All About Internships & Co-Ops

Everyone! Whether your major requires you to complete an internship or not, everyone should participate in at least one internship, co-op or experiential learning opportunity during their time at Eastern.

• Acquire real world work experience in a field of interest.
• Determine if your career choice is a good fit for you.
• Get an inside look at the industry/vocation you are pursuing.
• Practically apply skills and content knowledge in the work world.
• Develop and build connections, a.k.a. your network.
• Build out your resume and increase your employability factor.

• Start early! As soon as the summer following your first-year at Eastern.
• Consider completing multiple internships to gain more experience, grow your network and narrow your scope.
• Internships can be completed in any semester: fall, spring or summer.

• Pay:  Do you need to be paid, or can you take an unpaid position?
• Location:  Can you travel to your internship?  How far?  Do you have family or friends who could host you for the period of your internship?
• Industry/Function: Does the internship match or mirror you area of interest?
• Organization:  What size company are you looking for? What is their culture? Will you receive quality mentoring?
• Deadlines:  Competitive internships with well known companies generally have early application deadlines, sometimes up to a year in advance.  Government agencies frequently require extensive background checks that take time as well.
• GPA:  Some employers do have minimum GPA requirements, often requiring 3.0 or higher.

Visit our Search Tools page to get your search started!

What's the difference? Basically, one is unpaid while the other is paid.  Here's what you really need to know regarding the difference.

Academic Credit Internships

• When completing an internship for academic credit, it is important for you to work with your faculty advisor and academic department in completing the registration process.
• Internships completed in the Fall or Spring semester will not incur any additional tuition fees, provided you do not exceed a total of 18 credits for the semester.
• Summer internships for credit will incur tuition expenses. 
• Credits must be earned in the semester the internship is completed.

Note: Unpaid, non-credit internships are subject to scrutiny by the Department of Labor. When participating in an unpaid, non-credit internship, students are encouraged to ask if the employer is following guidelines in the Fair Labor Standards Act, to ensure liability compliance.

NACE Position Statement on U.S. Internships

Co-Ops (Paid Internships)

• Most paid internships do not qualify for academic credit.  You should check with your academic department regarding their policy.
• Paid internships may offer an hourly wage, salary, or stipend and could include housing, meals or a travel allowance.
• Register your Co-Op with the Center for Internships and Career Development to receive documentation of your experience on your official transcript!