Transcript Career Development Center

Co-op/Internship
Workshop
Nothing Succeeds like Experience!
What is Cooperative Education
• A unique educational program in which students
integrate classroom study with semesters of paid,
supervised work experience related to their academic
major
• A structured experiential learning opportunity in which
students can apply concepts studied in the classroom
to “real world” work situations
• Co-op is offered on a semester basis; fall, spring,
and in summer Term 1
Why Participate in Co-op?
• To explore career interests and work environments
• 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
How does Co-op Work?
• Co-op is a voluntary program that requires
commitment from the student and employer.
It is a partnership among the student,
employer and the co-op office.
• Students may opt to participate in the
alternating or parallel programs.
How does Co-op Work? (Cont’d)
• Full time (Alternating Co-op)
Students alternate semesters of academic study
with semesters of full-time, paid co-op assignments.
Students work full time for a semester and return to
school the following semester to continue their
studies.
• Part time (Parallel Co-op)
Students work on a part-time basis while
they are enrolled in full-time classes
The Application Process
• Students must first attend a co-op
workshop. At the workshop you will learn
about the requirements to participate in
co-op, how to submit an application, and
how to upload a resume to OWL CareerLink
• Call the Career Development Center on
your campus for the schedule of times and
locations or visit our website at:
www.fau.edu./cdc
Who is Eligible for Co-op?
• Full-time FAU enrollment in an undergraduate or
graduate degree-seeking program
• FAU cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.3 under-graduate or 3.0 graduate
• Transfer students must complete one semester
at FAU before applying
• International students (F1 status) must have been
enrolled in an American university for twelve (12)
months and completed one semester in current
program
Who is Eligible for Co-op? (Cont’d)
• International students must obtain approval from
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
and meet all United States Custom and information
Services and or ISSS requirements (i.e. must have
a current 1-20)
• Students must apply a semester prior to their
participation (i.e., apply in spring for co-op in
summer)
How Are Students Selected?
• Associate Director determines eligibility
• Employers can contact students through OWL
CareerLink or a student can find a co-op employer
• A student who accepts a co-op employment
offer must complete the required enrollment in their
departmental co-op course if seeking elective
credit or are an international student
• In order to receive elective credit the academic
department must give written approval;
otherwise, co-op credit is an additive credit
How Are Students Selected? (Cont’d)
• Employers who post job positions in OWL
CareerLink are eligible to search for
students in the database. Employers will
contact those students they are interested in
• Students can find their own co-op
employers, but such offers must be
approved by the Associate Director of the
CDC before being accepted
How Are Students Selected? (Cont’d)
• For international students all I-20 forms
must be updated prior to beginning co-op
employment
• Acceptance and placement into a co-op
assignment is NOT guaranteed
• Students can find their own co-op employers,
but such offers need to be approved by the
Associate Director of the CDC before being
accepted
How Are Students Graded?
• The requirement for successful completion
of a co-op assignment is to complete a
mid-term evaluation, a final evaluation,
and at the end of the assignment to attend
a co-op debriefing session
• The co-op assignment is recorded on the
student’s transcript and is graded either
satisfactory or unsatisfactory
INTERNSHIPS
• Internships are career-related experiences that
enhance students’ marketability upon graduation
• Can be paid or unpaid
• Can be structured or unstructured
• Length of internship must be at least 10 weeks
• May be eligible for credit ( pending departmental
approval)
• View our website link, www.fau.edu/cdc, go to
students Click on undergraduate and then
Internships, check the job listings in OWL
CareerLink or call the Career Development
Center at 561-297-3520