Work Experience Education Program

Work Experience Education (WEE) provides a tremendous benefit to both students and employers. Students have an opportunity to explore their career path prior to graduation. Employers can preview talented students who are applying practical academic studies in their workplace.

Mission Statement

The Work Experience Education (WEE) Program is an important component of the education and training that students receive at West Los Angeles College. WEE courses help students apply their classroom-based learning in an actual work environment. These courses provide experiential learning activities to strengthen student learning and reinforce the student’s effective work habits, attitudes, and career awareness, thereby enhancing the student’s marketable skills.

The WEE Program adheres to the regulations for Work Experience Education outlined in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and in the Los Angeles Community College District Work Experience Plan.

Students

Are you currently working, volunteering or interning?

Would you like to receive training on valuable skills for today's job market?

Receive CSU transferable elective college credit units for the hours you are currently working, interning, or volunteering!

Units begin at 0.5 to 4 units
Non-traditional course with flexible times
Polish your employability skills with our built-in instruction that should develop career awareness, knowledge of industry culture, competencies and norms, and develop professional network.
The classes may help you fulfill the full-time requirement for Financial Aid or LA College Promise if you are short 0.5 - 4 units and enable you to get your maximum financial aid award funds and to be part of LA College Promise.
Students can earn and repeat up to 14 college elective credit units during the semester. Click here to see more information and hour requirements.

If you do not have a job, you can enroll in our Work Ready Certification program and earn 0.5 unit and receive job training.

Important!

Hours worked prior to receiving add code will not be counted. Additionally, you MUST log in to Canvas at ilearn.laccd.edu to submit assignments and see instructor announcements.

Employers

Are you looking for motivated employees?

Are you interesting in mentoring students and training interns?

By participating in the Work Experience Program, employers can receive benefits such as:

Create and maintain a relationship with West Los Angeles College.
Close the gap between classroom experience and job skills by providing real work experience.
Improve employer/employee communication through objective evaluation.
Select from a pool of advanced students to assist in current projects and assignments.
Cost-effective program for recruiting potential hires and reducing turnover.
Opportunity to provide feedback to faculty on necessary skills for the industry to update curriculum.

Click here to see more information and submit an Intern Request Form.

What is Work Experience Education (WEE)?

It is called “Work Experience Education” because the program establishes a three-way relationship between the student, the college, and the employer. This structured relationship allows the student to create short-and long-range career goals and to recognize his/her progress by establishing three measurable learning objectives for the semester. Work Experience Education provides a practical learning model for students and helps them prepare for their future careers through the integration of on-the-job learning experiences and academic classroom lessons. By integrating both study and work, each area should become more relevant, interesting, and rewarding.

The total number of units that can be earned in the Work Experience Program is 16 (over 4 semesters). Work Experience can be taken for no more than four semesters. The number of credits earned is based on the total number of hours worked for the semester.

Work Ready Certification Program

The Exploratory Work Experience Education – Work-Ready Certification program (0.5 credit units) is designed to verify that students have the basic workplace skills that Los Angeles County businesses expect.

Holding a Work Readiness Certification will give the student a distinct advantage when applying for a job. Your skills will be tested and evaluated, and you will be awarded a certificate from the City of LA after completion of a career portfolio, which includes:

Resume
Generic Job Application
Mock Interview Feedback Form
Student Linked-In Account Verification

If interested in the Work Ready Certificate, please contact @email. The Work Ready class is not being offered for Spring 2025. However, students can still earn the certificate through a series of one-on-one appointments with Career Center.

Benefits for Students, Employers, College, and Community

Program Available Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Receive help in finding internship opportunities.
Relates education to real world work experience through the achievement of workplace objectives and related classes.
Transferable college units for work/intern experience.
Teaches valuable job-search skills such as career assessment, resume writing and interviewing techniques.
Career guidance in a realistic setting.
Earn income while learning.
Gain actual work experience while going to school.
All learning takes place on-the-job and through the completion of career-related assignments and projects; there are no books and no classes.
Performance is evaluated based on achievement of student learning outcomes and completion of assignments; there are no tests.
Provides opportunities for job improvement.
Increases potential to advance by improving work-based skills.
Improves job opportunities after graduation by giving students valuable work experience and contact with potential future employers.
Enhances classroom learning by integrating academic curriculum and real-world work experience.

Create and maintain a relationship with West Los Angeles College.
Close the gap between classroom experience and job skills by providing real work experience.
Improves employer/employee communication through objective evaluation.
Results in improved employee job skills and productivity.
Assists with the development of employer/employee goals through learning objectives.
Enhances employee motivation, thus reducing training costs.
Select from a pool of advanced students to assist in current projects and assignments.
Cost-effective program for recruiting potential hires and reducing turnover.
Opportunity to provide feedback to faculty on necessary skills for the industry to update curriculum.

Promotes job stability by improving employee job skills. Helps meet training needs of the community.
Promotes cooperation between the college and community members. Increases faculty awareness of business/industry requirements.
Encourages development of relevant programs.
Provides faculty with fresh insights for classroom education needs through direct contact with business/industry community.
The economy benefits from an increased number of skilled workers with real-world experience.

Contact

Mary Rivera
Work Experience Coordinator
Email: @email
Phone: (310) 287-7215
We are available Online

Virtual Drop In Office Hours (Zoom)
Mondays 3:00pm - 5:00pm (except holidays)
Thursdays 11:00am - 1:00pm

Call or email to request a 1-on-1 appointment.