Applied Career Experiences:
Gifted Internships
and
Professional Apprenticeships

The Albuquerque Public Schools Gifted Internship and Professional Apprenticeship programs have been working with the local community for over 20 years. We have a long history helping APS students achieve greater personal, academic, and professional success. Students enrolled in one of these courses opt out of their high school elective periods to explore a self-selected career field. Students are asked to work 5-15 hours per week at their job site, meeting regularly with an assigned mentor to discuss workplace experiences and observations. This program helps students to determine career paths, to select college courses, and to make more informed, goal-oriented decisions.

Students participate in a hybrid course: a combination of online classes and face to face meetings. Students are given a calendar of meeting dates upon acceptance into the course. These seminars are generally limited to one class meeting per month. Additionally, students complete coursework which is assigned and collected via the internet. Curriculum includes assistance with: college applications and financial aid, resumes and cover letters, personal finance and tax preparation, public speaking and interview skills, and much more!

Potential interns must meet the following criteria:

• Full-time APS high school enrollment
• Student-provided transportation to and from the work site
• Access to a computer with internet capabilities (preferably high-speed)
• Completed application and acceptance into the course

Gifted Internships require that the student have a current IEP indicating eligibility for the gifted program.

Professional Apprenticeships are for students participating in the general education program.

No. Students are paid in school credit and in the benefits that they reap from the experience itself.