Getting Started with Internships & Co-ops
Program Information
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How to Find an Internship or Co-op Position
The best way to find a position is to log into Handshake and complete your profile. Look at opportunities under “Jobs” and submit your resume if you meet the qualifications. You can also find an internship on your own without using Handshake. As long as you meet the academic requirements, you may be able to count that job for class credit.
Are you an international student applying for internship/co-op credit?
In the Handshake application, please respond appropriately to this specific question, and follow up with International Student and Scholar Services by contacting ISSS@kennesaw.edu to learn about the CPT/OPT process.
Looking for an internship abroad?
Contact the Education Abroad (educationabroad@kennesaw.edu) office before accepting an internship offer abroad. You can search for these internships under the "Jobs" tab in Handshake, GoAbroad.com, and GoOverseas.com.
If you already have a job that you feel qualifies as a co–op or internship, review the qualifications for academic credit that are specific to your major on the left side of this page. All positions have to be approved through the Department of Career Planning & Development.
NOTE: KSU does not give retroactive credit.
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Costs of Internship/Co-op Courses
All internship and co-op courses are tuition and fee-bearing for-credit academic courses, except for COOP 2000 and ENGR 3398, as these are non-credit/audit courses with no academic requirements or tuition costs. A breakdown of tuition and fees based on the amount of credit hours taken is linked here.
Under new federal guidelines, federal student loans being used to pay tuition will only be applied to those utilized and/or required in your course program of study. Courses that are not eligible to be paid with federal student loans will be flagged in DegreeWorks and students will be notified.Please read the Course Program of Study and Awarding Policy by KSU Financial Aid in full prior to registering for an internship or co-op.
At this time COOP 2000 and ENGR 3398 are flagged as ineligible for federal student aid. However, there are not tuition costs associated with either of these courses as they are not credit-bearing. -
Internship VS. Co-opAll internship and co-op students and their supervisors should read this document to ensure they comprehend the policies and expectations of participating in and facilitating internship and co-op experiences.
Cooperative Education (Co-op) - Students work for multiple semesters with the same company in positions that provide experience directly related to their academic majors. Students may receive academic credit or audit credit for participation, and they must be paid a wage or alternative form of compensation (e.g. commuting expenses, meals, etc.).- Position is paid and full–time (40 hours per week); full-time enrollment during school terms between work terms is highly encouraged.
- Sophomores, juniors, seniors, and students in graduate school with a declared eligible major, at least 30 completed credit hours, and a 2.50 KSU GPA are eligible to participate.
- Must have completed one semester at KSU prior to beginning an intern or co-op position.
- Must attend a cooperative education (co-op) and internship workshop (either in person or online).
- Summer semester may be utilized in the co-op rotation schedule, but is not a required semester.
Internships - Employment that closely relates to the student’s major and is usually one semester in length. Students may receive academic credit for their participation and the position may be paid or unpaid.
- The internship may be part–time or full–time, and is available to eligible juniors, seniors, and graduate students with a declared major.
- Students must have a KSU GPA to participate in an internship (transfer students cannot participate in their first semester).
- GPA and semester hour requirements vary by major.
For questions or to learn more about internship/co-op options for your major, we recommend you set up an appointment with your Career & Internship Advisor.
How to find & obtain an internship or co-op
