FAQ

What is Cooperative Education?
"Co-op” is a program designed to allow students to combine professional work experience with academic training. Participating students alternate periods of work with semesters of study. Or, the other option is that students work part-time (usually 15-20 hours per week) while attending a regular classroom schedule, Parallel Option.

What is Internship?
“Intern” is a program designed to provide students with career-related work experience, usually on a one-time-only basis.

What is Externship?
“Extern”, established by the SIU Alumni Association in 1984, is an award-winning program that places SIU’s top students with sponsors for a learning (job shadowing) experience over Spring Break of each year. Applications from both students and sponsors are taken from the middle of October through the middle of November. Student applicants are interviewed and matched with the appropriate Extern opportunity in December. Student will Extern at the sponsoring company for 5 days, Monday - Friday, in March.

Why Should I Participate ?

• $$$ -- Salaries earned by Co-op or Intern students are comparable with entry-level engineering salaries.
• Many companies hire their Co-op and Intern students after graduation.
• Gain professional experience.
• Clarify and confirm career choices. Reinforce the value and relevance of classroom knowledge. Theory becomes practice!
• Approximately 52% of extern participants are offered future, full-time employment or an internship position.

How Do I Participate?
To Get Started - Stop by the Cooperative Education Office located in the Engineering building, room D-125, and bring a copy of your resume for review.

When Can I Participate?
Co-op or Internship
To be eligible for full-time work with an employer during the Spring or Fall semesters, and be on an approved leave of absence from the College, participating students must be a 2nd semester sophomore or above, completed at least one semester at SIUC, and, have a favorable academic standing.

(Parallel Option) To be eligible for part-time work (usually 15-20 hours per week) while attending a regular classroom schedule, participating students must have and maintain a favorable academic standing.

Externship
To participate in the Extern Program, students must:

• meet a minimum GPA requirement
• be an undergraduate with at least 56 credit hours
• be enrolled at SIUC for both fall and spring semesters
• satisfy an extensive application process
• complete a screening interview
• contact the sponsor prior to the externship
• attend the extern recognition ceremony after returning to campus