Co-ops and Internships
The engineering cooperative education/internship programs combine classroom studies with supervised work experiences. Students are employed by industry, business, and government organizations in positions related to their major field of study. Positions may be located in Ames, in the Midwest, nationally, or internationally. Cooperative education/internships blend theory and practical work experience.
The ECpE department strongly encourages students to do summer work, internships, or co-ops while they are seeking their BS degree. This gives the student practical experience in the field, which is good for both academic reasons and professional goals.
More Information on This Site
More Information on Other Sites
Employment Acceptance Form (.pdf, Engineering Career Services site)
What Do Students Have to Say?
"I had a summer internship at Honeywell, located in Minnesota, and my experience there was invaluable. I was able to apply my engineering skills I acquired in the classroom to real-life situations, and in return I received the experience of working at a major corporation. I was given the responsibility of developing embedded test software for one of Honeywell's major projects, and I was able to complete my task because of what I have learned in my courses at ISU. I also received an incredible amount of knowledge throughout the summer. I learned about the importance of communication and teamwork skills, and how they are an essential part of being successful, no matter what you are doing. I also developed my problem solving and time management skills, which have carried over and helped me in all aspects of my life. My experience as an intern was awesome. I got the opportunity to work with professionals in my field, as well as other students, and what I received in return was more than I could have imagined."
Greg Straka - Senior in Computer Engineering, Spring 2004
"I have been given a couple of opportunities for internships. My first experience was with Lockheed Martin in Eagan, MN. I was hired to be a test engineer, but ended up working on diagnostics code. My second opportunity was with IBM in Austin, TX, where I worked testing one of the lines of servers. My experiences have helped me to learn the ins and outs of the working world, and they have also helped me to determine what I want to be doing when I actually graduate. I am very thankful for the opportunities that Career Services has helped me to have."
Tiffany Schweer - Senior in Computer Engineering, Spring 2004
How Does it Work?
Students on an official Iowa State sanctioned co-op or internship are registered for an ISU class and maintain full-time student status. You do not pay any tuition or fees, and your employer pays you for your work. A internship is generally a semester and a summer, a co-op consists of two alternating semesters and a summer, and a summer work period usually lasts about ten weeks during summer break. See the Engineering Career Services website for more information on the details of these various experiences.
How Do I Start?
It starts with you. You are responsible for understanding the rules of Engineering Career Services located on their Cooperative Education, Internships, and Summer Programs page, as well as hunting for that job position. To participate in the program, students are expected to maintain a satisfactory academic and disciplinary record while attending classes at the university and a satisfactory work record while employed. Refer to the following table for a quick summary:
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Start early. Some companies establish closing dates for summer applications as early as January 1, while others take applications through May. Investigate your job options and opportunities, selecting likely jobs and companies. ECMS Online and the Career Fair are great resources to use in your search. If you are considering working abroad, contact the International Programs office. |
| 2 | Update (or create) your resume, and send it out to selected companies. |
| 3 | Conduct polite contacts as necessary. Hopefully during this stage you will be invited to interview, perhaps more than once. Optimally you will receive an offer. |
| 4 | Accept the job offer, if desired. Be aware that some companies may send out an offer two days before classes start for the next semester, or operating budgets dictate a hiring freeze after you have been interviewed. The best thing you can do is to be flexible and prepared. |
| 5 | Verify the start date, salary, and supervisor information at a minimum. You will need these details later. You should also make sure you are aware of other aspects of employment, such as benefits and insurance coverage. |
Taking Care of ISU Business
Once you have received an offer and have decided to accept, complete the following tasks:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Complete the appropriate fields on the Employment Acceptance Form (EAF), located on the Engineering Career Services website. You will need to print this form. |
| 2 | Read the College of Engineering Co-op/Intern/Summer Work Checklist available on the ECS website. Make sure to read it carefully and to follow all applicable steps. |
| 3 | Get your advisor's approval and signature on the EAF. The advisor checks to confirm that you are an ISU engineering student and that you did not accept the position while on temporary enrollment. |
| 4 | Take the EAF form to Engineering Career Services. |
| 5 | Sign the employment agreement with the company. Once you have done this and ECS approves the EAF, ECS will notify the classification office to register you for the appropriate class. |
Taking Classes While on an Internship or Co-op
Engineering generally discourages students from taking courses if you are involved in a full-time work experience, but taking one or two classes may be acceptable. Please discuss any plans to take classes during a work experience with your advisor.
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