Thunderbird Internship Program: Career & Academic Internships (Work-based Learning Experience)

Our Career & Academic Internship program is designed for all rising high school seniors in summer and Grade 12 seniors during the school year who are in good academic standing, on track for meeting graduation requirements, and have passed the state assessment requirement. Students may earn up to 20 elective credits each year through an approved career & academic internship experience in an area of career interest. Students are required to maintain and submit a portfolio/journal and complete a capstone project to demonstrate that they have met the goals and objectives of the experience. 

Summer Career & Academic Internships (Work-based Learning) provide rising seniors with hands-on authentic workplace experiences over the course of 4-5 weeks during the summer. Internship experience can be paid or unpaid.

The Thunderbird Internship Program: Career & Academic Internships Program is designed for all learners. For more information, contact Ms. Estania Noel, Work-based Learning Coordinator at enoel@mahwah.k12.nj.us or by telephone at 201-762-2300 ext. 7252.

Qualifying high school seniors may elect to participate in the Career and Academic Internships Program. These experiences are structured, supervised activities that may take place in a workplace or agency or a non-profit community organization. Work-based learning experiences are designed to give students structured, supervised activities that will assist them to clarify career goals, explore career possibilities, develop employable skills, or make the transition between school and employment or further education and training.

Career and academic internship experiences are experiential, supervised educational activities designed to provide students with exposure to the requirements and responsibilities of specific job titles or job groups, and to assist them in gaining employment skills and making career and educational decisions. A work-based learning experience may be either paid or unpaid, depending on the type of activities in which the student is involved. All work-based learning experiences must adhere to applicable state and federal child labor laws and other rules of the State Departments of Education and Labor. Career and academic internships experiences may include, but are not limited to: apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, cooperative education, school-based enterprises, volunteer activities, vocational student organizations, and Work Experience Career Exploration Program (WECEP)

Participation in the Career and Academic Internship Program

The Career and Academic Internship Program can be designed for any type of student; five examples are as follows:

A student who has not selected a career path to gain first-hand experience in a variety of employment areas to assist him/her in making employment decisions or selecting a major in college.

An engineering student to design and execute a “master project” under the guidance of a professional engineer at an engineering firm.

A student who wants to become a research scientist to assist a researcher in a pharmaceutical or university research laboratory.

A student who wishes to learn about career ladders within a particular career pathway

A student who wishes to volunteer in our school district, in a community organization, or in the community to develop leadership skills, learn the value of community service, or the benefits of corporate investment in a community.