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ORIENTATION
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD)
Part of supporting a college student is letting them find their own path in career interests. The
first and second years of college are great times for students to start exploring career interests and
building the competencies employers and graduate and professional schools are seeking. For more
information about these competencies, visit
clemson.edu/career/core .Clemson has an abundance of
opportunities to gain experience in various careers through cooperative education and internships.
Cooperative Education Program
The university’s Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) is an academic-engaged learning program
that provides students with opportunities to learn and work under mentors in their fields of study.
Companies in these co-op assignments, which involve more than one rotation, employ students
full-time. Co-op assignments add a contextual dimension to the college curriculum, and students
are challenged to think critically and to solve problems creatively as they engage in projects within
the work setting. Through this program, companies serve as teaching partners of the university, and
the co-op experience becomes an integral part of the student’s education. The student’s experience
is closely monitored by the program’s academic staff throughout their participation. Cooperative
Education, as the term implies, represents a collaborative effort between the university and
participating companies.
Students may qualify for the co-op program after satisfactorily completing 30 credit hours of
coursework and declaring their major. Transfer students may
qualify after one semester of coursework at the university.
Students normally enter the program as sophomores
or juniors and complete two to five rotations in a co-op
assignment. Students should enter the program and begin
the matching process in the semester prior to the one in
which they want to do their first rotation.
Off-campus and International Internships
An internship is a form of experiential learning that
integrates classroom knowledge with career-related work
experience. Internships can be a vital link between college
majors and the exploration of professional opportunities.
Students are able to participate in a domestic internship
on or off campus, as well as internationally. Specific
requirements will vary depending on the type of internship
and the student’s major. Internships are typically offered
for a specific period of time during the spring or fall semester (14–16 weeks) or during the summer
(10–14 weeks). Students are strongly advised to begin their search at least four to six months in
advance. Students are also advised to attend a workshop, contact their department or visit with
a career counselor at the beginning of each semester.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Encourage your student to develop a
resume and make an appointment with
a career counselor for feedback.