The elective WEXP courses are designed to offer students with opportunities to earn college credits while working.   For the purposes of these courses, jobs can be paid or unpaid or can take the form of volunteer work.  These courses focus on professional and technical skills development as students are working.  There are two paths in the WEXP course description.  The first is a general WEXP 262 course that students in a variety of job types can use to enhance their professional and technical skills development.   A few of the career-track specialties also offer a WEXP component within their degree or certification programs.  Currently, these are within the disciplines of Ag Plan Science, Business, Art, Drama, and Ethnic Studies.  Please check the Class Finder within those and other specific disciplines to determine if others are added as courses are developed over time.

To qualify for WEXP, the State of California Title V Regulations require that students must have a job or internship at the beginning of the course.  Students must work the required number of work hours based on the number of units being sought.  The following table outlines those work hour requirements:

College Credits Hours of Work
1 college credit requires 54 hours of work during a WEXP course term
2 college credits require 108 hours of work during a WEXP course term
3 college credits require 162 hours of work during a WEXP course term
4 college credits require 216 hours of work during a WEXP course term

In addition, the following requirements are mandated by the State of California.

  • Each student will be assigned a Faculty Advisor to work individually with the student over the course of the term.  One required meeting with the student and the Faculty Advisor will take place at the beginning of the term.
  • Each student must work in an environment where a supervisor is present, on site, for the purpose of guiding the development of the student and his/her learning.
  • The student must complete an application and contract to be in any WEXP course which is provided within the Canvas course at the beginning of the WEXP term.
  • The supervisor of the student must also complete an agreement form allowing the student to be in WEXP and utilize the workplace as his/her 鈥渃lassroom鈥� under the guidance and direction of the supervisor.
  • The student is responsible for tracking all work hours completed each week and the supervisor must validate those hours as being true and correct.
  • The supervisor will complete regular performance evaluations of the student while working on his/her learning objectives.
  • The supervisor must agree to meeting with the student and the Faculty Advisor in a Job Site Visit to review the program requirements and discuss learning objectives for the WEXP term.  This meeting can be in person or held virtually.
  • The student will finish the term with a final essay that encapsulates all learning and reflects on the process of active learning and setting objectives for career development.