Cooperatives and Internships

Kennesaw provides opportunities for students to gain work experience related to their major. According to the Career Services Center these are the most important things to know:

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR CO-OP/INTERNSHIP

1. What are the co-op and internship programs?
2. What are the program eligibility requirements?
3. How do I apply to these programs?
4. What type of credit is earned through participation in a co-op or internship?
5. Is the cost per credit hour for co-op or internship the same as any course credit hour?
6. What is the minimum and maximum participation time for each program?
7. Does a student work at the same location for the entire duration of the co-op or internship?
8. How is the amount of co-op or internship credit decided each semester?
9. If a student is not a US citizen, is he/she eligible to participate in these programs?

Other Common Questions:

1.What are the advantages to participating in the co-op or internship program?
2. How will a student get co-op or internship company interviews?
3. Does a student need to have a co-op or internship position before registering for it?
4. How does a student register for a co-op or internship course?
5. Is a student paid a wage?
6. If a student is a co-op or intern, can he/she earn academic credit and also earn a wage?
7. Does enrollment in a fulltime co-op for three credit hours constitute fulltime enrollment status?
8. How late in the semester may a student apply for a co-op or internship?

1. What are the co-op and internship programs?

The Cooperative Education and Internship programs offer students work experiences related to their majors. Most employers want students with this type of practical experience and often hire those who have worked internships or co-ops. Either program is an integral part of the educational process and supplements academic knowledge with personal and professional growth.

2. Program Eligibility Requirements:

In order to be eligible to participate in co-op, a Kennesaw State University student must be a sophomore, junior, senior or a graduate student. Undergraduates need a program-eligible declared major, at least 30 semester hours completed (can include transfer credit) and have at least a 2.50 adjusted (or "fresh start") GPA. Graduate students only need to be officially accepted in their Kennesaw State University degree program to be eligible. An intern must be a junior, senior or graduate student in a program-eligible declared major. The adjusted GPA and completed credit hour requirements differ by the major.

The only major not eligible for either program is nursing. Education majors (undergraduate and graduate students) participate in the internships program only. MBA, MACC, and MPA students are eligible to participate in co-ops as well as internships. MAPW students are eligible to participate in the internship program.

3. How to apply to these programs

Attend an orientation session as early as possible in the semester. These are offered once per week every semester as well as the summer session. Flyers are located in the Career Services Center, CAPS, Student Information desk and all of the departments on campus. If this is not possible, you can make an appointment to see the person in career services who works with co-ops and internships. Their telephone number is (770) 423-6555

4. What type of credit is earned through participation in a co-op or internship?

The credit is normally used as unrestricted elective credit depending on the student's major. Students should check with their academic advisors to confirm exactly how this academic credit can be used in their major. Graduate business students are not able to use this credit towards graduation, so they should only register for one credit hour of co-op or internship credit each semester that they participate in either program. This is taken along with their normal course load.

5. Is the cost per credit hour of co-op or internship the same as any course credit hour?

Yes

6. What is the minimum and maximum participation time for each program?

In co-op, the minimum time is 2 semesters, and the maximum is 12. (Graduating seniors are allowed to do only 1 semester of co-op).

In internships, the minimum is 1 semester, and the maximum is 12.

Internships do not have to be in consecutive semesters.

7. Does a student work at the same location for the entire duration of co-op or internship?

A co-op student works at the same company for the entire time.

An intern student is at his/her site for 1 semester only, unless special permission is obtained. Therefore, each semester that a student interns, he/she must be at a different company.

8. How is the amount of co-op or intern credit decided each semester?

It is based on the following formula:

Co-op Credit Formula

Co-op credit can be "downsized" to 2 or 1 credits any semester that a student may wish to register for a smaller amount.

Internship Credit Formula

Internship credit can be "downsized" from 12 semester hours or less all the way down to 1 semester credit hour any semester that a student may wish to register for this smaller amount.

9. If a student is not a U.S. citizen, is he/she eligible to participate in these programs?

A student who is not a United States citizen must check with Debbie Teilhet in the Registrar's Office at (770) 423-6200 to verify his/her work status and his/her right to work in the United States.

OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS ARE:

1. What are the advantages to participating in the co-op or internship program?

There are many. The following lists some of the most important:

• Provides major-related work experience, which is so important to obtain prior to graduation.
• Allows the opportunity to experience how your major translates to the world of work.
• Provides a way of applying theories, procedures, and techniques learned in the classroom to real world work situations. This could make college courses more meaningful.
• Provides academic credit that applies directly toward the hours needed to graduate.
• Provides contacts in your career field. This can help in placement efforts after graduation as co-op and intern students are often permanently hired where they have been working.
• Often provides an income while attending the University.

2. How will a student get co-op or internship company interviews?

The Career Services Center will send co-op and intern applicants' resumes to appropriate companies. These companies will review them and call the students they are interested in interviewing at their offices.

3. Does a student need to have a co-op or internship position before registering for it?

Yes

4. How does a student register for a co-op or internship course?

The registration process is the same as for any course. Each is listed in the course schedule under the majors that are program eligible. Interns need to complete a special form that is taken to the Registrar's Office. This form is available in the Career Services Center or from the Co-op/Intern Faculty Supervisor.

5. Is a student paid a wage?

If co-op…yes. If intern…it will depend on the major-approximately 80% of interns are paid at this time. In certain majors, 100% of interns are paid a wage. The current wage range for either program is approximately $6.00/hr. to $16.00/hr.

6. If a student is a co-op or intern, can he or she earn academic credit and also earn a wage?

Yes

7. Does enrollment in a full-time co-op for 3 credit hours constitute full-time enrollment status?

No, involvement in co-op does not automatically qualify a student as full-time. Students are only full-time if they are enrolled in 12 or more hours of academic credits during the semester.

Students who have insurance policies, which specify the actual number of hours they must be enrolled as a student in order to be covered, should check with their insurance companies. If a student were enrolled in 3 credit hours of co-op, he/she would be considered a full-time co-op student for that semester by the Career Services Center. This is different than a full-time student status at KSU, but is often acceptable to insurance companies.

8. How late in the semester may a student apply for a co-op or internship?

A student may apply up to the beginning of Phase III Registration for the semester. It is best, though, to apply as early as possible in the semester before your internship or co-op begins.

For further information call (770) 423-6555, Career Services, and make an appointment to discuss your co-op/internship possibilities.

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