Applying The Rigors Of Internship Principles To A Successful Co Op Design

The major purpose of an internship is to develop an individual’s occupational competence by application of theoretical knowledge attained through successful completion of course work which is related to the individual’s profession. An internship provides a link between theory and practice, and gives an individual a first-hand experience of involvement in real jobs. Problem-solving skills are enhanced during the course of internship, and a much clearer picture of the profession develops. While there is confusion among educators between cooperative education (co-op), internship, and the work experience, they all tend to accomplish the same, which in essence is providing the student appropriate occupational experiences. Both internship and cooperative educational initiatives serve as pathways for a student to apply and test his learning attained in school. This paper addresses the conceptual design of co-ops that has served the interests of students at Missouri Western well over the last fifteen years. Input from local industry is discussed, and suggestions for improvement of co-op design are made.