Cooperative Education/Internship Program
Guidelines for Students
1.What is the Cooperative Education/Internship Program?Co-operative Education is a unique educational program in which students integrate classroom study with periods of paid, supervised work experience related to their academic major. At Florida Atlantic University, Co-op/Internship is a structured experiential learning opportunity in which students apply concepts studied in the classroom to "real world" work situations. Co-op/Internship is offered on a semester basis, fall, spring, or summer (term 1), full-time, or part-time. A co-op assignment can be multiple times with one employer or different employers. See Co-op/Internship Program Education Partnership Model.
2. Why should you participate in the Cooperative Education/Internship Program?
- To explore career interests and work environments
- To enhance classroom learning through practical experience
- To receive training and utilize technologies in the workplace
- To clarify career objectives and execute a realistic job search strategy
- To network and secure job opportunities upon graduation
- To gain marketable experience
Co-op/Internship at FAU is a voluntary program that requires the commitment of the student and employer. It is a partnership among the student, employer, and the Co-op/Internship office. Students may opt to participate in the alternating or parallel programs.
- Full-time (Alternating Co-op/Internship) Students who alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of full-time, paid Co-op/Internship assignments. Students work full time for a semester and return to school the following semester to continue their course studies. Students may remain with the same employer during their next Co-op/Internship or accept employment with a new company
- Part-time (Parallel Co-op/Internship) Students work on a part time basis while they are enrolled in full-time classes
- Please see Co-op Application Check-List
- To learn more about the Co-op/Internship process, click on the PowerPoint presentation
- Attend Co-op/Internship Workshops
- Submit Co-op/Internship Application
- Upload your resume on-line through OWL CareerLink
- Call the Career Development Center of your campus listed below with any questions
- Completed 30 hours of undergraduate course work
- Full-time FAU enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate degree
- Transfer students must completed one semester at FAU before applying
- FAU cumulative GPA of at least 2.30 undergraduate or 3.0 graduate
- International students (F-1 status) must have maintained valid F-1 status and full-time enrollment for at least two consecutive semesters prior to the co-op internship start date.
- International students must obtain from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) an I-20 and meet all USCIS and/or ISSS requirements
- Students must apply a semester prior to their participation (i.e. apply during the spring semester for a co-op in the summer)
After the Co-op/Internship office has determined eligibility, students' upload their resumes into OWL-CareerLink. Employers then contact students they are interested in to set up interviews. Students who accept Co-op/Internship employment offers must complete the required enrollment in their departmental Co-op/Internship course if they are international students or are seeking elective credit. In order to receive elective credit, the academic department must give written approval; otherwise, Co-op/Internship credit is an additive credit. All I-20 forms must be updated prior to beginning a Co-op/Internship assignment. Acceptance and placement into Co-op/Internship is not guaranteed. A student can find their own Co-op/Internship employer, but it must be approved by the Associate Director of the Career Development Center before accepting the offer.
7. How are students graded? Students are required to complete a mid-term progress report, a final evaluation and attend a debriefing session. The Co-op/Internship assignment is recorded on your transcript and is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
Boca Raton Campus:
Carol Lynch, Senior Secretary
Career Development Center
777 Glades Road, SU 222
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 297-3520
Fax: (561) 297-2740 Broward Campus:
Donna Lee, Associate Director
Career Development Center
2912 College Avenue, LA 203
Davie, FL 33314
Phone: (954) 236-1214
Fax: (954) 236-1213 Jupiter Campus:
Sara McHale
Career Development Center
5353 Parkside Drive, SR 110
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone: (561) 799-8010
Fax: (561) 799-8046
