About Co-ops & Internships
Illinois Tech’s enhanced Cooperative Education Program transforms traditional internship experiences through exclusive employer partnerships and structured professional development pathways that prepare students for premium placement opportunities. Students who complete our comprehensive preparatory process gain access to specialized co-op portals and can earn degree designations, ensuring they graduate with verified experience and competitive advantage in today’s job market.
Enhanced Program Foundation
Illinois Tech has transformed its cooperative education program into a comprehensive strategic initiative following best practices from leading institutions nationwide. This enhanced approach creates unique value for both students and employers, bridging academic learning with professional success.
Exclusive Employer Partnerships
Formal agreements with select partner organizations provide enhanced services through dedicated co-op portals and our Symplicity management platform. The completion of pathways ensures exclusive visibility for qualified candidates, creating premium placement opportunities with top companies.
Professional Development Pathways
Students complete a structured preparatory process to access exclusive co-op opportunities from partner organizations. Requirements include resume approval, coaching sessions, career fair attendance, and C-Suite professional development workshops, ensuring students maximize their cooperative education experience.
Academic Recognition & Career Outcomes
Students completing three co-op terms receive special degree designations (e.g., “Bachelor’s of Engineering in Electrical Engineering w/ Co-op Completion”). Graduate students earn recognition through 1-2 terms, with some colleges exploring co-op requirements for graduation.
Understanding Co-ops & Internships: Essential Information for Success
Co-ops & Internships help you:
• Apply skills in real-world settings
• Build industry connections leading to job offers
• Develop professional workplace skills
• Gain career path clarity
Ready to gain your competitive edge? Browse opportunities below or contact Career Services at careerservices@iit.edu.
Internship vs. Co-op: What’s the Difference?
Note: Employers may use these terms interchangeably, but here’s how Illinois Tech defines them:
Internship:
• One semester or summer experience
• Paid or unpaid with varying responsibilities
• Generally not tied to academic requirements
Co-op (Cooperative Education):
• Multi-semester experience with increasing responsibility
• Usually paid through formalized university-employer partnerships
• Tied to academic prerequisites and requirements
Both experiences:
• Eligible for administrative credits
• Appear on official transcripts through our experiential learning application process
Both of these experiences are eligible for administrative credits and, when a student goes through our experiential learning application procedure, the experience will show up on the student’s official transcript.
Co-ops and Internships can be found in most places that full-time jobs can be found. We have two locations internally where we encourage you to apply:
Handshake: Our primary open access job posting site has hundreds of internships and co-op opportunities listed at any time
IL Tech Career Network: Starting in Fall 2024, this portal will be the primary location for company partners to post internships and co-ops. For students to access these experiences, they will be required to complete a series of professional development tasks and activities. These companies are the most likely to hire Illinois Tech students, so it is very much worth the effort to access these opportunities!
Students must enroll in academic courses each semester in the fall and spring to maintain full-time status and make progress toward their degrees, even if they are doing full-time experiences.
See the chart below that describes the differences between part-time and full-time experiences.
| Part-Time Experience | Full-Time Experience | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of hours a student can work per week | Up to 20 hours per week | 21-40 hours per week |
| Number of administrative credits given during the fall/spring terms | Undergraduates: 6 Graduates: 4.5 Internships that start after the drop/add date or end before the end of the semester do not receive administrative credits. | Undergraduates: 12 Graduates: 9 Internships that start after the drop/add date or end before the end of the semester do not receive administrative credits. |
| Number of administrative credits given during the summer term | Undergraduates: 4 Graduates: 3 | Undergraduates: 8 Graduates: 6 |
| Academic course requirements | Must be enrolled in at least 2 academic courses in addition to the part-time experience. During the summer, students who are not in their final semester do not need to be registered in any academic courses. Students in their final semester must be enrolled in at least one on-campus course. | Must be enrolled in at least 1 academic course in addition to the full-time experience. During the summer, students who are not in their final semester do not need to be registered in any academic courses. Students in their final semester must be enrolled in at least one on-campus course. |
Administrative credits allow students to maintain their full-time status but do not give academic credits toward a student’s degree program.
Students completing a co-op or internship in the final semester are not allowed to exclusively sign up for online coursework. They must have an on-campus presence to be eligible to do the co-op or internship experience.
Students who choose to do co-ops or internships with administrative credits must start their co-op or internship by the first working day after the drop/add date and cannot end any earlier than the last day of courses. Co-ops or Internships where administrative credits are not given offer more flexibility in terms of start and end dates.
During the summer term, students are not required to take academic courses.
- Graduate students cannot take summer courses concurrently with full-time co-ops or internships based on policies made by Graduate Academic Affairs. Students who have additional questions about this policy should contact Graduate Academic Affairs.
- Undergraduate students who are participating in a co-op or internship experience are allowed to take summer courses along with their full-time co-op or internship.
F-1 and J-1 students seeking to do experiential learning must obtain additional approval.
F-1 and J-1 students seeking to participate in experiential learning programs must secure additional authorization. F-1 students require Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization from the Office of Global Services, in addition to completing application forms for the Experiential Learning Office. J-1 students must obtain Academic Training work authorization, a process that also involves the Experiential Learning Office. Further information regarding both CPT and Academic Training is hyperlinked above.
Elevate Your Earnings with Proven Data: The Co-op & Internship Advantage.
Illinois Tech Insight: At Illinois Tech, experiential learning is transformative. Students who participate in internships or co-ops at Illinois Tech earn about $10,000 more in their first post-graduation job compared to those who don’t. We are committed to increasing those numbers through innovative strategies because we believe in the transformative power of experiential learning.
Elevate Your Opportunities: Beyond Traditional Education and Professional Experiences.
Illinois Tech Insight: At Illinois Tech, career readiness starts from day one. Our comprehensive Elevate Program ensures 100% of participating students graduate with verified professional experiences, credentials that employers recognize, and personalized career coaching throughout their four years. While other schools offer career services, we guarantee career preparation – transforming students into career-ready professionals who stand out in today’s competitive job market.
