CWE Course Registration

If you want to earn credit for your internship that counts toward your degree, you either need to have an internship as a graduation requirement for your program OR use available elective credits (5 maximum). International Students must verify eligibility for off campus internship through the International Programs office.

In order to register for a CWE course, you must secure an internship offer. Your internship dates must overlap with at least 8 weeks of the quarter you intend to register for (6 weeks over the summer). No students with a CWE required internship can waive the internship requirement. 

NOTE: BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) students must complete CWE 101 – Portfolio, Job Search Prep & Job Shadow as a prerequisite for any of the following options.

Handshake Registration Process

• Part 1: Applying
  • Log into Handshake using your Seattle Colleges email address
  • Click on “Career Center” from the left-hand menu bar
  • Click on “Experiences”
  • Click on"Submit an Experience" on the top right hand side of the page
  • Click the drop down menu for the “Experience template”
    • Select the appropriate course, CWE 110 or CWE 495
  • Fill out the application with as much detail as possible. Include your site supervisor’s name and contact information.
  • Once all information is input, click on the green “Submit an Experience” button at the bottom of the screen.
• Part 2: Confirming & Registration
  • Once your application is submitted, your site supervisor will receive an email from Handshake to a form asking them to confirm internship details.
    • Reach out to them to let them know. Emails are occasionally filtered as spam/junk mail.
  • After your site supervisr confirms the information, you will receive an email from Handshake for final review and to provide FERPA-protected information that cannot be made available to your site supervisor.
  • Then, the Internship Coordinator will review all information and determine whether the experience meets the academic requirements for the course.
  • Once all steps are complete, the program assistant will review the application and register you for the course.

Alternate CWE Credit Options

If you already have experience in your program area, you may utilize one of the alternate methods to meet the course requirement. 

• Service Learning/Volunteer: Volunteer work experiences can still help you gain career experience and support your professional skills. All volunteer experiences must meet the following criteria to be awarded academic credit:
  • Work minimum hours required to earn credit (33 hours per credit)
  • Work should be unpaid & connect to the student’s area of study.
  • Work must be completed while registered in a CWE course and must span 8 weeks over the quarter (6 weeks over the summer).
• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): For students that have extensive work experience in their field. Students must meet the following eligibility criteria:
  • Have a minimum of 2 years of demonstrable experience (within the last 5 years) in the same field as their degree
    • With at least 1 year of mid to advanced level responsibilities
  • Students must contact the Internship Faculty to determine eligibility. If approved, students will receive an application form and portfolio instructions. 
    •  If all materials meet the PLA requirements, a grade and academic credit will be awarded.
  • NOTE: Applying for a PLA does not guarantee you will earn credit. Payment for the PLA processing is required at the time of portfolio submission, and fees are typically not covered by Financial Aid. Students who apply for PLA will not register for a CWE course, which may be important for students who are required to enroll in a minimum number of credits each quarter. 
• Career Research Capstone: Only offered in Summer quarter. Capstone is a structured, career-based research project available only to students who are unable to complete any of the above options (internship, volunteer experience or PLA) by the final quarter of their degree program. Faculty permission is required. Capstone projects include the following:
  • Assignments focus on industry-critical skills, networking with working professionals and may include learning new technologies.
  • Students are expected to work 6-10 hours per week on their projects, tracking all hours worked and providing progress reports. The Capstone final includes a presentation of all research findings.
  • Students interested in this option should email the North Internships team with their name, degree, expected graduation date and a short (150-300 word) explanation why they need the capstone option.