College of the Mainland is committed to connecting students to the community in a mutually growth-enhancing cycle. This section provides information about opportunities to connect with the community.
Clinicals
COM’s Nursing and Allied Health programs require clinical experiences. These experiences provide opportunities for students to learn and apply program theory and management of workflow. These clinicals are closely supervised with instruction and theory provided concurrently. Clinicals are designed to be consistent with industry standards, support specific written objectives outlined by the program, and emphasize current practices in the field of specialization.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience.
Internships
Many of COM’s workforce programs provide internship experiences. These experiences provide workplace settings in which students learn and apply program theory and management of the workflow and are closely supervised with instruction and theory provided concurrently. Internships are designed to be consistent with industry standards, support specific written objectives outlined by the program, and emphasize current practices in the field of specialization.
Practicum
A practicum is an unpaid, competency-based external learning experience that supplements lectures and laboratory instruction. Practicums are offered in some COM healthcare programs to provide students with practical experience in the industry to enhance skills and integrate knowledge. Practicums are directed by faculty or a clinical preceptor.
Service Learning
Service learning courses provide students the opportunity to engage in a hands-on experience in the community as part of the course requirements. Typically, students will spend about one-third of the course contact hours in service learning experiences within the community.
Study Abroad
Study abroad courses are offered during the summer term and are led by College of the Mainland faculty.