The Work-Based Learning page is currently under construction. Please contact Jenny Smith for assitance.
Connect classroom learning with real-world experience! Train in a workplace environment to refine skills, knowledge, and workplace attitudes.
About Co-op 288
Turn your education into experience! During the final year of your program, work with your LCC program faculty to sign up for COLL 289 or IT 294 (requisites for 288 designed to help you prepare the professional portfolio needed for pursuing a 288 (internship) opportunity).
Then, enroll in 288 to earn 1 college credit for every 33 hours you agree to work at a worksite in your field. Whether it’s a paid job, volunteer role, or a work study position, if it relates to your program of study, it may qualify!
Co-op 288: What's in it for me?
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Gain Real-World Experience
Internships provide hands-on experience in the workplace, helping you apply classroom knowledge to real-world tasks and challenges. -
Build Your Resume and Skills
Completing an internship strengthens your resume and helps you highlight both the technical and soft skills that employers value—like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. -
Expand Your Professional Network
Internships allow you to meet professionals in your field, make industry connections, and gain career insights. -
Clarify Career Goals
Internships help you explore different roles and industries so you can discover what you enjoy (or don’t), guiding your career decisions with more clarity.
How to Get Started
- Discuss your intent to take a 288 course with your Program Faculty and share your desired internship location.
- Complete required coursework prior to or with your 288 course.
- Find your desired worksite. Visit with Career Services if you need location ideas.
- Complete the Work-Based Learning Application.
- Your Program Faculty will contact you with information about your Learning Agreement.
About Internships (Co-Op 288)
Lower Columbia College offers a Cooperative Education class for second-year students, allowing them to gain real-world work experience while earning degree credit.
We invite your agency/business to consider becoming a training site for this program. If you offer work experience that aligns with our students' degree paths, this is a great opportunity to support student development.
Please note that participation does not guarantee student placement each quarter, as student enrollment varies. However, with an active affiliation agreement in place, your organization can be listed as a potential site. You retain the option to interview and decide whether to host a student each term.
What are the Benefits of Internships?
- Marketing: Internships enhance outreach and create brand loyalty as a natural result of building new connections
- Commitment to Education: Students pay to train in your field! Motivated, high-quality students want to work in the field they trained for. A quality workforce attracts top talent.
- Generate curiosity and interest in your field: Relevant training in your industry could spark word-of-mouth recommendations
- Low-risk evaluation of potential future employees
Requirements
- A completed and valid affiliation (partnership) agreement with Lower Columbia College.
- Ensure a safe and inclusive working environment in full compliance with applicable labor, safety, and anti-discrimination laws.
- Partner with LCC faculty to design experiential learning outcomes that enrich and complement student career success.
- Support/invite faculty site approval and observation visits twice during each term.
- Complete a formal evaluation of the Student’s performance at both the midpoint and end of the internship
Required Materials
- Link to affiliation coming soon
- Student Evaluation
- Program Faculty Contact information (find your field representative)
About Co-Op 288
The Cooperative Education Program at Lower Columbia College offers students the opportunity to earn academic credit through internships that provide real-world, academically relevant work experience. The benefits of workbased experience in professional/technical programs cannot be overstated. Internships are part of a faculty-designed student support and an employer outreach program, with support from the Educational Partnerships Staff.
Faculty Overview
Order of operations:
- Discuss pre-requisite/co-requisite courses with your potential student intern (COLL 289 or IT 294).
- Email or call to request enrollment in required requisite course (contact information below).
- Ask student to complete the Application form for Co-op 288 on the student tab.
- Student will be enrolled upon confirmation of meeting requirements.
- Faculty will receive a confirmation email with student enrollment, credits, employer name, contact information, and an invitation to reach out to both the student and the employer to establish Learning Outcomes for this course.
- Record site visit dates using this form. <add a link>
Please encourage your internship candidate to note required hours, and the deadline for completion.