Real experience. Real life.
Our mission is to help students identify relevant quality work experiences to enrich their academic program of study with planned, progressive, and monitored work experiences. Since 1955, The Cooperative Education Program has been connecting students and employers for impactful hands-on experiences. Program options include formal Cooperative Education and Internship experiences. We are accredited through the Accreditation Council for Co-op & Internship (ACCI).
Within our program, a co-op is a 3-term commitment with the same employer while an internship is a one-term commitment with a company.
Program Requirements
Co-ops are open to all majors. Students will work full-time (32-40 hours per week) for 16 weeks minimum during fall/spring semesters and 10 weeks during summer semesters. As a freshman, students will need to complete two semesters at MSU and have a 2.5 GPA to be eligible to begin a co-op. For transfer students, students will need to complete one semester at MSU and have a 2.5 GPA.
Part-Time Internships are open to students of all majors. Students will work part-time (15-20 hours per week) for 16 weeks minimum during fall/spring semesters (or equivalent of 240 hours over a lower number of weeks) and 10 weeks (or equivalent of 150 hours over a lower number of weeks) during summer semesters. Students will register for EXL3100 and must have completed 24 semester hours with a 2.00 GPA.
Full-Time Internships are also open to all majors. Students will work full-time (32-40 hours per week) for 16 weeks minimum during fall/spring semesters (or equivalent of 512 hours minimum) and 10 weeks minimum during summer semesters (or equivalent of 320 hours minimum). Students will register for EXL3200 and must have completed 24 semester hours with a 2.00 GPA.
Interested in beginning a co-op or internship?
Join Our Mailing List
- Sign up to receive emails about recruiting events, interviews, workshops, and other resources designed to help you gain valuable career experience.
Set Up Your Connections Account
- Login to your Connections account at connections.msstate.edu using your MyState username and password
- Click on your initials in the top right corner of your homepage then select My Account
- Complete the Personal Information and Academic Profile categories
- Select Upload Your Resume to have your resume uploaded to your account to apply for jobs
Schedule A Visit
Have questions? Call our office at 662-325-3823 or stop by 335 McCain Hall to schedule an appointment or speak with a Co-op ambassador.
Tips For a Successful Semester
- Have your resume critiqued by our office in 335 McCain Hall or email it to us at coop@career.msstate.edu
- Look under Build Career Skills for tips on networking, career fair prep, and interviewing
- Check your email regularly for important news from the Co-op & Internship Office
- Plan to attend semester events listed below
Semester Events
Information Sessions are offered during early fall and spring semesters over one to two weeks with dates and times posted on the semester handout provided by the co-op office. Our career advisors will walk through setting up your Connections account, co-op and internship program requirements, and how to prepare for upcoming events.
This is a great opportunity to network with potential employers and learn more about the opportunities their company has to offer. This event is scheduled over three days during the fall and spring semesters and brings over 200 employers to campus.
Held during the fall and spring semester with prior interview sign-up for students. Typically, 25-30 employers attend this event and as many as 200 pre-screened students participate each semester. The event is popular for companies (engineering, automotive, banking, biotechnology, biomedical, government agencies, etc.) who are certain about their need for ongoing student talent and want to work directly with the Co-op and Internship Program to arrange the interviews they need.
Job postings and interviews are available during fall and spring semesters to employers that prefer to schedule individual campus dates. Job postings for these interviews can be found in your Connections account
