Interns
Interns
Internship Program at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Internship Program at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Room E031 at B-CCHS
August 26, 2025 - September 19, 2025
Every Wednesday From September 24, 2025 - May 20, 2026
Internships begin September 22, 2026
Internships end on May 15, 2026
B-CC offers a robust academic internship program designed to give students meaningful, real-world experience in a career field of interest. Through this program, students will:
Gain hands-on experience in a potential career path
Learn practical skills not typically taught in a traditional classroom
Explore whether a specific career aligns with their interests, strengths, and values
Build professional relationships and workplace communication skills
Apply what they’ve learned in school to real-world projects and settings
Develop strong work habits and a sense of responsibility
Discover the education and training needed for various career options
Make valuable connections for future employment opportunities
Internships span the entire school year. These placements may require more hours than a typical school course. Students who successfully complete the program will earn 0.5 elective credit per semester.
Students who wish to enroll in the internship program must complete all steps of the application process according to the established timeline in the application packet.
A strong academic record
An excellent attendance record
Exemplary behavior
A positive attitude
A solid work ethic
Strong communication skills
The maturity to make the commitment for an academic year
The willingness to meet the requirements of the program
The endorsement of their teachers, counselor, and administrator
Leave school at the end of period 5, 6 or 7 and report to your Employer.
Minimum hours per semester each intern must work:
Single Period: 75
Approximately 8 hours per weekDouble Period: 150
Approximately 10 hours per weekTriple Period: 225
Approximately 15 hours per weekArrange transportation to and from the intern site.
Demonstrate good attendance, cooperativeness, industriousness, and willingness to take the initiative when appropriate. They must also have a neat personal appearance, dress appropriately for the workplace, and learn proper business etiquette and professionalism.
Attend the Internship Academy classes
Complete a weekly report to the Internship Coordinator regarding your internship progress, events, problems, and questions.
Quarterly project determined by the Internship Coordinator.
An internship takes place out of school at a work site. Students who are in the MCPS Internship Program do an internship and are enrolled in the Internship Academy course. At B-CC, Internship Preparation Academy starts in the spring semester of the previous year, when interested students attend lunchtime seminars to learn about the job search process. When school starts in the fall, the class meets every day for the first two weeks of school and every other Monday thereafter. Triple period interns are in the 6th period seminar, double period interns are in the 6th period seminar, and single period interns are in the 7th period seminar. Students attend the seminar during the assigned period and day. The other days, the students leave school to go to work.
We have many fabulous sponsors who are willing to host students year after year. Students are also able and encouraged to research and look for new sites. Generally, the harder a student looks for an internship, the more they enjoy the internship.
Yes, as long as you create a plan with your employer to complete the required number of hours. Ideally, students work a set number of hours each week, but if a student can find a sponsor who is willing to offer some flexibility, they may work fewer hours during the sports season and more hours after it ends. Please also be advised that if you need to be back at school for an after school activity, it is going to limit your options. It’s difficult to get the perfect internship at the perfect time and in the perfect location. You may need to make some trade-offs.
If accepted into the program, you will need to work with the Internship Coordinator to secure a position. Some of our sponsors do take students year after year, but is a competitive process and the most qualified candidates are likely to secure the most coveted positions. Each year, we also get many new sponsors. Most of them come to us through a new connection that an industrious student establishes.
Ideally, students go to work each day. However, some students, particularly those who travel long distances to get to their internship, find that it is easier to work several longer shifts each week to save on travel time. Some sites also prefer to have students work for several longer stretches of time. Therefore, each intern may coordinate with his/her sponsor to develop a set schedule and to communicate that schedule with the coordinator.
Students provide their own transportation to and from the work site. Some drive, but others walk, bike, take Metro or ride the bus. Students must submit MCPS form 560-31, Application to Participate in an Activity Away from School for Which Transportation is Not Provided. (Students may know this as “the field trip form.”)
If a student needs financial assitance for transportation, please contact the Internship Coordinator for more information.
Yes, there are approximately 15 required seminars each semester. A schedule will be distributed at the start of each quarter.
B-CC does not host the summer internship program, it is run by MCPS Central Office.