Co-ops and internships are an effective way for students to gain off-campus work experience
that
complements their academic education. One of the best ways to determine whether a
major is right for you is to work in that field. Experiential learning is valuable
for career exploration. Find out what you like, and just as importantly, find out
what you don’t like.
It can be easy to fit a co-op or internship experience into your time at Michigan Tech, but please speak with your advisor before applying for co-op. Advisors will help you fit experiential learning into your course/degree schedule.
A co-op is a joint venture between the student, the University, and the employer, and lasts a minimum of one academic semester. Students earn credit in an online course where they reflect on professional growth and work experiences while interacting with career services staff and other co-op students.
An internship is arranged by the student and the employer. It typically occurs during the summer and may be eligible for credit.
“My co-op helped me explore a whole new area in automotive engineering. It also helped me improve my communication and negotiations skills with suppliers.”
