Internships and Co-ops

• Experience first-hand what practicing chemists/chemical engineers do
• Earn money to finance education
• Potentially secure a full-time job offer before graduation
• Start professional career early
• Develop communication and teamwork skills in a professional setting
• Build and apply technical knowledge and skills
• Identify and refine career goals
• Receive higher pay and status after graduation

As you consider your education in Chemical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, we would like to take the opportunity to inform you of our Cooperative Education Program. The School of Chemical Sciences sponsors a thriving cooperative program. The word “cooperative” in this context means that three parties are participating and hold joint responsibility: the Student, the University, and the Employer.  An integral part of the program is the experience of working full time for a single employer during several different school terms. During the alternating school terms, students attend the University full time to complete their academic degree requirements. The total program involves extending the completion of the baccalaureate degree by no more than one calendar year.

Participating in the cooperative education program is indicated on the University of Illinois transcript by official registration in special courses. That is, while on each work assignment, the student is officially registered in the University of Illinois as a student participating in an off-campus program. Completion of a minimum of three work assignments at the same employer is recognized by a certificate issued by the School of Chemical Sciences.

Another major factor which students find attractive about cooperative education is the salary. Most cooperative students are paid a competitive salary during their work assignments, and are able to save enough to defray a portion of their school expenses. Additional benefits are offered by many employers, including relocation expense coverage, housing, and job offers upon graduation. In addition, students who participate in Cooperative Education opportunities may be eligible for the Becky Simon Cooperative Education scholarship upon returning to campus.

Interviews for cooperative education assignments are typically held in the fall semester, with some additional interviews during the spring semester. If you wish to discuss the program in more detail or express your interest in it, please make an appointment with Patricia Simpson, coordinator of the Cooperative Education Program in Chemical Sciences, 105 Noyes Lab. For help planning your academic program, please contact the SCS Advising Office.

Internships are different from Cooperative Education experiences, as we define them. An internship is a one-time work experience that is most commonly in the summer or sometimes during a semester. Undergraduates who plan to do an internship during a fall or spring semester are expected to register for Chemistry 295 or ChBE 210, as appropriate.  It is also possible for a student to have several internships with different employers, thus allowing a student to obtain multiple experiences in various industries.

Student interns are typically paid quite well. Companies may also provide additional benefits including relocation/housing expenses and potential job offers upon graduation.

Although some interviews for internship positions are held during the spring semester, most internships are quite competitive and thus positions typically fill early in the fall semester. Be sure to register with Handshake @ Illinois early in the fall if you are interested in completing an internship the following summer.