Student Co-op and Internship Information

First, develop an effective resume and cover letter. Then, expand your job search strategies by utilizing our employment guide, meeting with a Career Counselor, and utilizing the resources on our webpage. You can also search for co-op and internship positions for your major in Handshake. Also, consider attending Career Conference and other on-campus recruitment and networking events.

This is up to you!  You should apply for positions in areas you are interested in living. We have students working on-campus, in-state, out of state and internationally. Students working outside of the USA will complete all required enrollment steps and will also collaborate with the Office of International Education to complete the Study Abroad enrollment/application process.  **International students returning home to work will be exempt from study abroad requirements**

No! UW-Stout partners with nearly 600 employers annually. Our amazing students have helped build this amazing network. You are welcome to explore jobs with any employer. If you are looking to self-generate a position, simply have your employer check out our employer information.

All positions need to be a minimum of 8 weeks however positions will vary in length with many positions being one semester and/or summer in length. Some employers prefer two-term positions: January through August, or May through December.

Students eligible for the program will have:

• Completed a minimum of one semester of full-time coursework at UW-Stout (12 Credits)
• Be enrolled in an academic undergraduate major or graduate program
• Be in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher)

Students enrolled in our Co-op courses will be working full-time (32 hours per week or more) therefore it is rare to enroll in additional coursework; however, students enrolled in our Field Experience courses often work part-time allowing them to enroll in additional courses.

Our Co-op and Internship program is the cornerstone for many UW-Stout programs.  Most students participate in the co-op and internship program and several programs require it for graduation.  Learn more about our academic programs here.

No, you will find a wide variety of positions on UW-Stout’s handshake website. Positions must meet the Cooperative Education and Internship framework found here. Students seeking credit for their work experience must keep these program requirements in mind when applying for positions. 

Yes:  A legitimate employer partner, including a start-up/entrepreneurial, is defined as an operating business that has progressed sufficiently in their business development process so that they can provide:

1. Business Name & Address
2. Company website or verifiable web presence
3. Identify a key contact w/ e-mail address
4. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) and State EIN (when required by the State)
5. Proper Licenses and Permits to operate (local and state level)
6. Provide supervision of student by a professional with experience

Report your position to Career Services through the Co-op & Internship Portal prior to beginning your work experience. Career Services staff will assist you through the registration process and ultimately enroll you into the co-op or field experience course.

Credits earned per term vary depending on the length of the position, program requirements, and intensity of experience. Prior to registering, students will meet with their professor regarding credit requirements. Tuition is charged like all other academic courses using the per credit fee schedule.

Yes! Both the university and the site supervisor evaluate the Co-op and Internship students. Your professor will assign written reports and/or other assignments to be completed during your work experience. Our office will send your site supervisor two performance evaluations to be completed during your work experience. Your professor will issue a grade.

To be considered for full-time student status, students must be enrolled in Co-op courses which requires paid employment at a minimum of 32 hours per week. Students enrolled in Field Experience courses will not be considered for full-time student status via the Co-op and Internship Program.

Co-op students who work 32 hours a week or more will have access to Financial Aid if eligible. Other students interested in accessing financial aid should contact the Financial Aid office to determine what aid may be available to them. The Financial Aid office is located in 210 Bowman Hall or at finaid1@uwstout.edu / 715-232-1363

Yes, students who are registered for a co-op or field experience course can keep their laptop. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Joan Wahl in 105 Sorenson Hall or wahlj@uwstout.edu / 715-232-2649

Students must plan to avoid conflicts with on-campus or off-campus rental contracts. Housing and living expenses are the responsibility of the student. Some employers assist with locating housing and/or housing/relocation expenses. Issues with UW-Stout housing contracts should be discussed with the Housing Office in 170 Price Commons or at housing@uwstout.edu / 715-232-1121

As part of the Co-op and Internship Program, your position will need to be related to your major. Students are encouraged to apply for positions that pique their interests or that advance their career goals.

Again, this is up to you. If you are interested in earning money during this work experience, be sure to apply for PAID positions.  Learn what other students earn on average here.

Be prepared to work the entire position from start date to end date. Before accepting the job be sure to ask about the daily schedule, expected start date/end date, and possible days off. If you have a previous commitment (i.e. family wedding) be sure to communicate that scheduling issue upfront so the employer is aware of the issue.

Yes, you will have a supervisor that will ultimately be responsible for you and the work you complete.

Maybe, some companies hire multiple interns while others may only hire one at a time. If being around other students is important to you, be sure to ask questions during the hiring process.

No, you cannot receive credit for previous work experience through the Cooperative Education and Internship Program. We can only award credit to students working during the time of their enrollment. If you are interested in earning credit for a previous work experience, talk with your Program Director about Prior Learning Credit.

Program directors or your professor must be included in all phases of planning and completing the work experience to ensure that program requirements are met. Lengthy or multiple work experiences usually extend the time required to earn a four-year degree. The extended time is more than often offset given the experience provides a competitive edge in the job market.

There are a large number of co-op and internship positions available to students and the Career Services staff will work closely with students to help them secure a position. However, in rare cases, due to market conditions, economic circumstances or other factors, a student may not land a position in a given semester. In that case and depending on their field of study and program, they may return to classes and begin the process of applying for positions for upcoming semesters.

Student athletes are often highly desirable candidates for our employers. Your strong work ethic and extensive experience working in teams makes you a highly desirable candidate. Many of our student athletes participate in this program each semester. You may want to consider finding positions during your sport’s off season.

It will be essential for you to find a position within walking/biking distance of your residence, utilize public transportation, or employ private transportation services (i.e.. Taxi, Uber).

Degree seeking international students (F-1 Visa) are eligible to participate in the Co-op and Internship Program. While working, international students will be using Curricular Practical Training (CPT); CPT is available to F-1 students who have been enrolled on a full-time basis for at least nine months.

Specific to International Students:

• Complete the Co-op and Internship enrollment process as shown above
• Career Services will work closely with the OIE to secure the CPT approval necessary to begin your work experience which will result in an updated I-20 showing your place of employment. Your employer will need a copy of your updated 1-20.
• Dates of employment will need to occur during the academic semester (align your start and end date with the academic term).