The Experiential Education Program

Cooperative Education (Co-op) and Internships (Intern) provide a special relationship between Kennesaw State University and the business community, which allows students the opportunity to combine directly–related work experience with the completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree.

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BENEFITS OF HAVING A CO–OP/INTERNSHIP STUDENT

• Provides an excellent employer recruitment source, while giving employers time to evaluate the performance and capacities of a potential employee prior to making a permanent position offer.
• Provides a highly motivated and enthusiastic student employee at an affordable wage (or in some cases, at no cost to you).
• Students bring fresh ideas, new perspectives and the latest knowledge of business technologies.
• Broadens company visibility and name recognition with students, faculty and the community at large.
• Students can provide the skills and labor for special projects, thus helping to meet short-term needs for extra assistance.
• Gives permanent staff the opportunity to gain supervisory experience and begin building management skills.
• Enables the company to participate in and influence the educational process, while establishing a partnership with Kennesaw State University.

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CO–OP DEFINED

• Students work for at least two semesters with employers in positions that provide directly related experience to their academic majors. They receive academic credit for participation and must be paid a wage.
• Position may be part–time or full–time, and may occur every semester (parallel) or in alternating semesters (alternating).
• Sophomores, juniors, seniors, or students in graduate school with a declared eligible major, at least 30 completed credit hours, and a 2.50 GPA are eligible to participate.

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INTERNSHIP DEFINED

• An internship is employment that closely relates to the student’s major and is usually one semester in length. Students also receive academic credit for their participation and the position may be paid or unpaid, depending on the major.
• The internship may be part–time or full–time, and is available to eligible juniors, seniors, and graduate students with a declared major. GPA and semester hour requirements vary by major.

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EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop basic job descriptions for the positions, including majors, skills, pay range, duration of employment, location, and application process.
  
  Click here for more information about posting a job
  
  ** Kennesaw State University and The Career Services Center supports equal opportunity for all students, and thus, does not pre-screen students for co-op/internship positions. Interested students will contact the employer as instructed on the position posting.
  
  
• Decide where a co–op or intern student may be placed in your organization.
• Appoint someone to act as a mentor/supervisor during the experience. Be sure the mentor/supervisor has the time to oversee the student’s performance and offer constructive feedback.
• Employer will fill out an evaluation form each semester for the co–op student. The forms need to be completed and returned during the last two weeks of the semester, and will be part of the documentation of the student’s co–op experience.