Course Description
Guided learning experiences in a business or industry for the purpose of updating a student's knowledge or skills in a workforce area.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In consultation with the instructor of the course, the graduate student will propose and prepare a scholarly work that demonstrates their knowledge of the course content and related policies and practices.
Athena Title
INTERN BUS/IND
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EOCS 5450/7450
Non-Traditional Format
Supervised experience an a workplace setting.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Study and critique policies, practices, and procedures of a business, industry, or agency. 2. Observe and participate in the application of concepts, theory, and functions in the workplace. 3. Develop competencies required of persons employed in businesses, industries, or agencies. 4. Assess skills and duties performed in the workplace. 5. Participate as a member of a workforce team. 6. Acquire, organize, maintain, and evaluate information about a specific business, industry, or agency. 7. Cultivate communication, active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction between the workforce and university. 8. Create a variety of instructional strategies that can be incorporated into workforce instruction. 9. Foster relationships with businesses, industries, or agencies in the larger community to support individual learning and preservice teacher preparation. 10. Act as a reflective practitioner with regards to activities observed, performed, and accomplished during the internship. 11. Successfully function in an approved work environment. 12. Work a minimum of 400 hours in an approved work environment. 13. Complete a workforce portfolio.
Topical Outline
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. 1. Development of Goals: An individualized list of at least five goals should be developed by each student to facilitate his or her experience in the workplace/community internship. These goals should focus on individualized needs and expectations related to the student, workforce area and type of internship. Goals should be written down and reviewed regularly during the internship as to guide experiences. However, use of goals should remain flexible so that unforeseen activities and adventures might be included as part of the internship. 2. Interviews: Interviews with at least five different personnel in the business, industry, or agency should be conducted. A list of projected questions should be developed and provided to interviewees at least one day prior to the interview. Some suggested individuals to interview include managers, supervisors, human resource directors, and production staff. It is suggested that applicable and appropriate materials (i.e., forms, paperwork, charts, etc.) be collected during these interviews. 3. Job Shadowing: The student should select at least three different employees to job shadow during his or her internship. Job shadowing experiences should last a minimum of five hours for each employee shadowed. Students should keep a record of activities viewed during this process. Functions to observe during job shadowing activities should include but not be limited to management, production, operation, control, distribution, employee relations, pricing, promotion, customer service, and training. It is suggested that applicable and appropriate materials (i.e., forms, paperwork, charts, etc.) be collected during these shadowing experiences. 4. Development of and Participation in Job Skills: The student should be given opportunities to develop a variety of job- related skills during the internship by participating in the actual work of the business, industry, or agency. The best scenario would afford the student broad based exposure through participation in the major functions performed by the business, industry, or agency. It may be possible to develop and participate in job skills while conducting interviews and shadowing activities. Students are encouraged to attempt skills never performed. 5. Journal/Reflection: The student should maintain a job/reflective journal during the internship. It should be updated on at least a weekly basis. It should include information gathered and activities observed, encountered, and performed. Journal entries also should provide opportunities for the student to record and evaluate his or her feelings regarding internship experiences. 6. Portfolio Development: The student should develop an internship portfolio to include documentation, examples, and journal and reflective entries. Some categories to include in the internship portfolio can be found by perusing the interview questions, reflective questions, guided internship questions, and other suggested activities. The portfolio should be instrumental in assisting the student in developing teaching strategies and in creating and directing internship experiences for his or her future students.