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”Internship” and
“Cooperative Education” (Co-op Ed) are two terms for experiential
education opportunities that combine academic education with practical
experience in a student’s major discipline.
These positions may be paid or unpaid and, with department
approval, the student can claim academic credit. Current listings for these
positions are posted in the Career Center lobby. During Spring and Fall
quarters, companies may come to campus to interview students for these
positions.
Reasons for participating in the program:
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It represents a learning situation that allows students
to earn academic credit (CR/NC). Participants are entitled to claim one unit
credit for every 10hrs/wk worked in the field (1 unit = 100 hours per
quarter, 2 units = 200 hours per quarter, etc.). The maximum number of units
that can be earned in any particular quarter is four. The maximum number of
units that can be applied towards a major depends on the individual
departments; however, students are allowed to register for units each
quarter they work.
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As students see the relationship first-hand between
classroom study and the world of work, they may become more motivated in
their studies. Sixty-three percent of students who completed an internship
increased their grade point average by at least 0.5.
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The program provides the opportunity to explore various
career fields and to test career choices in real work situations.
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Students gain future employment contacts by networking.
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The possibilities of a job waiting for a student upon
graduation improve. Many program participants are offered a permanent job
with the employer. (However, employers are under no obligation to hire these
students after graduation, nor are these students under obligation to return
to their employer for permanent employment).
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Even if participation in the program does not result in
permanent employment, chances of finding a satisfying position elsewhere
after graduation are much greater because many employers require relevant
work experience when hiring university graduates for entry level positions.
The best time to participate in the program
Ideally, students should start participating in the program when they are in
their sophomore or junior year. It is important to realize that sometimes these
positions are not readily available in certain majors, or some employers may
have a two-year structured program (particularly if their long term goal is to
consider you for full-time employment after graduation). It is also possible to
participate in the program when you are a senior or a graduate student.
Organizations offering these experiences
Most of these field experiences are with large well-known companies
or government agencies, but there are also opportunities with medium and
small-sized companies as well as non-profit organizations and educational
institutions. |
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