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Co-op vs. Internship

Is There a Difference Between a Co-op and an Internship?

The answer is both YES and NO!

Goal
Number of Semesters
Year in School
Work Assignments
Training
Pay
Academic Credit
Post-Graduation Opportunities
Work Assignment Supervision

	Cooperative Education	Internship
Goal	To provide students with practical experience related to their major that will enhance and complement their classroom learning.	To provide students with practical experience related to their major that will enhance and complement their classroom learning.
Number of Semesters	Two or three semesters interspersed with semesters in school or Two consecutive semesters on a full-time basis or Two or more consecutive semesters on a part-time basis.	One semester, either full-time or part-time.
Year in School	Start during late sophomore or early junior year.	Participate during late junior or early senior year.
Work Assignments	Student assignments often increase in difficulty and responsibility as the student progresses through their college education and the student may work in different functional areas.	Students will work in the same position at the same level of difficulty throughout their work assignment.
Training	More training provided by employer than an internship.	Less training provided by employer than cooperative education.
Pay	All positions are paid.	Some positions are paid, others are volunteer.

Academic Credit	Students receive a transcript notation for zero credit hours that maintains their status as a full-time student. A small percentage may receive credit from their department.	Students receive a transcript notation for zero credit hours that maintains their status as a full-time student. A higher percentage may receive credit from their department.
Post-Graduation Opportunities	Students frequently start at higher salaries and higher levels of responsibility than interns.	Students have an edge over students without experiential education.
Work Assignment Supervision	Students are supervised and evaluated at the work site by employer.	Students are supervised and evaluated at the work site by employer.