Brookdale Community College
offers a variety of services to assist the student in meeting
his/her academic and career goals.
The
Experiential Learning Department offers programs designed to complement the
student’s academic study with “hands-on”
experiences in the real world. Whether
placed with an employer in a work experience related to their major, or
volunteering in a community service project as a integrated component of their
course work, students develop valuable skills for the future. Programs include:
- Internships
(credit)
- Externships (credit)
- Cooperative Education (non-credit)
- Service
Learning (community service volunteer)
- Federal
Work Study
- Student
Help
Why
participate in Experiential Learning?
The benefits of
Experiential Learning are clear.
Participants are better prepared for career decision making, as they
move into either permanent employment, or continue their education. Participants have a greater “edge” in
securing a job, and enrolling in a 4- year college. All Experiential Learning activities are recorded on
the student’s transcript.
What is an
Internship/Externship?
An Internship/Externship is a credit educational
program that combines classroom studies with work experience in a field related
to a student’s major or career goals.
Students are provided an opportunity to earn anywhere from 1 – 6 credits
while gaining relevant professional experience working in a supervised learning
environment. Learning Objectives are established between the student and a
faculty advisor.
What is
Cooperative Education?
Cooperative Education is a non-credit academic program
that links classroom studies and work experience. Co-op offers students the opportunity to gain work experience in
their major, breaking the “no
experience/no job” cycle.
Do Internships/Externships and Co-op offers a
salary?
While some internship/externship and co-op experiences
do offer a salary, many do not. What
they do offer is the opportunity to:
- Explore a
career field
- Apply classroom
theory in real work situations
- Make
contacts within a career field while learning from professionals
- Build a resume
Who is eligible to participate in the programs?
Students interested in participating in either
Internship/Externship (credit) or Co-op (non-credit) must meet program
eligibility. All students must be (1)
matriculated, (2) have completed the number of courses and credits in their
major required by the department and, (3) have the approval of an instructor
and Experiential Learning Coordinator. Both the credit and non-credit work experiences require completion of learning objectives, an employer evaluation and
an evaluation meeting with an Experiential Learning Coordinator.
Participating
employers include: MTV, Comcast, Walt Disney World, Toyota/Lexus,
The Fromagerie, The Marine Science Consortium, Environmental Protection Agency,
and the Monmouth County Court System
What is
Service-Learning?
Service-Learning combines academic study and community
service, providing a unique opportunity for students to learn through active
participation in organized service experiences in the community. Service-Learning
puts education into action, leading out from the self into the world. Students are engaged in service:
- That
is integrated into their academic coursework
- That
enhances what is taught by extending learning beyond the classroom
- That
develops a sense of “others” and the
individual’s relationship with the community
How does
Service-Learning work?
Service-Learning is often
an option in a course for the student to earn an A grade. Students choosing this option are required
to provide between 20-50 hours of volunteer community service hours over the
course of the term. Experiential
Learning staff meet with students to determine area of interest, time
constraints, and a service project appropriate to the course of study. Approval for the project is required from
the instructor.
Students may choose
from over 150 community partners, including Boys and Girls Club,
local
Food Pantries, Head Start Centers, Senior Centers,
Legislative
Offices, and Clean Ocean Action.
And
Work Study/Student Help?
Students who
qualify under Financial Aid for the Work Study program may work with
staff, who match the student`s skills with on- and off-campus jobs. Through
the Student Help program, students in good academic standing who are
curently enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits may be able to obtain on-campus
work. (For these positions, financial aid eligibility is not a factor.)
Other
Services
Workshops - The Center
offers free workshops on Resume Writing and Interview Skills - click here to
view a current calendar of offerings.
Alumni Services - Brookdale
students near graduation, or those who have already graduated, are eligible
for such services as job search, resume writing workshops, and interviews with
area recruiters and employers.
Job Search Assistance - Open to all
Brookdale students and alumni - listings and referrals to full-time, part-time,
and summer employment.
Employment
Opportunities
To view job listings
in our Career Services database, click here.
For referrals to any of the listed jobs, phone us at (732) 224-2792.
Experience Counts!
Our office is located
on the first floor of the MAC (Main Academic Complex) building, Room 148, across
from the International Center. Stop
in!
Representatives are Lynn Eyerman, Jayne McBride, Cheryl Lonon, Eunice
Person, Rose Messere, and Lee Blaustein.
Call us at (732) 224-2792 or e-mail
director Linda Mass
