UFV Practicums, College of Arts
By Jennifer Barkey, ABT Practicum Student
Earlier this week, I sat down with Elise Goertz, Internship & Practicum Coordinator, and learned a little about UFV’s College of Arts practicum program. This was a fascinating experience, since I am also a UFV practicum student hailing from the Continuing Education Department.
What’s the scoop?
What exactly is a practicum, anyway?
Practicums are hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom that offer students the chance to put theory to practice and actually work in their chosen field of interest.
These types of experiential learning opportunities are available to all qualifying students within the College of Arts. Students can gain actual work experience and make invaluable connections while studying–and will receive credits towards their degree! Most practicum courses are 3 to 6 credits, depending on the number of hours required.
Experience is essential
Practicum and internship opportunities are so valuable because they allow students to gain a hands on experience with the career or field that they are working towards. The completion of a practicum during a degree program gives graduating students a huge advantage! They walk into the workforce with both experience and education under their belt.
Is it a fit?
Have you ever thought that a specific job would be perfect for you, only to land it and find out you dislike it?
While completing a practicum, students gain practical knowledge that can only be found by working in the chosen field or profession. They then have a better gauge on their satisfaction level within the potential position as well as being able to identify gaps in their current education level when it comes to the practical application of knowledge. The earlier students can critically analyze their educational paths and future career choices, the easier it is to redirect to an educational or career path that is a better fit.
Is it required?
As was stated above, a practicum can be set up for any student within the College of Arts, however, only Criminology, Communications, Global Development and Graphic Design currently require a practicum. Although practicum and internship courses are not a requirement for all Degree and Certificate programs within the College of Arts, they are recommended.
Practicum courses also help students meet the ‘Civic Engagement’ piece of their degree requirements.
The Benefits
- Hands-on practical training which help streamline future job choices
- Identifying educational strengths
- Can lead to future job placements
- Development networking skills
- Credits toward degree completion
- Gaining actual experience
- Classroom learning is put into practice
- Students able to “try out” a job/field of interest before completing their degree
- Students are paired with compatible employers
- Practicum courses meet Civic Engagement requirements
More Info!
Don’t miss the exciting Practicum & Internship Lunch and Learn Information event happening on March 31, 2020 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm in B101. Come and hear more in depth information about practicums and internships within the College of Arts. Bring your lunch and come learn about how you can get involved!
This event features:
- Testimonials from prior practicum students
- Linda Pardy sharing on domestic practicum placements
- Cherie Enns sharing about the exciting Queen Elizabeth Scholar Internship, and international practicum placements
- Q & A with an expert panel
You will want to attend in order to hear about the QE Scholar Internship program where you can travel abroad to East Africa, specifically Tanzania, Kenya, and India, for your internship. There is only a 2-year window for this program before the funding runs out which is at almost $7,000!
So, come to B101 on March 31st and hear about these exciting opportunities then take the next step and begin your practicum journey.
The Next Step
Find a full list of current practicums and internships that are offered by the College of Arts here. But don’t stop there, if you don’t see what you are looking for, make sure you drop by Elise’s office anytime Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 9:00am and 2:00pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:00am and 4:30pm, or email her for more information!
Once you have discussed possible practicum ideas, she will send you the application and you will need to fill it out and send it back with your updated, vetted resume. This resume will be shown to potential employers so it must reflect current experience and education. The Career Centre is available for examining your resume and helping you reflect your current information.
Again, I invite you to join the Practicum Information Session “lunch and learn” on March 31st from 12:00pm to 1:00pm in B101 for your first step towards concrete practical knowledge application.
*Photos by UFV photographers and captured from UFV’s Flickr page
