COS 240 Internship

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Students enrolled in the Office Professional Associate in Applied Science Degree program are required to complete an internship. Students enrolled in the Office Professional with medical office specialization will need to complete an internship in a medical office.

You generally complete your internship in one of the last two semesters of your course work, when the majority of your CAS and COS courses have been completed.

You will need to contact your internship coordinator, Christie Hovey, towards the start of the semester before you plan to complete your internship to arrange for a face-to-face meeting. For example, if you plan to complete your internship in the spring semester, you would want to meet with Christie in September or early October. Locating an internship site can take up to one full semester.

This internship should provide real-life work experience that combines the efforts and resources of local employers with the academic components of the community college.

The student should:

  • Benefit from working with real-life situations in established local businesses, government offices, or various college offices on campus.
  • Be able to make a contribution to the employer from the knowledge and skills learned in college.
  • Be able to preview local employers and determine if selected career goals are appropriate.

As a COS intern, you must:

  •  
  • Be an Office Professional associates degree-seeking student at LLCC who has completed at least 20 credit hours in both CAS and COS courses (Computer Application Systems and Computer and Office Systems) and at least 30 credit hours in courses for the office professional degree.
  • Be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) for one full semester preceding your internship.
  • Be at least 18 years of age or older.
  • Arrange a meeting with Christie to discuss the internship.
  • Have an internship location in mind.
    • For ideas, please visit LLCC Career Services.
    • You can also review the list of sites past interns have used.

      Fall 1997

      LLCC Foundation
      LLCC Financial Aid

      Spring 1998

      Illinois Dept. of Insurance
      LLCC Eastern Region Education Center

      Summer 1998

      LLCC Workforce Systems

      Fall 1998

      Illini Technology

      Spring 1999

      Asthma-Allergy Center-Laborers Int’l Union
      LLCC Foster Care

      Summer 1999

      USDA-Farm Services Agency

      Fall 1999

      LLCC Workforce Systems
      Illinois Dept. of Human Services
      Manufacturers Steel Salem

      Spring 2000

      LLCC Workforce Systems
      AFL-CIO
      Ed Center-LLCC-Community Relations Elder Hostel
      DCFS, Administrative Hearings

      Fall 2000

      VA Outpatient Clinic

      Spring 2001

      LLCC Workforce Systems
      Illinois Department of Transportation
      VA Outpatient Clinic
      Decatur Club
      Grigsby, Swiney, Wilson and Grigsby

      Summer 2001

      CDS Office Technologies

      Spring 2002

      Women’s Healthcare
      DCFS
      VA Outpatient Clinic

      Summer 2002

      Koke Mill Medical Center
      Marine Bank

      Spring 2003

      VA Outpatient Clinic
      Illinois Department of Public Aid
      The Preferred Florist

      Summer 2003

      VA Outpatient Clinic

      Spring 2004

      Bunn-O-Matic
      Brown, Hay and Stephens

      Summer 2004

      Central Illinois Allergy & Respiratory Services

      Fall 2004

      VA Outpatient Clinic

      Spring 2005

      Montgomery Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

      Summer 2005

      Madison Telephone Company
      University of Illinois – Chicago, Division of Specialized Care for Children
      Hanson Professional Services, Inc.
      ASCLS Office for Membership Services and PACE

      Fall 2005

      VA Outpatient Clinic
      LLCC - Advising and Counseling/LLCC - Instructional Services
      Horace Mann
      State of Illinois - Healthcare & Family Services
      State of Illinois - Healthcare & Family Services

      Spring 2006

      Land of Lincoln Consortium
      State of Illinois - Healthcare & Family Services
      State of Illinois - Healthcare & Family Services
      Express Personnel Services
      Scharf Law Firm

      Fall 2006

      UIS – Political Studies Department
      Veteran’s Affairs

      Spring 2007

      LLCC – Southern Region
      Baker, Baker, & Krajewski, LLC

      Summer 2007

      Harpole and White Appraisal Services
      Springfield Service Corporation - Coding
      Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living

      Fall 2007

      Sangamon County Regional Office of Education
      Springfield Diabetes and Endocrine Center
      Memorial Medical Center – Patient Financial Services
      St. John’s Hospital - Coding
      Abundant Life Medical Clinic

      Spring 2008

      SIU Physicians & Surgeons
      Mason District Hospital

      Summer 2008

      SIU Physicians & Surgeons - Coding
      First National Bank of Raymond
      S.O.G.A. – Coding

      Fall 2008

      LLCC - SREC
      SIU Pediatrics
      Taylorville Memorial Hospital & Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      Memorial Medical Center
      Hillsboro Area Hospital
      Memorial Medical Center
      Taylorville CUSD #3
      Taylorville Memorial Hospital & SIU School of Medicine
      Rondeau Chiropractic Center

      Spring 2009

      Memorial Medical Center & Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      LLCC – SREC
      Memorial Health Systems
      Memorial Medical Center
      Memorial Medical Center
      LLCC – Aviation Department
      Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      SIU Physicians & Surgeons - Coding
      Memorial Medical Center
      Illinois State Police

