Internship and Co-Op Assistance

An internship or cooperative education program (co-op) is a professional, career-related experience in an organizational or company setting. Students may have the opportunity to receive academic credit for the experience, although most students intern for the experience, contact and/or pay, not necessarily for the credits.

Internships can be completed during the academic year in conjunction with classes (10-12 hours per week) or as a full-time experience (up to 40 hours per week) in the summer. Co-ops are typically 40 hours per week and completed over an extended period (one semester and one summer, or even over the course of two semesters). Alternative schedules are possible and depend on the needs and expectations of the parties involved, including the student intern, a faculty adviser, and the intern supervisor for the company/organization.

Academic internship requirements vary by major/department. Many departments require a student to complete 120 career-related work hours to receive 3 credits. Consult with your academic department for eligibility requirements, prerequisites, scheduling, and ideas for potential sites.