Internship or Co-op?

While both internships and co-ops are hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students, understanding their differences will allow you to create a more strategic recruitment plan for your organization.

Internships

• available to students with at least 15 hours of USC coursework and a minimum GPA of 2.5
• usually only one semester long
• available year-round, on a full-time or part-time basis
• must be paid if the employer is a for-profit organization 

Co-ops

• available to students with at least 15 hours of USC coursework and a minimum GPA of 2.5
• usually 2-3 semesters long
• must be paid if the employer is a for-profit organization 
• available year-round, on a full-time or part-time basis:
  • Parallel: work while attending school, 20 hrs/week for three consecutive semesters
  • Alternating: alternate between a semester of full-time school and a semester of full-time work (40 hrs/week). Students are required to work at least two semesters, but this provides some flexibility to live and work in other parts of the country.
    
    

Carolina Internship Program and Co-op Program

The Carolina Internship Program (CIP) and Co-op Program connects students and employers through the facilitation of internship and co-op opportunities. Our programs provide the structure and support needed to ensure that both the employer and student have a valuable experience.

To participate in the program, employers must:

Expand allReview, sign and email agreement.

The Employer Agreement [pdf] does not obligate an organization to hire a student through the program, but outlines employer eligibility requirements and details of the program structure.

Please e-mail a copy of the signed agreement to:
Erin Mullen, Asisstant Director of Experiential Education 
erin.mullen@sc.edu

Register for a Handshake account and post the internship or co-op position.

How to Create a Handshake Account

1. On the Handshake login screen, click on the "Sign up for an Account" link.

2. If you are a new employer or contact, your Handshake profile will be reviewed and approved within 72 hours.

Review and interview candidates.

This process is up to the discretion of each employer. If you are interested in conducting your interviews on campus, please contact Derrin Perkins at perkinda@mailbox.sc.edu. 

Hire a USC student.

Once the internship/co-op position has been accepted by the student, employers should prompt students to report their experience in Handshake.