      Summer 2009

      Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      LLCC – Aviation Department
      Litchfield Chamber of Commerce & Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
      S.O.G.A.
      Dr. Mark Wood – Chiropractic Office
      SIU Physicians & Surgeons – Coding
      Petersburg Chiropractic/Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Center/Memorial Medical Center
      Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer & Memorial Medical Center
      Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      Dr. Allan Chiles – Dentist

      Fall 2009

      County Health Department
      Taylorville Memorial Hospital
      Internship coordinated through Shannon Palmer
      Memorial Medical Center
      Memorial Medical Center
      LLCC – Aviation Department
      St. John’s Hospital
      St. John’s Hospital
      Hillsboro Area Hospital

      Spring 2010

      Dr. Mark Wood – Chiropractic Office
      Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance – Illinois workNet Center
      LLCC – Aviation Department
      Stanley Steemer

      Summer 2010

      LLCC – District Learning Resources

      Fall 2010

      LLCC – Aviation Department

      Spring 2011

      Hanson Professional Services, Inc. – Department of Defense
      CDM (Camp, Dresser & McKee)
      Christian County YMCA
      Community & Residential Services Authority
      Abundant Life Medical Clinic
      Midwest DNA & Drug Testing
      Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance – Illinois workNet Center
      Menard Medical Center – Physician Services – Petersburg

      Summer 2011

      Sorling, Northrup,Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, Ltd. - Attorneys at Law

      Fall 2011

      Central Laborers’ Welfare Fund
      LLCC – Aviation Department

      Spring 2012

      SIU School of Medicine
      Ralston Forensic Network
      Computer Techniques, CTI
      Macoupin County States Attorney’s Office
      LLCC – Aviation Department
      Taylorville Care Center
      Sangamon County W.I.A.

      Summer 2012

      LLCC – Taylorville
      Land of Lincoln Workforce Investment Board - Illinois workNet Center
      LLCC – Aviation Department

      Fall 2012

      LLCC – Taylorville
      Southeast Missouri State University – Intensive English Programs Dept.
      Internal Revenue Service
      Hillsboro Area Hospital

      Spring 2013

      SIU School of Medicine – Department of Pediatrics
      LLCC - Aviation
      Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance
      LLCC – Student Life Office

      Summer 2013

      Fireside Eye Care
      Sorling Northrup Attorneys
      SIU School of Medicine – Department of Internal Medicine

      Fall 2013

      LLCC-Litchfield
      SIU-Department of Workforce Education & Passavant Hospital
      LLCC-Taylorville

      Spring 2014

      Horace Mann
      SIU Workforce Alliance Center
      Regency Nursing Care

      Summer 2014

      Central Laborers’ Welfare Funds

      Fall 2014

      Ackerman Law Office
      Yap Family Practice

      Spring 2015

      Memorial Medical Center
      Memorial Medical Center

      Summer 2015

      Apple Behavioral Health Care
      LLCC & FWAI Architects
      Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce

      Fall 2015

      UIS – Sangamon Auditorium
      Capitol Chiropractic Health Center

      Spring 2016

      LLCC-CNA Department

      Summer 2016

      HSHS Family Medicine - Rochester
      City of Springfield
      SpectraForce Technologies

      Spring 2017

      First Baptist Church - Winchester
      HSHS Family Health – Chatham

      Summer 2018

      Battery Specialists + Golf Carts - Taylorville
      Loving Arms - Taylorville

      Spring 2018

      HSHS Medical Group Corporate Services
      DXC Technology - Jacksonville

  • How to obtain from Christie, sign and return via email the Waiver and Release Form and/or take out insurance in case of injury on-the-job. Please remember LLCC is not responsible.
  • How to obtain from Christie, sign and return via email the Eligibility Form.
  • Provide a copy of your most recent transcript pasted from Logger Central to a Word document and then emailed as an attachment to Christie.
  • Complete and submit all required paperwork to Christie in the semester prior to the internship experience.
  • Provide full contact information for your internship supervisor to Christie (name, job title, business name/address/city/zip/phone). Complete any additional testing, physicals, background checks, or forms as specified by the internship site prior to the start of the internship.
  • Before you can register for COS 240, you have to meet with Christie and she grants permission to enroll in the COS 240 internship.
  • Meet with the internship site supervisor prior to the first day of your internship experience and determine your job description and your work schedule.

  • Complete a minimum of 225 clock hours of work experience for the internship (approximately 14 hours per week during the fall or spring semesters) to earn 3 credit hours.
  • Notify the internship coordinator immediately when interrupting this program.
  • Diligently and faithfully perform the work and duties of the internship and abide by the plan of training as prepared.
  • Adhere to the rules, regulations, and policies of the employer during the period of training.

