What are Internships and Cooperative Education?
Through WKU’s Internship/Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program, students combine academic studies with on-the-job experience in their career fields. As an internship/co-op student, you will graduate with a strong academic foundation plus the practical background that employers want. You will also know from experience that the profession you have chosen is right for you.
WHAT CAN AN INTERNSHIP/CO-OP DO FOR ME? ·
- Give You Experience in Your Field Before Graduation
- Help Finance Your Education (paid experiences)
- Increase Your Employability
- Confirm Your Career Choice
- Orient You to the World of Work
- Allow You to Network with Career Professionals
- Build Your Confidence & Skills
- Give You a Hiring Advantage Over Others with NO EXPERIENCE
For more information click on the topics listed below:
- Internships & Cooperative Education (Co-ops)
- Gaining Academic Credit for Your Internship/Co-op Experience
- Creating a Plan to Find an Internship/Co-op
- Informal Ways of Gaining Experience
- FAQ’s About Internships/Co-op
The Career Services Center recommends students consider participating in an internship/co-op experience at any point during their college career. Ideally, students should consider obtaining career-related work experience as early as their sophomore year to confirm a good "fit" with a chosen academic major and career path. However, obtaining an internship/co-op experience is beneficial at the junior and senior levels to increase on-the-job experience and knowledge matched to the major specific coursework covered during this phase of your academic program. Learning in the classroom is transferred to practical application at the worksi
The Career Services Center assists students in searching for and obtaining internships/cooperative education experiences. If you would like to begin the process of obtaining an internship or co-op experience, please call the Career Services Center at (270) 745-3095 to make an appointment with your career counselor, or stop by to set up an appointment in Downing University Center (DUC) A-230.
When a student has been offered a co-op/internship position, he/she should attend a meeting at the Career Services Center to obtain and complete the University’s internship/co-op paperwork requirement. Click here to find out when those meetings are for the upcoming semester or call (270) 745-3095. All meetings are held at the Career Services Center, DUC A-230.