Compensation is usually required for co-ops but
3
may be optional for some intern programmes. Co-op students tend to work full-time, while interns
usually work part-time. Co-op students are therefore able to interview for positions at organizations
located some distance from the university. Additionally, an online search of university business
course catalogs indicated that co-op programs are heavily concentrated in engineering and other
manufacturing oriented and technical fields. Internships, on the other hand, generally encompass a
wider variety of academic disciplines and organizational settings. Academic credit and supervision
appear to be provided in both cooperative education and internship programs. However, whether
provided at the college or department level, the closeness of the academic supervision appears to be
less for co-ops than for interns (Gault et al., 2000). Given these often subtle distinctions between
co-op and intern programs, it is not surprising that universities sometimes use the terms
interchangeably. So while this study focuses exclusively on students enrolled in internships, the
findings are highly relevant for the co-op employment experience. For the remainder of this report,
the term “intern” will refer to co-op students, in addition to interns and placements.