Internships & Work Experience Education

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    Earn college credits with a job, internship, or volunteer role that provides hands-on learning. Through Work Experience Education (WORK) courses, you can apply classroom learning to real-life situations and build your resume for a successful career transition.

    Want to Learn More?

    Make An Appointment

    Turn Your Work, Internship, or Volunteer Experience into College Credits

    Work Experience Education Logo

     

    All Work Experience courses are offered every semester. You will not find them listed in the semester class schedules. Your course will be designed specifically for your needs regarding dates and credit hours.

    We look forward to helping you put your degree to work, your resume will thank you for it.

    Want to read about students and where they are interning? Check out our Annual Program Highlights.

     

    How to Get Started

    1. Prepare Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview Skills, you can:
    2. 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: Fill out the Internship Interest Form then Schedule a Meeting or visit MPC Career Services during their office hours.
    3. Schedule Your Enrollment Appointment:

    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. 

    Fill out the form linked above, and Work Experience staff will help you get started.

    MPC Catalog - Work Experience Classes

    Current & Recent Work Experience Employers

    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.
    Coworkers communicating in the office
    Certificate of Achievement

    Workforce Essentials

    Coworkers communicating in the office
    Certificate of Completion

    Workforce Skills

    Customer representative speaking with supervisor
    Course Catalog

    View All Work Experience Classes

    What Your Semester Will Look Like

    Follow this plan to make the most of your experience and document activity thoroughly.

    Before the Course Starts:

    1. Book an Appointment during office hours.
    2. Read through the Learning Objectives and download your Student Handbook. 
    3. Present the handbook to your immediate supervisor and meet with them to create 3 learning objectives and log them in your handbook.
    4. Email these objectives to your instructor for approval within a week.
    5. Have your supervisor sign the work agreement in the handbook before starting. This is mandatory.
    6. After approval, save your handbook in your Google Folder created at your initial meeting.

    During the Semester:

    1. Focus on achieving your learning objectives at work.
    2. Use the Office Hours Scheduler as needed to check in with your instructor.
    3. Track your hours in your Handbook or Additional Hour Tracking Forms, have them signed by your supervisor, and submit them prior to the end of the semester.
    4. Coordinate and schedule your worksite visit with both your instructor and supervisor. Use the online scheduler to book the meeting.

    Three Weeks Before the End of the Semester:

    1. Schedule a final meeting with your instructor to review your handbook.
    2. Have your employer fill out your performance evaluation in your handbook and present it to your instructor.
    3. Write a final reflection on your experience and upload it to your Google Folder.
    4. Submit your completed handbook to your instructor to receive your course grade.
    5. 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?

    Record your objectives in your Student Handbook.

    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

    Internships can provide valuable industry insight, strengthen your resume, turn into full-time employment, and give you tangible working experience & confidence. View sources to find opportunities for available internships. MPC does not receive compensation or endorse any of these companies—these are simply informational.

    The possibilities are endless. Here are some of the places where MPC students are earning college units while gaining valuable work experience.

    • Congressman Jimmy Panetta's Office 
    • Action Council
    • CHOMP
    • Pebble Beach Company
    • United Way Monterey County
    • Chevy Salinas
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Granite Rock
    • Skip's Auto
    • MPI-Jet
    • PGUSD
    • MEE Memorial
    • Joby Aviation
    • Monterey County District Attorney's Office
    • Meals on Wheels
    • Natividad
    • Salinas Valley Health
    • Carver Studio
    • Victory Toyota
    • Silva Farms
    • County of Monterey
    • Light and Motion
    • El Sistema 
    • Monterey Motors
    • Cypress Coast Subaru
    • Tesla
    • Housing Matters Santa Cruz
    • Hidden Valley
    • Carmel Valley Ranch
    • Carmel Mission Inn
    • Loaves, Fishes & Computers 
    • SPCA
    • ReGen Monterey
    • Driscoll's
    • Pattullo Swim Center
    • Law Offices of William V. Pernik
    • Windsor Monterey Care Center
    • San Jose State
    • Rayne Technology Solutions
    • MC Office of Education
    • UC Santa Cruz
    • Gateway Center
    • Bernardus
    • Big Sur Land Trust
    • Monterey Bay Football Club
    • Justice Coalition
    • Lavender Brothers
    • State Farm
    • MPC Foundation
    • Laguna Seca
    • Monterey Behavioral Health
    • Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
    • Monterey Chamber of Commerce
    • Blue Zones Project
    • MPC Adapted PE
    • Windsor
    • Allen Berg Racing School
    • Pacific Grove Motors
    • Robert Rivas Office
    • & Many More!

    Preparing Students for Professional Success

    "My time at Monterey Peninsula College was nothing but amazing. While attending MPC, I had the opportunity to participate in the Facebook (Meta) Career Connections Summer Fellowship Program, where I worked as a part-time marketing intern. Through this experience, I was trained by Facebook professionals and gained valuable skills in digital marketing, communication, and leadership. MPC truly prepared me for this opportunity. My instructors were incredibly supportive and dedicated, and they helped build the confidence I needed to succeed in a professional environment. I believe that successful businesses can make dreams come true, and MPC gave me the foundation to start turning my dreams into reality."
    Quy Huynh
    Quy Huynh
    Business Administration Major
    "My internship with the City of Pacific Grove has been a great learning experience. As an Accounting Intern, I gained hands-on experience creating invoices, processing accounts receivable and payable, maintaining financial records, and preparing reports. I also learned how to reconcile daily cash registers, manage petty cash, and record daily financial transactions in the system. One of the most valuable parts of my internship was improving my communication skills by working at the front desk and assisting customers by directing them to the appropriate departments. This experience helped me better understand how a city finance department operates and gave me the confidence to apply for future opportunities in municipal accounting.”
    Ismail Nawabi
    Ismail Nawabi
    Accounting Major
    “My internship as an Administrative Assistant at Gateway Center was a meaningful and rewarding experience. Working closely with the Executive Director and various leadership committees helped me understand how a nonprofit organization functions and how important communication and teamwork are in a professional setting. One of the most valuable lessons I gained was learning to be an active listener, observing the needs of others, and working collaboratively with patience and positivity. This experience prepared me for my future career in social work and for continuing my education.”
    Gerson Orellana
    Gerson Orellana
    Sociology Major
    “Despite having many years of work experience, I felt ready for a career change and decided to pursue an accounting degree at MPC. Carla was incredibly supportive throughout the process and helped me update my resume and secure an internship with Major Accountancy Group in Monterey. The team was exceptionally friendly and welcoming, and they were always available to answer my questions. Because of the skills I gained in the classroom, I was able to quickly begin entering financial transactions into QuickBooks Online, with my co-workers providing guidance and support along the way. This internship gave me confidence in my abilities and valuable hands-on experience experiences.”
    Susan Richards
    Susan Richards
    Accounting Major
    "As an Aircraft Charter & Ownership Sales Associate Intern, I work closely with the MPI Jet team on customer retention initiatives, including outreach templates, loyalty programs, client recognition, and data analysis. Through the support of the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Carla Becerra, I have grown professionally and gained confidence by contributing to meaningful projects and sharing results in team meetings. This experience has strengthened my skills, helped me overcome professional inhibitions, and taught me that transparency is the foundation of a successful business.”
    Ricardo Rodriguez
    Ricardo Rodriguez
    Business Administration