an employer assigning a student meaningful job tasks to develop his or her skills, knowledge, and readiness for work. A clear partnership agreement and training plan is developed by the student, teacher, and workplace mentor/supervisor to guide the student’s work-based experiences and assist in evaluating achievement and performance. Related Instruction shall be organized and planned around the activities associated with the student’s individual job and career objectives in a pathway and shall be taught during the same semester the student is participating in the work-based experience. For a student to become employable, the related instruction should cover: (a) employability skills, and (b) specific occupational competencies.  A minimum of 85 hours of workplace and classroom activities are required for each credit hour.

This course no longer counts toward concentrator status