Incorporating Career and Research Experience for Student Success

In order to support students’ acquisition of career and professional development opportunities necessary for stable career placement, we connect students with vetted community partners through internships. To ensure proper workforce development and research skills, our internship program requires concurrent enrollment in COLA 402 - an internship development course - that is offered every semester, both in person and online. The curriculum is unique in that it is centered around real-world scenarios that student interns may expect to encounter in their workplace and/or during their hiring process (e.g., mitigating workplace conflict, interviewing, personal branding, networking, professional communication, resume reviews); such topics will enhance skills crucial to post-graduate and long term career success. Further, students are immersed in an engaging class environment where select internship partners serve as guest lecturers and provide insight into the needs of the local hiring pipeline. In addition, students hone their public speaking and goal setting skills. Internships are a high-impact experiential practice that foster students’ communication skills, professionalism, leadership, and other career readiness competencies outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/btp_expo/1191/thumbnail.jp