Internship Program
Ms. Stacy Farrar, Internship Coordinator
240-497-6382
Fax: 240-497-6306
About the Internship Program
What are students expected to do in an internship?
What is expected of sponsors?
Who should apply for an academic internship?
Career Fields
Commonly Asked Questions
Internship Sponsors 2010-2011 , 2011-2012
Internship Booklet
Partnership Program: Learning through Involvement Beyond the Classroom
APPLICATION PACKET 2012-2013:
Internship Application Packet 2012-2013
Sample Student Resumes
INTERNSHIP FORMS:
Student Internship Weekly Time Sheet
Special Internship Programs:
Maryland General Assembly Student Page Program
ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
B-CC has an extensive internship program. An academic internship enables a student to:
- Acquire hands-on experience in a field of potential interest
- Learn skills s/he would not learn in school
- Determine whether a career is compatible with his/her interests, skills, and values
- Work with adults in a professional environment and develop working relationships
- Apply academic learning to practical situation and out-of-school experiences to classroom activities
- Develop responsible and productive work habits
- Become aware of opportunities that exist in a career field and the necessary educational background needed to pursue that career
- Make connections for future job opportunities
The program lasts an entire academic term (18 weeks), or preferably, two terms, and may necessitate longer hours than a student would ordinarily spend in the classroom. Successful completion of the semester will earn 1/2 academic (elective) credit.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE
- A strong academic record
- An excellent attendance record
- A positive attitude
- A solid work ethic
- Strong communication skills
- The maturity to make the commitment for an acdemic year
- The willingness to meet the requirements of the program
- The endorcement of his or her teachers and counselor
WHAT ARE STUDENTS EXPECTED TO DO IN AN INTERNSHIP?
- Leave school at the end of 4th, 5th or 6th period and report to an employer.
- Work a minimum of 75 hours per semester (about 8 hours per week) for a one-period internship, or 150 hours per semester (about 10 hours per week) for a two-period internship; or 225 hours (about 15 hours per week) for a three-period internship.
- Arrange transportation to and from the intern site.
- Demonstrate good attendance, cooperativeness, industriousness, and willingness to take the initiative when appropriate. They must also have a neat personal appearance, dress appropriately for the workplace, and learn proper business etiquette and professionalism.
- Attend scheduled group seminars with other interns.
- Write weekly email messages to the Internship Coordinator concerning events/problems/questions regarding the internship.
- Complete a project to be determined by the Internship Coordinator at the end of each quarter.
See Internship Program Syllabus for specific requirements and performance assessments details.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Can I play a sport or be in the school play if I am an intern? Yes, as long as you are able to complete the required number of hours. Ideally, students work a set number of hours each week, but if a student can find a sponsor who is willing to offer some flexibility, s/he may work fewer hours during the sports season and more hours after it ends. Plese also be advised that if you need to be back at school for an after school activity, it is going to limit your options. It's difficult to get the perfect internship at the perfect time and in the perfect location. You may need to make some trade-offs.
If I am accepted into the program, am I guaranteed a job? If accepted into the program, you will need to work with the coordinator to secure a position. Some of our sponsors do take students year after year, but is a competitive process and the most qualified candidates are likely to secure the most coveted positions. Each year, we also get many new sponsors. Most of them come to us through a new connection that an industrious student establishes.
Do I have to work every day? Ideally, students go to work each day. However, some students particularly those who travel long distances to get to their internship, find that it is easier to work several longer shifts each week to save on travel time. Some sites also prefer to have students work for severl longer stretches of time. Therefore, each intern may coordinte with his/her sponsor to develop a set schedule and to communicate that schedule with the coordinator.
Do I have to attend the required seminars? Yes, there are approximately 15 required seminars each semester. A schedule will be distributed at the start of each quarter.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF SPONSORS?
- Provide daily supervision or designate someone to do so.
- Verify student attendance by signing a weekly timesheet provided by the student.
- Evaluate the intern's and the program's effectiveness at the end of each nine-week quarter.
For internships in the academic year 2012-2013, application due date is February 1, 2012. Questions? Please call or email Ms. Farrar.