When you become a Purdue student, you decide which program is right for you by reading these descriptions and talking with your academic advisor. You may also discuss these options with the Cooperative Education Specialist in Liberal Arts Career Services. Co-op employers agree to provide meaningful work that increases in difficulty and responsibility, and they agree to pay a wage commensurate with skills and abilities. Faculty coordinators monitor progress and provide support and encouragement to both students and employers. Many co-op students complete four work sessions and all undergraduate academic requirements in five years.
Internships are career-related work experiences usually lasting one semester or summer.
During internships, students learn by taking on responsible roles as workers in organizations and by observing and reflecting on daily activities at the work site. Some internships involve participating in a formal program, while others are established through personal or informal contacts between a student or professor and the sponsoring organization. The internship may or may not be for credit and may or may not be paid. Credit will not be given for work experience alone. All internships must involve a formal attempt to integrate the student's work experience with his or her academic interests.