Student Co-op and Internship Information

Our Co-op and Internship program is an educational program in which students obtain work experience in a position related to their academic and/or career interests working a minimum of 8 weeks within a semester. This experience provides an integrated learning experience that enhances both the academic experience and career development.

Students eligible for Co-op and Internship program will have:

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

Credits earned per term (semester/summer) 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.

Fees will be like any other academic course, you will pay the per credit fee.

Check with your insurance company to see if they need full-time student status documentation. Documentation can be provided by contacting the Career Services office.

To be considered for full-time student status, students must be enrolled in the Co-op course (course ending in SUJB-X49) which requires paid employment at a minimum of 32 hours per week. Students enrolled in Field Experience will not be considered for full-time student status via the Co-op and Internship program.  

Students must plan ahead to avoid conflicts with on-campus or off-campus rental contracts. Housing and living expenses while working are the responsibility of the student. Some employers assist with locating housing and/or housing/relocation expenses.

Co-op and Internship experiences 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. Some students complete two or more work experiences with the same employer at upgraded levels, alternating with a semester on campus. The number of work experiences varies from one to several.

Both the university and the employer evaluate the Co-op and Internship students. It is important for the student to have ongoing communication between the site supervisor and their professor.  The work experience will be graded.

Career Services hopes to begin working with students freshmen year to cover topics such as job searching basics, resume writing, interviewing skills, networking and professional etiquette in the workplace. Many programs/majors across campus integrate these topics into their curriculum. Career Services provides workshops, mock interview sessions, individual counseling, and also hosts several on-campus recruitment events and networking events with employers.

Students enrolled in our Co-op courses will be working full-time (32 hours per wk.), it is rare to enroll in additional coursework while working full-time.

Students enrolled in our Field Experience courses may consist of combining part-time work with part-time school, is possible when positions are within commuting distance of UW-Stout.

Positions are available in most states and internationally. While many students work in Wisconsin and Minnesota, we encourage students to be flexible about the location in order to ensure the best possible experience and future career paths.

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 next semesters.

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