Lake-Sumter State College encourages students to gain a deeper understanding of their career field by participating in experiences that provide practical application of the knowledge, skills and abilities gained in the classroom.

What is Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is an educational approach emphasizing hands-on experiences as a method of learning discipline-specific theories, concepts, and competencies. Instead of solely relying on traditional lectures or textbook-based instruction, experiential learning actively engages students in activities that allow them to apply what they've learned to a workplace environment. Students are connected to employers for a career-related learning opportunity through an internship, practicum, apprenticeship, virtual work simulation, or other interactive experience. The classification will vary depending on the academic program and career field, but generally, experiential learning falls into the following categories:

• paid or unpaid
• full-time or part-time
• held during fall, spring, or summer academic terms
• structured with professional-level supervision
• local, national, or international

To Learn More About Experiential Learning

The Office of Career Development has dedicated staff to facilitate the experiential learning process. Current students interested in learning more can schedule an appointment or visit the Office of Career Development canvas shell. 

Internships 

Internships are a specific type of experiential learning that allows students to gain work experience directly related to their academic degree and program of study and are valuable learning experiences that successfully align classroom learning with professional experience.

Internships are generally comprised of two types:  1) a full internship that is typically a free-standing course, or 2) an embedded micro-internship that is included as part of a currently existing course.  In both instances, the focus is on real-world experiences that are complemented with self-reflections and journaling during the experience. Internships may be paid or non-paid, full or part-time, credit or non-credit, and are supervised work-based experiences.

Student Eligibility

To qualify for A.S., A.A., or B.A.S internships, the student must meet the following:

• Completion of minimum college credit coursework as indicated by the program.
• Grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher.
• Completion of specific course prerequisites.
• Skills needed to the standards of the prospective employer.
• Program Director approval.

Please note that eligibility criteria may differ depending on the academic program. For further information, visit the Office of Career Development page or email careers@lssc.edu.