Work Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have a job to take the classes?

Yes, you need to be employed or volunteering in a paid or unpaid position. Work 75 paid hours or 60 unpaid hours per unit in these variable-unit courses.

Does the college find me a job or internship?

You need to secure your own employment. However, the college offers a number of resources to help you. Register with the Las Positas College Internship & Job Board to search positions and get lots of career and job hunting tips. Employers are posting new opportunities all the time. You also can visit the Tri-Valley Career Center, which is affiliated with the college. The center offers many resources to support your job search.

How do I register for the correct section?

You need to work 75 paid hours or 60 unpaid hours per unit in these variable-unit courses. For a full semester (not summer) class, for example, this means that you need to work about five paid hours per week to earn one unit.

Estimate your work hours for the duration of the course only. Look at the dates the course begins and ends and estimate hours you will work only during that time. Hours you work before and after the course dates cannot be applied to units.

Sections correspond to the number of units you will earn. You are not required to register for the maximum number of units for which you qualify. Use the conversion charts below to determine your units and section based on your hours.

If your hours vary, estimate what they will be for the semester or term. When in doubt, always register for fewer units. You will submit a document at the end of the semester or term, approved by your supervisor, that must prove you worked the number of hours to earn units for which you registered.

Please note that extra instructors may be added to teach Work Experience classes. The section designations below are examples and will change each semester. Please read the LPC class schedule carefully to determine your section, which is based on the number of hours you will work for the duration of the course.

WRKX 94 Units/Hours/Section Chart for Each Semester
Units	Total Hours Paid	Total Hours Unpaid	Section
1 UNIT	75	60	A01
2 UNITS	150	120	A02
3 UNITS	225	180	A03
4 UNITS	300	240	A04
5 UNITS	375	300	A05
6 UNITS	450	360	A06
7 UNITS*	525	420	A07
8 UNITS*	600	480	A08

*Applicable to WRKX 94 only. The semester/term unit limit for WRKX 94 is 8 units. The semester/term unit limit for WRKX 95 is 6 units.

WRKX 95 Units/Hours/Section Chart for Each Semester
Units	Total Hours Paid	Total Hours Unpaid	Section
1 UNIT	75	60	A01
2 UNITS	150	120	A02
3 UNITS	225	180	A03
4 UNITS	300	240	A04
5 UNITS	375	300	A05
6 UNITS	450	360	A06

Can I change my section after I register?

Yes, you can change your section before the course begins and before the last day to add the class.Unless your instructor says otherwise, simply drop your current section and then add the section you want. Students cannot change their section after the deadline announced in the course. Students’ sections will not be changed at the end of the course if they have worked more hours to qualify for additional units. Sections are explained in detail during the required orientation meeting.

Is each section a separate class?

No. For many college courses, sections are separate classes with separate groups of students. In WRKX, “sections” have a different meaning. The section reflects the number of units you will earn, based on the number of hours you will work during the course. Sections of WRKX 94 are merged together into a class and sections of WRKX 95 are merged into a class. The class size depends on the number of enrolled students and the number of instructors.

Can I take WRKX classes more than once?

Yes, you can take WRKX classes up to a maximum of 16 units. Check with your transfer institution to determine the number of units accepted in transfer. You must develop new or expanded learning objectives each time you take the class.

Can I take both WRKX 94 and 95 during the same semester?

No, you must choose one course or the other, even if you have more than one job. However, you may enroll in both WRKX 94 and 95 during separate semesters. For example, if you have a job unrelated to your major during fall semester, you would take WRKX 95 and if you get an internship for spring semester, you would enroll in WRKX 94. The state limit of any combination of WRKX classes is 16 units total.

Do WRKX classes qualify for financial aid?

Yes, but there is a limit. While the state permits students to take the course multiple times up to 16 units, financial aid regulations limit funding to only two times. Students may repeat a course they have earned a passing grade in (D or higher) once after the passing grade and be eligible for financial aid. After repeating the course once after passing it, they may not receive any additional financial aid for the course. If you have questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

What are the course requirements?

The requirements include attending an orientation, achieving learning objectives at your workplace, submitting required forms/information including an employer evaluation of your learning objectives, writing a final résumé or self-analysis essay (one to three pages), and learning 21st century work skills. Employers have identified the following as the top 12 skills they seek in job candidates: Communication, Customer Service, Time Management, Honesty/Integrity, Interpersonal Skills, Motivation/Initiative, Teamwork, Analytical Skills, Flexibility/Adaptability, Technology, Job Knowledge, and Professionalism/Work Ethic.

What is the course workload?

The course workload requires much less time than most other college courses. You work to achieve your learning objectives over the course of the semester at your workplace. Outside of your workplace, you attend one one-hour synchronous online or on-campus orientation at the beginning of the semester and you complete weekly modules online to learn 21st century work skills, which require about 20 minutes to two hours per week. At the end of the semester, you write a résumé or self-analysis essay based on what you learned from your learning objectives.

Do I need any computer skills for this course?

Yes, you need basic computer skills and basic online learning skills. The course uses Canvas, the online course management system.

Do I need to check my email for this class?

Yes, you need to check your campus-issued Zonemail, or the email to which you have forwarded your Zonemail, at least once a week, but preferably every day. You will receive regular announcements from the course in Canvas.

If the WRKX 94 class is filled, can I enroll in WRKX 95?

Yes. The classes are very similar. However, if you have an internship, you need to tell your instructor.

What if I change jobs or stop working during the semester?

Contact your instructor immediately.

What if I have more than one job?

If you have more than one job with the same employer, you may combine the hours worked from both jobs; however, you must choose one job for your learning objectives. If your jobs are with different employers, you may count the hours from only one job for your WRKX course.

Can I enroll in WRKX if I am self-employed?

Yes. However, you need someone to serve as a supervisor. You can ask a client to serve in this role or ask your instructor to assign you a supervisor.

Can I enroll after the class has started?

Adding late is at the discretion of the instructor.

Are there age requirements?

Yes. Students must be at least 16 years of age. Additionally, students who are 16 or 17 years old must provide a permit to work from their high school.

Is there someone I can contact if I have more questions?

Yes. For more information, please email Mary Lauffer, Work-Based Learning Coordinator and Business Professor, at mlauffer@laspositascollege.edu.