Comunidad: Collaborative Internships

Comunidad: Collaborative Internships is an exciting new program designed to provide STEM students with real work-based learning experience! 

We have removed the barriers associated with traditional internships like prior work experience requirements, competition for a couple of coveted positions, and long commute times to the job site.  In this program, you will be working on campus with other students, just like you, to solve a real problem for a local business or organization. In the process, you will learn about new jobs in STEM fields and develop valuable work-related skills you can put on your resume. This is a perfect opportunity for 1st year students who want to explore their career options and gain experience, but is open to all students taking at least 6 units at PCC.

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Fall 2024 Collaborative Internship Track

Business Partner: Avenue 33 Farm, Lincoln Heights 

  • Business challenge focus: How do we leverage the physical infrastructure that we have as an urban farm and combine it with the community resources that we partner with to bring more produce and funding into Lincoln Heights?
  • Weekly meetings: Friday 1:30pm-4:30pm, September 13th-November 15th

Comunidad: Collaborative Internships

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Any student who is enrolled in at least 6 units at PCC during the semester of the internship are welcome to apply. Unlike other internships, collaborative internships have no course requirements, and no prior experience is necessary. This is an opportunity for you to experience work-based learning in which you'll function as part of a team in a professional setting, engage in design thinking, and learn how to summarize and communicate your ideas. 

If you are selected as an intern, you will be required to attend all TEN internship sessions, starting on Friday September 13th and ending on Friday November 15th. Each internship session is 3 hours, held at the same time each week (1:30-4:30 pm), in-person at PCC, for a total of 30 hours of paid work. In addition, there will be up to 10 hours of paid work to be done at home. There is not an option to participate virtually.

The ideal intern candidate is someone who is eager to learn, can commit to the entire 10-week program, will show up to every session on-time, and ready to work with a team of peers to solve a real problem that a real business is facing.

You will be employed as a PCC student worker (unclassified hourly) at the current minimum wage rate posted on the Human Resources page

In addition to getting paid, you will gain valuable experience that will help you develop academic and career-transferable skills such as:

  • Interacting with a client 
  • Problem solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Design thinking
  • Team-building
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Public presentation

You will participate in a resume workshop during the program that will help you enhance (or create) your resume and learn how to best include the internship on your newly designed resume. As an intern, you will also be eligible for a one-on-one resume critique with a career counselor.

Finally, you’ll have an opportunity to learn about our business partner and the careers that are available within that industry. You'll meet potential future employers and add them to your network!

If you are interested in applying, please complete this application form. It will ask you for basic identifying information, short personal statements, and a copy of your unofficial transcript.  If you qualify for the internship, we'll schedule a brief Zoom  interview with you (approximately 10 minutes) to learn a little more about you. You'll also be given the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Application Deadline

Interviewing and hiring decisions are made on an ongoing basis until positions are filled or sufficient time to onboard has passed. Unless otherwise noted here, applications may be accepted after the deadline.

Questions? Contact Valerie Foster (vsfoster@pasadena.edu) or Renee Johansson (rjohansson@pasadena.edu

Comunidad: Collaborative Internships Program is offered through the STEM Career Community and funded by the Servingness in STEM Grant (Title III HSI STEM grant).

Ready to Get Started?
If you are interested in participating in Comunidad: Collaborative Internships, please complete our online application.