It is an important part of many high school and college experiences. The value is that you can gain practical experience, which, when accompanied by the kind of theoretical knowledge you have gained in the classroom, gives you a more three dimensional understanding of the work. These experiences come under various labels some used almost interchangeably. The apprentice works with a skilled veteran craftsman for a period of time, after which they become a fully functional tradesman. Internships An internship is usually a one-time work experience done by a student who is at least at the high school level.
Many interns are in college and have taken some coursework that is related to the field.
This may be a credit bearing experience for the student's academic program or it may not. Some companies pay interns while others do not. A cooperative education is usually a one-time work experience done by a student who is at least at the high school level over more than one semester. Usually these students are enrolled in college, and have accumulated a significant number of credit hours in their major academic study area. The co-op involves work assignments that are related to the student's academic and career interests.