INTERNSHIPS AND CO-OPS ARE KEY TO STUDENT SUCCESS

FIND AN INTERNSHIP OR CO-OP USING HANDSHAKE

Handshake is UA's online job and networking board where students can search for internships/co-ops, full-time/part-time jobs, and other experiential learning opportunities. Students can schedule appointments with Career Services Advisors and search and register for virtual and in-person networking events and career fairs.

Students can access Handshake on My Akron, Career Services & Student Employment's website, and the UA Mobile app.

EMPLOYERS

Career Services & Student Employment in the College of Business assists employers in connecting with UA students for opportunities through posting and promoting positions on Handshake, UA's online job and event board.

EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT WITH INTERNSHIPS AND CO-OPS

See below for information for both undergraduate and graduate students on registering an internship for credit or a co-op for Credit/No credit.

UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP COURSE REGISTRATION

The undergraduate internship course is a 3-credit-hour course, and students will be assessed the University tuition rate for those three credits.

For undergraduate internships to be eligible for credit there are 2 sets of requirements, eligibility of the internship and academic eligibility. First, to be eligible for credit the internship must:

1. Require at least 240 hours of work during the semester.
2. Be paid at least minimum wage.
3. Be simultaneously working the experience while enrolled in the course.

Second, students must be academically eligible for the internship credit. Those requirements vary by major and can be found here: https://www.uakron.edu/cba/internships/eligibility.dot.

Begin the process to enroll in the undergraduate 3-credit-hour internship course for your major by completing the Undergraduate Internship/Co-op Registration Form.

GRADUATE INTERNSHIP COURSE REGISTRATION

The graduate internship course is a 1-3-credit-hour course, and students will be assessed the University tuition rate for those credits. Graduate students are limited to internship opportunities which are reflected on transcripts as a Credit/No credit class. Students will be eligible for credit hours based on the number of hours worked within the semester they are enrolled, and that breakdown is the following:

• 1 Credit Hour = 80 – 159 hours worked
• 2 Credit Hours = 160 – 239 hours worked
• Credit Hours = 240+ hours worked

Graduate students must be in good academic standing to enroll in an internship course. Experiences must be worked simultaneously in the semester the student is enrolled.

Graduate students that register for the co-op course will be assessed a $55.00 course fee. For more information on graduate internship and co-op enrollment, contact the Internship Coordinator. Even if you do not want to earn course or co-op credit for the experience, you should still report all internships to the Internship Coordinator so that we can track engagement with the business community.

Begin the process to enroll in the graduate 3-credit hour internship course for your major by completing the Graduate Internship/Co-op Registration Form.

CO-OP COURSE REGISTRATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS

A co-op course is a 0-credit hour course that maintains a students' full-time status if a student is not enrolled in other courses. Co-op courses can help students retain scholarship awards, prevent student loans from entering repayment, and more.

To be enrolled in a co-op course, students must have a qualifying opportunity and meet the following criteria:

1. Accepted into their program of study within the College of Business.
2. Possess a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3 at the University and completed at least 9 credit hours at UA.

If you have questions about whether you should enroll in either the co-op course, internship course, or both courses, please contact your academic advisor or the Internship Coordinator.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

In addition to completing their respective Internship/Co-op Form for their program, international students in F-1 and J-1 status must receive work authorization before starting employment. F-1 student must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization and J-1 students must obtain Academic Training authorization. Questions about international student employment eligibility should be directed to the International Center at immigration@uakron.edu.