An externship is a short WBL experience, of a minimum duration of 40 hours, where the student is paired with a working professional to observe and get a preview of the day-to-day activities needed for a career. Based on students’ interests in specific careers and/or organizations, externship experiences can help students learn more about the nature of various jobs and work environments as well as education and training required to succeed.
Think of an externship as an extended job shadowing experience, designed so students may ask questions, observe, and get a feel for a workplace. While the work accomplished in the context of an externship will be important, there is not work delegated and projects assigned such as those found in a longer-term form of WBL, such as an internship.