Welcome to The Career Center's Experiential Education Programs
Did you know that approximately 55% of new hires in 1999-2000 had internship experience, and that nearly 29% were hired with co-op experience?
And, did you know that over 80% of employers believe strongly in the value of internships and co-op in developing key qualities and skills in new hires?
In an ever increasingly tight labor market, with more companies vying for the same pool of qualified applicants, more organizations are looking at their own interns as potential candidates for full-time positions. More than 85% sponsor at least one experiential education program. Over 80% offer internships. Approximately 48% have co-op programs. Employers have reported that 25% of their interns and 21% of their co-op students were hired as full-time employees.
The facts are clear. A degree even with a strong GPA is not enough. Experiential education can open a direct path to your career goals by providing you with career focused work experience.
What is Experiential Education?
Experiential Education is an education methodology which integrates the classroom with the workplace. It helps you translate classroom learning into successful careers by designing individualized and monitored education programs that provide work experiences that develop professional skills and abilities.
What are Experiential Programs?
The Career Center offers you the following structured professional development programs:
 Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education is an individualized education program which integrates classroom learning with work experience in a job that is career-related, pays wages and earns college credit. Work schedules vary from 20 hours to full time and may be flexible.
Internships
Internships similarly integrate learning with related work/field experience. Internships are primarily for college credit and provide fieldwork experience pertinent to a particular course or topic of study. The work period varies from 4 weeks to 6 months, is ordinarily unpaid but may provide stipends or other compensation. For a schedule of current Internship Information Sessions, click here.
Service Learning
Students who wish to devote some time volunteering in community organizations can consult with staff to arrange for volunteer assigments.
Program Services
Our supportive staff of professionals and students are ready to help you develop a personal plan for success. They will:
- Evaluate your abilities and match them with employment opportunities.
- Assess your qualifications, academic record, major, job preference through personal meetings.
- Help you decide on the type of work, work schedule, job requirements, salary and working conditions.
- Arrange job placement that is completely voluntary. Students and employers must agree on all terms of employment.
- Monitor your performance and ensure employer adherence to the terms of employment.
For more information and details on how the Experiential Education Office can help you, click here.
Enrollment and Placement Process
This is a 4 step process which includes the following:
Experiential Programs
Continued: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
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