Co-ops vs. Interns

Co-ops and internships go by various definitions depending on the nature of the educational institution.

Co-op tends to be a paid, supervised, meaningful work assignment whereby students regularly combine classroom study with work "tours" as they pursue their education.

Internships are usually more exploratory in nature; they may be a short-term, one-time projects or longer work periods, paid or unpaid.

Both co-ops and internships may be part- or full-time, with or without the choice for academic credit, and either a mandatory or optional part of the academic plan depending on individual university guidelines.

No matter what the definition, at SJSU a successful co-op or internship program is a partnership between the organization, the student and the university.