2025-2026 Catalog

Work-Based Learning (WBL)

Work-Based Learning is designed to give students an opportunity to receive non-required core credit, and in some cases, required credit for on-the-job work experience. Students participating in a work-based learning course will work under the direction of MTCC’s assigned Work-Based Learning Coordinator for the student’s specific program of study, their job supervisor, and their Curriculum Advisor. The work experience used for WBL must be significantly related to the student’s program of study.

Eligibility

Any student who is enrolled in a curriculum program which offers WBL for academic credit may be eligible if they meet the following requirements:

  1. Be approved by his/her advisor.
  2. Be approved by the WBL Coordinator.
  3. Have an employer or gain an employer that agrees to participate in the WBL program and follow the guidelines required in the WBL Student Handbook.
  4. The employment is significantly related to the student’s program of study.

Academic Credit

Students may earn a maximum of two WBL credits in one semester (four WBL credits if enrolled in an Apprenticeship NC program in one semester). The work-based learning student may receive a maximum of eight total hours of academic credit for an approved Associate of Applied Science (sixteen total hours of academic credit for an approved Associate of Applied Science when enrolled in an Apprentice NC program), up to four total hours of academic credit for an approved Diploma program (eight total hours of academic credit for an approved Diploma program when enrolled in an Apprentice NC program), up to two total hours of academic credit for an approved Certificate program, and one credit hour of academic credit in the Associate of Arts program. One college credit hour of WBL requires 160 hours of work.

WBL Options

Eligible students in the College Transfer program must use WBL credit for non-required core credit. Students in Technical Degree programs must use WBL credit for non-required core credit, except in programs where WBL courses are listed as a requirement. Substituting WBL for required curriculum courses must be approved by the WBL Coordinator or Director and the Chief Academic Officer.

Application Procedure

Students interested in participating in the WBL program must contact the WBL Coordinator for their program of study and their curriculum advisor. Students are selected for WBL based on an evaluation of their interview and other pertinent criteria. After a student has been approved for WBL, the curriculum advisor will assist them in locating an appropriate assignment. Students already working must have the approval of the College and employer.

Registration

Students must have the approval of the WBL Coordinator and curriculum advisor before registering for a WBL work experience. Those students who are approved must follow normal registration procedures. Students are invited to inquire for more detailed information regarding WBL from their program advisor.

Apprenticeship Training

North Carolina is requiring increasingly greater numbers of highly trained men and women to keep pace with our rapidly changing economy. New demands on the abilities and experience of workers because of changing methods, materials and technology, call for a new look into educational methods. Apprenticeship is an effective means to develop formal skills. As such, it makes a major contribution to our state’s economic growth.

McDowell Technical Community College can help train an employed apprentice by making available necessary courses, instructors and classrooms for the educational piece to ApprenticeshipNC.

The main objective for the Apprenticeship Program is to combine on-the-job training with a program of formal related instruction through MTCC. The major objective of the related instruction is to teach an apprentice that part of the technical information pertaining to his/her trade which can best be taught in the classroom. Other objectives include 1) development of an ability to apply technical related information to his or her trade, 2) evolvement of proper attitudes and human relations, and 3) adjustment to social problems encountered in the world of work. The North Carolina Community College ApprenticeshipNC program has mandated that related training be required of every ApprenticeshipNC participant.

MTCC has courses in the curriculum program that offer the apprentice an opportunity to acquire an associate degree, Diploma, Certificate, or Industry Recognized Credential at the same time they are completing the Apprenticeship Program.

Apprenticeships include pre-apprentice, adult apprentice, and youth apprentice programs. Students enrolled in an apprenticeship program earn pay from an employer. Many times, the employer pays while the employee is attending college classes. In addition, youth apprentices attend college tuition waived. Adults participating in an apprenticeship program may be eligible for state scholarships. For more detailed information, students should contact their program advisor.

Enrolling in Work Based Learning or ApprenticeshipNC courses

Subject to the approval of the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, students enrolled in designated programs of study may have the opportunity to participate in Work-Based Learning with a maximum of 8 credits for applicable associate degree programs, 4 credits for diploma programs, or 2 credits for certificate programs. For students enrolled in a registered apprenticeship, credits are increased to a maximum of 16 credits for associate degree programs, 8 credits for diploma programs, or 4 credits for certificate programs. The following course list is available at MTCC, please reference individual program of study for recommended course.

Course Prefix & Number

Title

Class

Lab

Work/Clinical

Contact

Credit

WBL 111

Work-Based Learning I

0

0

10

10

1

WBL 112

Work-Based Learning I

0

0

20

20

2

WBL 113

Work-Based Learning I

0

0

30

30

3

WBL 114

Work-Based Learning I

0

0

40

40

4

WBL 121

Work-Based Learning II

0

0

10

10

1

WBL 122

Work-Based Learning II

0

0

20

20

2

WBL 123

Work-Based Learning II

0

0

30

30

3

WBL 124

Work-Based Learning II

0

0

40

40

4

WBL 131

Work-Based Learning III

0

0

10

10

1

WBL 132

Work-Based Learning III

0

0

20

20

2

WBL 133

Work-Based Learning III

0

0

30

30

3

WBL 134

Work-Based Learning III

0

0

40

40

4

WBL 211

Work-Based Learning IV

0

0

10

10

1

WBL 212

Work-Based Learning IV

0

0

20

20

2

WBL 213

Work-Based Learning IV

0

0

30

30

3

WBL 214

Work-Based Learning I

0

0

40

40

4