Internships

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Student Interns

SOWELA Technical Community College provides invaluable experiences to our students by offering internship opportunities in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Applied Technology, and the School of Industrial Technology.

SOWELA highly encourages students to pursue internship opportunities within their field of study. Students earn valuable hands-on experiences during the internship that are translatable to future full-time employment.

In addition to the internship experience, students can earn academic credit. Three credit hours are awarded for 135 hours worked at the internship site. This page contains many valuable resources for students who are preparing for internship opportunities.

For information on internships in your academic program, please contact the School Dean or the Support Coordinator for your school.

How Do I Find an Internship Site?

Students can use their current employer as an internship site, with faculty approval, or they can search for an internship with a firm that is of interest to them. Each academic program at SOWELA does have a limited number of existing internship sites, if the student is unable to acquire an internship. Ultimately, the responsibility for finding an internship site is on the student, but the Internship Supervisor (faculty member within the School or Department) will assist students in the process.

Why pursue an Internship?

  • Internships offer students hands-on learning experiences
  • Internships earn students college credit
  • Internships are valuable resume’ builders
  • Some internships lead to full-time employment

Intern Information

Faculty Supervisors

SOWELA faculty work very closely with student interns within their respective academic programs serving as the Internship Supervisor. As an Internship Supervisor, your goal is to guide students through their internship journey. To be trained as an Internship Supervisor, please contact your School Dean.

As an Internship Supervisor, a primary objective is to help students take personal responsibility for their internships. Student ownership of the process is key to a successful internship. Students may propose an internship site or you can suggest pre-existing internship sites to students. You have the ultimate authority to approve the internship site to ensure that the goals of the internship meet your programmatic standards.

The Internship Supervisors:

  • Approve the Internship Site Application
  • Go over the required internship paperwork with student interns
  • Oversee the internship
  • Submit an Intern Roster to the SOWELA Internship Coordinator
  • Communicate regularly with student interns
  • Conduct an internship site visit
  • Grade the required paperwork for student interns

Supervisor Information

Internship Employers

SOWELA Technical Community College is proud to build internship partnerships with employers in the Southwest Louisiana region. Internships allow students a hands-on experience in industry that prepares them for their future careers. Internships can be for credit or non-credit based on the student’s degree program or industry certification. Credit internships offer the student academic credit in their major. Non-credit internships typically occur in Workforce Development programs.

Some of our local internship partners include:

  • Sasol North America
  • Lake Charles Memorial Health
  • L’Auberge Casino Resort
  • Superior Supply and Steel
  • Jennings American Legion Hospital
  • Polaris Engineering
  • Lakeside Bank
  • Coushatta Casino Resort
  • McElroy, Quirk, & Burch
  • Griggs Mitchell & Associates
  • Southwest Beverage Co, Inc.
  • Golden Nugget Casino Resort

Employer Procedures