A crucial part to the academic career of students pursuing an Associate in Science degree or certificate in the College of Computer & Information Technology (CCIT) is the internship requirement.

    Currently there are four programs that have an internship requirement. (See the CCIT web site for more Information).

    Describing the aim of the internship program, the Internship Coordinator, Susan Biszewski-Eber, said it is three-fold. It is designed “to support the theoretical knowledge students gain in the classroom, and is coupled with real world experience.”

    The internship exposes students to a network of employers for them to gain work experience and find future employment. Additionally, it provides the opportunity for St. Petersburg College to collaborate with businesses in the community in an effort to meet the needs of its students.

    SPC endeavors to find out what skill sets employers need so students can be trained more effectively for the workplace. Biszewski-Eber said the internship “places SPC in a position to be the primary resource to educate a skilled and diverse workforce in the Tampa Bay area.”

    In order to qualify for internships at SPC, students must complete a minimum of nine credit hours of core courses within their degree program. Once admitted, students are assigned a faculty member who assists with learning objectives designed to prepare them for a job in their field.

     In addition, students are required to do a weekly journal documenting their progress throughout the internship. Since its start in the 2010 school year, 73 students have participated in the program, and enrollment is rapidly growing. (See the chart).

     “I expect that as students become more aware of internship opportunities they would become more apt to choose an internship as an elective for their degree program,”  Biszewski-Eber said. It is important for students to keep in mind the internship requirements, apply early and be specific about where they want to complete their internship.