Before the Internship Experience

  • Be sure you meet the internship eligibility requirements.
  • Bring your signed “Internship Eligibility” document to Christie when you have your face-to-face meeting. If you do not yet have an internship site, we can fill in those items later.
  • Bring your signed “Waiver and Release Agreement” document to Christie when you have your face-to-face meeting.
  • Login to Logger Central, create a copy of your transcripts and then paste them into a Word document that is then saved and attached to an email to Christie.
  • Double-check that you have completed or are in the process of completing the majority of your CAS and COS courses.
  • Locate an internship site. If you use your current employer, you will have to add to your current job responsibilities. The activities to be completed as part of your internship need to vary from those normally expected as part of your current employment.
  • Create or update your resume and cover letter.
  • Send your cover letter and your resume to the potential internship site.

Once the Internship Site Has Been Determined

  • Notify your internship coordinator, Christie, at LLCC providing the start date.
  • Provide full contact information for your internship site that includes the supervisor’s name, title, company name, email address, street address, city, zip, phone, and fax.
  • Work with your internship coordinator to obtain a job description and to arrange your work schedule. Send these to Christie during the first week of your internship.

During the Internship

  • Complete the weekly employment record and email to Christie each week.
  • Write the report using correct grammar and spelling by the due date. Arrange to have the paper reviewed by an LLCC Writing Center specialist during weeks 1-7 so your paper is ready to be submitted in final form at the start of week 9 of the fall or spring semesters.
  • Notify Christie immediately if the experience is not what you desire.

Grades will be figured using your percentage of the total points.

25% Weekly Employment Record

  • Complete and submit to the coordinator at the end of each week.

25% Book Review

  • Complete and submit via email as a Word attachment according to the due dates provided in the syllabus schedule
  • Obtain and read a copy of the book, "Who Moved My Cheese" (by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard), available in the LLCC Bookstore or at your local library.
  • Prepare a book review. You will include a brief summary of the characters in the book. Then, the majority of the paper should tie in at least 10 different cheese scenarios–typically one cheese scenario per page—to your internship experience, your COS degree, and your current/past life’s personal and work-related circumstances.
  • Use Microsoft Word to prepare your paper.
  • Create 8-10 double-spaced pages, with one-inch margins, 12-point Arial font, and page numbers…not on the title page though!
  • Be sure to include a title page and reference page with complete bibliographic information (these 2 pages do not count as part of the 8-10 pages).
  • Use correct grammar and spelling. Make an appointment at LLCC’s Writing Center and provide the contact information of the person you visited.

25% Mid-term Evaluation By Employer

25% Final Evaluation by Employer

  • Coordinator submits evaluation to supervisor at mid-term and at end-of-semester or work experience, whichever is first.
  • Be sure your internship supervisor reviews both evaluations with you and that both you and your supervisor sign and date the evaluations.

Activities to Note

  • Daily: Complete Weekly Employment Record
  • Weekly: Mail or drop off Employment Record to coordinator
  • After 110 work hours: Supervisor completes mid-term performance evaluation
  • After 225 work hours: Supervisor completes final performance evaluation
  • Between 110 and 225 hours: Prepare and submit one paper

Part One

Computer Skills

  1. Creating, editing, and proofreading documents to include correct grammar, spelling, and formatting
  2. Saving files to folders/subfolders
  3. Using spreadsheets or presentation software
  4. Word processing of documents

General Skills

  1. Acting in an ethical manner
  2. Performing routine accounting
  3. Maintaining client confidentiality
  4. Observing the office system first-hand
  5. Understanding business organizations and what your organization does
  6. Working as an office assistant

Office Skills

  1. Answering telephones
  2. Faxing
  3. Filing
  4. Handling mail
  5. Keyboarding at a rate of 50 wpm or more
  6. Meeting/greeting clients
  7. Photocopying
  8. Record keeping
  9. Scheduling appointments

Other

  1. Anticipating situations
  2. Being tactful
  3. Exhibiting self-confidence
  4. Following through on tasks/projects
  5. Maintaining appropriate appearance and personal hygiene
  6. Taking the Initiative
  7. Using correct grammar when speaking

Part Two

  1. What are the intern’s strengths?
  2. In what areas does the intern need to improve?
  3. Other comments

Computer Skills

  1. Creating, editing, and proofreading documents to include correct grammar, spelling, and formatting
  2. Saving files to folders/subfolders
  3. Using spreadsheets or databases
  4. Word processing of documents

Medical Skills

  1. Acting in an ethical manner
  2. Correctly and accurately coding disease and injury
  3. Maintaining client confidentiality
  4. Observing the medical system first-hand
  5. Transcribing physician dictation
  6. Using medical terminology appropriately
  7. Working as a medical office assistant
  8. Working with nationwide medical insurance programs

Office Skills

  1. Answering telephones
  2. Faxing
  3. Filing
  4. Handling mail
  5. Keyboarding at a rate of 50 wpm or more
  6. Meeting/greeting clients
  7. Photocopying
  8. Record keeping
  9. Scheduling appointments

Other

  1. Anticipating situations
  2. Being tactful
  3. Exhibiting self-confidence
  4. Following through on tasks/projects
  5. Maintaining appropriate appearance and personal hygiene
  6. Taking the Initiative
  7. Using correct grammar when speaking

Part Two

    1. What are the intern’s strengths?
    2. In what areas does the intern need to improve?
    3. Other comments