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Internships & Cooperative Education
Linking the classroom to practical work experiences!

Internships and cooperative education are programs specifically designed to provide college students with practical work experience while attending college. Cooperative education experiences are in positions that are directly related to your college major. An internship may or may not be related to your field of study.

The nature of these experiences can vary from one situation to another. For example, an internship or cooperative education experience could:

Be part-time or full time.
Start as a temporary appointment and later become a full time position.
Offer a salary, small stipend or be a volunteer position.
Last only a few weeks or an entire school semester or year.

Advantages

For college students, the advantages of an internship or cooperative education experience are many, such as:

An opportunity to test out a career option before committing to it as a career goal.
A means of developing real work experience while in school.
An opportunity to relate your academic studies to real work situations to improve the relevancy of your studies.
An opportunity to develop career contacts with potential employers.
In the case of cooperative education, an opportunity to earn college credits for your work experience. Note, at SPC, college credit is not awarded for an internship.

Perhaps the most important advantage is the fact that college graduates who have completed one or more internships or cooperative education experiences are more attractive to employers due to the fact that they have practical work experience.

What's the main difference between an internship and cooperative education experience?

Internships and cooperative education are for the most part similar in design with the following exceptions:

In a cooperative education experience you earn college credit for your work experience.
Cooperative education experiences are more structured, managed and monitored by a participating college.

How to find an Internship...

To find an internship right for you, we suggest you use all of the following options:

Check the SPC Job Bank. Here you will find notices from employers offering internships. When searching the Job Bank, use "internship" as your search criteria.

Visit a number of online websites that specialize in helping students find internships. Some of these websites include:

Internshipprograms.com

Internships.com

InternWeb.com

MonsterTrak

Vault Internship Board

Review internship directories. Visit your college or public library or college Career Center and ask for books or directories on internships. Also, check several commercial bookstores for books on the subject.

Contact employers directly. This is often the most productive way of finding an internship. Simply decide where you'd like to have an internship and then contact the company or organization and inquire about whether they offer an internship. If so, ask how to apply.

Some highly attractive internships include:

White House Internship Program
Internships with the U.S. Government
International internships:
     Intern Abroad.com
     CrossCulturalSolutions.org
     Ihippo.com

A word of caution

Internships are often developed jointly by a college in collaboration with an employer or organization. In these cases, the internships are usually well planned out, monitored and managed by professionals thereby creating a rewarding opportunity for all concerned. Some internships are created and operated solely by a company or organization. While most internships are legitimate opportunities for students, some employers create internships solely as a way of obtaining free help. Pick your internship carefully!

How to create a Cooperative Education experience...

To earn college credit, your work experience must be applicable to your Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree program.

You are required to work or volunteer in a full time or part-time job related to your college major. The SPC Career Development Services and/or a Cooperative Education instructor can assist you in finding suitable employment.

In some cases, with the aid of your current employer and faculty advisor, you may be able to use your current job as a Cooperative Education placement.

Student eligibility

You must have completed twelve or more credit hours at SPC.

You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

You must secure a position related to your major field of study, one that offers an opportunity for learning. At least 12 hours of work per week are required to earn 3 credits during Sessions I and II. A minimum of 18 hours per week is required during Session III to earn 3 credits. Students may earn up to 12 hours of Cooperative Education credit while attending SPC.

Student responsibilities

To develop a Cooperative Education experience, you will be required to:

1. Obtain program information and an application form (visit any campus Career Center).

2. Complete the application form and return it to the Career Center. You will then be referred to a Cooperative Education instructor for the next step.

3. Participate in an interview with a prospective or current employer.

4. Obtain a signed agreement from your employer.

5. Register for a Cooperative Education class with approval of your Cooperative Education instructor, Program Director or Career Center Cooperative Education Coordinator.

6. Meet with your instructor to define your learning objectives.

7. Gain approval of your learning objectives from your employer.

8. Keep a journal of your learning experience.

9. When your experience is completed, write an evaluation report and have your employer complete a performance evaluation.

10. Turn in all assignments to your instructor by the required dates.

For more information and to inquire about a coop position...

1. Complete the Information Sheet.

2. Contact the SPC Program Director responsible for your college major, or any of the individuals listed below. Bring your completed Information Sheet.

Rose Miglino

St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus 727.341.4640

Nikia Smith

Clearwater campus

727.791.2738

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Last revised 1.3.2006