Career Related Experiences
Career Related Experiences (CRE) allow you to explore career options while you are in school and possibly obtain academic credit. A CRE puts you into the work environment that you think you would like to pursue as a career to explore, to learn, and to clarify your career decisions. All students are encouraged to build CRE into their academic plans. Two or more experiences will increase your chances of being hired into a position of your choice.
You may begin exploring careers through volunteer experiences and progress to more responsible positions throughout your academic career. As a first year student you may explore a couple of career alternatives simply by volunteering or taking a part time job in the environment that you are considering for a career. As a sophomore or junior you can take a step up and begin working, for pay or not, in a career related experience that carries more responsibilities and requires greater level of skills. As you approach your senior year, you may want to find an organization that utilizes career related experiences as a hiring tool.
Importance of Career Related Experiences
With CREs, you can learn about yourself and potential careers:
See if the career is one you really want to pursue
Gain valuable skills and knowledge for your chosen career
Test yourself in a real world environment
Earn academic credit (see below for more details)
Make a better connection with your studies
Develop quality references from professionals in your field
Set yourself up to obtain a full-time position based upon your career related experience
Forms of Career Related Experiences
A CRE may include any combination of the following forms of placements:
Paid positions – part time or full time
Unpaid positions – volunteer
Academic credit or no credit
Summer, fall or winter jobs
Academic Credit for Career Related Experiences
There are several ways to obtain academic credit that will count toward graduation. The program you select depends upon your major. You can talk to a career advisor or a faculty member to determine which type of program is best for you.
The programs are:
Internships
Cooperative Education
Service Learning
Other
Internships
Internships are opportunities to work within your area of career interest, providing you with the chance to practically apply your knowledge, gain valuable experience and make contacts in your field. Some internships offer college credit and/or wages in addition to the experiential education they provide. Most employers recognize the term internship whether or not they have a formal program in place.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education is a unique academic program that also allows you to explore careers. Cooperative Education, based upon the Sandwich program in England, began in the technical field of engineering and has gradually moved into a much broader range of majors. A formal Cooperative Education program begins between the sophomore and junior year and includes at least two work semesters alternating with academic semesters. For more information on requirements and enrollment, call 970-247-7321.
Service Learning
Service Learning is a directed experience, through enrollment in particular classes. Students work in local schools or non-profit organizations. Students are directed by a professor who assigns monitors and evaluates the work. For more information contact the Service Learning Center on campus at 247-7641.
Other
There are classes offered within certain majors that are practical experience based. Your academic advisor will help you in determining which classes are in your best interest.
It is important to know that, while academic credit is available through the above programs, you can obtain career related experiences without academic credit. Again, any work that puts you into the environment, that you plan to pursue as a career, is valuable to you and considered career related experience.
