Field Experience Programs
What is a Field Experience?
Field Experience is the culminating Work-Based Learning (WBL) experience within Agua Fria High School District's - Academies of the Southwest Valley. It provides students with opportunities to apply skills from their classroom learning in authentic professional settings while building technical, academic and employability skills.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all internship, Field Experiences are designed to meet students where they are in their exploratory career journey. Experiences may include internships, apprenticeships, clinical placements, school-based enterprises, client-connected projects, entrepreneurial experiences, job shadowing, research opportunities, service learning, or employment directly aligned with a student's academy pathway and Education and Career Action Plan (ECAP).
Through collaboration with business and industry partners, students strengthen technical competencies, develop professional habits, expand their professional network, and gain meaningful experiences that prepare them for college, career, military service, or industry credentials after graduation.
Students earn high school credit through successful completion of course requirements and receive a letter grade based on their overall performance, workplace engagement, coursework, and assessments.
Field Experience Opportunities
CTE Field Experience
CTE Field Experience is designed for students who have successfully completed the required coursework within a CTE pathway and are ready to demonstrate mastery through an authentic workplace or industry experience.
Experiences may take place at business or industry partner sites, healthcare facilities, engineering firms, educational organizations, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, manufacturing facilities, or other approved learning environments directly connected to the student's pathway.
Example: A Sports Medicine completer may complete a field experience at a physical therapy clinic, sports medicine practice, athletic training facility, or orthopedic office to apply the knowledge and skills developed throughout the pathway.
Professional Field Experience
Professional Field Experience is available for students who are currently employed and the job does not necessarily align with their academy pathway or postsecondary career goals. Students who have not completed a full CTE pathway may be eligible to earn elective credit by demonstrating meaningful workplace learning, professional growth, and successful completion of course requirements.
Approved employment or workplace experiences must provide opportunities for students to develop transferable workplace skills and demonstrate career readiness.
Requirements for CTE/Arts Field Experience Students
Requirements for CTE/Arts Field Experience Students
Students participating in CTE/Arts Field Experience will:
- Be an incoming senior who has successfully completed the required coursework within an approved CTE or Arts pathway.
- Meet eligibility requirements established by their academy, school, and the CTE/Arts Department.
- Notify their counselor of their intent to enroll in Field Experience.
- Complete all required enrollment, safety, and participation documentation.
- Receive pathway completion verification from their CTE/Arts instructor.
- Secure an approved Field Experience placement with a community, business or industry partner that aligns with their academy pathway. The school site Field Experience Coordinator will assist students throughout this process.
- Complete a minimum of 130 documented workplace learning hours during the school year (approximately 65 hours per semester).
- Attend all required class meetings, seminars, workshops, and career readiness activities.
- Maintain regular communication with the Field Experience Coordinator, workplace mentor, instructor, and parent or guardian.
- Submit weekly documentation of workplace learning hours and reflection assignments.
- Complete all coursework, reflections, assessments, employability activities, and final capstone project requirements.
- Demonstrate professionalism, ethical conduct, workplace safety, and effective communication throughout the experience.
Requirements for Professional Field Experience Students
Students participating in Professional Field Experience will:
- Be an incoming senior.
- Maintain approved employment or an approved workplace learning placement.
- Complete a minimum of 130 documented workplace learning hours during the school year.
- Attend all required class meetings, seminars, and career readiness activities.
- Submit regular verification of hours worked through pay stubs or other approved documentation.
- Complete and submit all required program paperwork by established deadlines.
- Complete all coursework, assessments, reflections, and portfolio requirements.
- Demonstrate consistent professionalism, reliability, communication, and workplace responsibility.
Course Expectations
Field Experience is more than completing hours, it is an opportunity to demonstrate college, career, and life readiness while gaining credit towards a students’ high school diploma.
Students are expected to:
- Apply classroom learning in authentic professional settings.
- Demonstrate the Portrait of a Graduate competencies through collaboration, communication, critical thinking, integrity and responsibility.
- Build relationships with industry professionals and mentors.
- Develop and refine technical and employability skills aligned with their career pathway.
- Maintain professional attendance, punctuality, dress, and workplace conduct.
- Participate in career readiness lessons, reflections, and professional portfolio development.
- Set personal learning goals and reflect on their growth throughout the experience.
- Complete all required assignments, assessments, workplace documentation, and evaluations.
Assessment and Grading
Field Experience is a credit-bearing course that receives a letter grade. Student grades are based on multiple measures, including but not limited to:
- Completion of required workplace learning hours.
- Employer and mentor evaluations.
- Coursework and classroom participation.
- Career readiness assignments and reflections.
- Portfolio or capstone artifacts demonstrating learning.
- Timely completion of required documentation and program requirements.
Successful students demonstrate not only technical knowledge, but also the professional habits and career competencies necessary to thrive in college, careers, and the workforce.