Internships/Co-ops
What is a co-op/internship?
Students attending Mercyhurst College have the opportunity to participate in cooperative education/internship experiences. Co-op is the combination of classroom and on-the-job work organized in an educationally sound manner and coordinated so that experiences in business, industry, government and various public agencies become an integral part of a student's college education. Students who participate in the co-op/internship program usually come away from their experiences more professionally and personally developed.
Students can complete from three to four co-op experiences during their four years at Mercyhurst. By meeting all the departmental requirements for a co-op, students can earn up to 12 hours of academic credit toward graduation
Kinds of co-ops
There are two kinds of co-ops. One is limited to the junior and senior years. A student is in school for a period of either three or six months and then participates in an on-the-job assignment for the same period of time. Although students are employed full time, they are considered students by both employers and the college. Employment may be available locally or in a student's home area.
The second option is open to students who have completed a minimum of 57 credit hours. A student in this plan remains in school and is employed on a part-time basis at a co-op/internship site. On rare occasions this experience is available to third-term sophomores.
Academic credit
Grading options for cooperative education experiences are "pass" for those students doing satisfactory work; and "fail" for unsatisfactory work performance.
How co-op/internship works
The student, on-site supervisor and the co-op coordinator establish measurable learning objectives that co-op students must meet or exceed during their on-the-job experience in order to receive academic credit. Once students are placed in a cooperative assignment, the coordinator makes periodic visits to the companies where students are employed to discuss their progress. The coordinator uses on-site visitations and an employer evaluation form to determine if students are successfully combining the theory of the classroom with practical experience
What are the benefits?
Students get to blend their acquired classroom theory with unique practical experiences. They gather an understanding of the professional work world. They solidify invaluable networking contacts. They gain specific experience to be incorporated into a resume and an interview. Finally, students may be able to request from their immediate supervisor a letter of recommendation that will strongly support their application for future full-time employment.