Frequently Asked Questions
- Is CA/CS 269 a course?
- What are the steps to getting a CA/CS Internship?
- What do I need to do to get started?
- When am I eligible for the Internship Program?
- Can I combine CA and CS Credit hours to become eligible?
- What should I do if I will have 12 credits by the end of the semester?
- Can I find my own job?
- Why is there a 12 Credit Hour Minimum Requirement?
- Can I get a waiver of the 12-credit hour requirement?
- Factors. What factors generally are considered in granting waivers of the 12-credit hour requirement?
- Previous Job Experience. What if I have job experience in Computer Science or Computer Applications?
- MC Alumni. What if I am a Montgomery College graduate?
- Where should I submit my application?
- What happens after I submit my application?
- I have submitted my application but haven't heard anything. Why not?
- Application Submission. Where should I submit the application?
- Resumes. Are resumes required?
- Updating Internship Applications. How often should I update my application?
- Course Registration. When do I have to register for CA/CS 269?
Is CA/CS 269 A Course?
Yes. The Internship
Program is a for-credit course designed by the two departments to assist
their majors and those who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career
in the Computer Applications or Computer Science fields by taking a number
of departmental courses. Students can take a maximum of four credits. Students may not take both CA 269 and CS 269. The internship course can be repeated so long as the maximum number of credits does not exceed four credits. Here is the course description from the student course catalog.
"Students will work for college credit in a professional environment related to their particular track in the Computer Science or Applications program. The intent is to give students an approximate work experience that will expand their knowledge and aid them in making career decisions. A limited number of internships are available though the program each semester, or the student may propose an internship. A comprehensive record of the work experience is kept by the student and discussed in seminar meetings.
PREREQUISITES: Consent of internship coordinator and a minimum of 12 semester hours in program area. An internship will involve a minimum of five hours of work experience per semester hour each week for 15 weeks. Eight hours of seminar discussions each semester. May be repeated for a maximum of four credits. 1-4 semester hours."
What are the steps
to getting a CA/CS Internship?
| 1. | Get a copy of the Internship Brochure in Campus Tower 427, Rockville Campus, the CA/CS Departments' Main Office. | ||||
| 2. | Read the Brochure. | ||||
| 3. | If you qualify, completely fill out the application. Include your courses, GPA, visa status, and those computer skills which you can document through course work or on-the-job experience. Remember to sign the application. | ||||
| 4. | Attach a resume if at all possible. (We'll review and help you with your resume.) | ||||
| 5. | Return the completed application to the Internship Coordinator's mailbox (Raymond J. Kimball) in Campus Tower 427, the CA/CS Rockville Main Office. | ||||
| 6. | Find a qualifying internship. A qualifying internship can be found in one of two ways:
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| 7. | Register for the course, CA/CS 269. You can't register until after you have been hired in an approved internship. You can register for 1-4 credits per semester, depending on whether you work 5-20 hours per week. (Internships are longer, up to 40 hours per week, during the summer semesters). You must register for either CA 269 or CS 269. You cannot register for both. | ||||
| 8. | Successfully complete your internship and the course, CA/CS 269,. |
Return to Top Review this question
What do I need to
do to get started?
As a first step, you should pick up a copy of the Internship Program brochure and application in the CA/CS Main Office, Rockville Campus, Campus Tower 427, and read them thoroughly.
When am I eligible
for the Internship Program?
You must have completed at least 12 credit hours in the CA Department, or 12 credit hours in the CS Department, and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
Can I combine CA
and CS Courses to become eligible?
No, not without special departmental permission.
What should I do
if I will have 12 credits by the end of the emester?
Fill out the application showing the courses you have completed and will complete by the end of the semester. Put in your mid-term grade, and indicate you will complete the course by the end of the semester.
Can I find my own
job?
Yes. The job must be "qualifying job", i.e., one which uses, in a significant way, the computer skills you have learned in the classroom. All jobs that you propose to use for your internship must be qualified and approved by the CA or CS Department, as the case may be. If you find an internship that would qualify as a CA or CS internship, and the CA or CS Department approves it, you can then register for CA/CS 269.
Why is there a 12
Credit Hour Requirement?
The Internship Program is designed to assist those who have successfully completed a number of courses and are therefore more likely to have the classroom skills desired by area employers. Also, employers generally are not interested in sponsoring students unless they have demonstrated an interest in the CA or CS curriculum, and have successfully completed a series of classes to develop the advanced skills employers desire.
Can I get a waiver of the 12-credit hour requirement?
Waivers are decided on a case-by-case basis. Generally, the CS Department does not waive the minimum 12-credit hour requirement. The CA Department considers waivers on a case-by-case basis.
What factors generally are considered in granting waivers of the 12-credit hour requirement?
Factors considered include the following:
If you have previous computer science job experience, then this internship program may not be for you.
This program is designed to give interns their first job experiences while they are currently pursuing a CS or CA AA Degree, or currently are pursuing a CA or CS Department certificate.
The same considerations apply to you as to other students with existing degrees.
If you are looking for full-time employment, you should contact the Montgomery College Career Center, which assists alumni.
This internship program is designed to help currently enrolled CA and CS students who are pursuing CA or CS degrees or certificate programs. If you have a BA, AA or other degree, you must currently be enrolled in and pursuing a CA or CS certificate as part of your "retraining" in the CA or CS fields.
Submit your completed application and resume onlyto the Internship mail box in Campus Tower Room 427 Rockville Campus.
When your application is received in CT 427, the Internship Coordinator reviews the application to see if you are qualified. If so, 5 copies of your application are made and filed with other student applications for that semester. Your application is also sorted according to skills: web design, computer science, IT networking, database input and design, administrative assistant, and other relevant categories.
When a potential internship is located, your application and resume are sent to prospective employers for review. The employers in most instances then contact directly the students they believe are qualified and whom the employers want to interview.
The internship coordination generally is limited to pre-screening the applications at the employer's request. The employers make all interview, selection, hiring and supervisory decisions based on their own internal hiring policies.
All applications and accompanying resumes should be submitted to the
Internship mailbox in Campus Tower Room 427 (CA/CS Main Office) Rockville
Campus.
If the applications are sent via College inter-office mail send them to Lisa Johnson at Campus Tower 427.
Applications should not be submitted to the Internship Coordinator directly
or to the Internship Coordinator's mailbox in HU 016, Rockville Campus.
Applications only should be submitted to the Internship mailbox in CT 427.
Resumes are essential only for the Library of Congress positions. The LOC
has requested resumes in addition to the MC application form.
Resumes are strongly recommended, but not required, for all students, as
employers prefer as much information as possible. However, if a student
doesn't have a resume, he/she should submit the application now, and submit
a resume ASAP.
It is recommeneded that Applications for the CA/CS Internship program be
updated each semester, as students complete additional courses. This also
lets us know that the student still is interested in the program.
Generally, applications are sent to employers for two (2) semesters after
the intern submits the application. So, the application and resume should be
updated at least every two (2) semesters for a student who wishes to
continue to be included in the pool.
Students who obtain internships with the assistance of the College must
register for CA/CS 269. They register for the course at the time they are
offered an internship -- not before. The application is a preliminary
application we send to prospective employers and intern sponsors.
What if I have job experience in Computer Science or Computer Applications?
What if I am a Montgomery College graduate?
Where should I submit my application?
What happens after I submit my application?
Where should I submit the application?
Are resumes required?
How often should I update my application?
When do I have to register for CA/CS 269?