When he learned that he had a 2008 summer internship at Honeywell’s Imaging and Mobility Division in Skaneateles Falls, N.Y., Patrick Chevier '10 knew he would be at least somewhat involved in global supply chain operations. But he had no idea how valuable, interesting and satisfying that three-month experience would turn out.

Read more about Patrick's story.

A Clarkson education emphasizes real-world experiences; the co-op and internship programs build on that concept.  Co-ops and internships are two commonly accepted ways to fulfill the professional experience requirement for all students.  All available co-op and internship opportunities are made available to students through KnightLink.

Cooperative Education:
In the Cooperative Education Program (co-op), students leave the classroom for a semester (and usually a summer as well) and go to work for a company - putting classroom studies to use in a productive work environment. Students build and refine their technical and business skills as young professionals. They also get to test drive a company, helping them determine which career paths are right for them.  Co-ops typically occur from May to December or January to August, allowing flexibility in scheduling for the employer and student.

The decision to go co-op is an experience important for most students and it pays off throughout your academic and professional career. In recent years, the trend in business and industry is to hire entry-level employees from the pool of students who have worked in a co-op with the company.  Remember that for a company, a co-op experience is comparable to an 6 to 9-month interview. By the end of the co-op, company personnel will be familiar with your personality, work habits and strengths as a young professional.  If you do a good job, you may leave with an invitation to work for the company as a full-time employee upon graduation. Regardless of the benefits, it is a great experience!

Internships:
The internship program provides students the opportunity to spend a summer gaining experience in their field. Occasionally there are semester internships for academic credits which take place while students are taking their classes at Clarkson.

It is really only common sense. The best place to get real-world professional experience is in the real world.