Co-op can be divided into two sections:

Looking for an Internship

• Unlike other courses that are very structured, co-op is a process of self-examination, determining what types of work interest students, looking for positions that match their skill level and applying for many positions. It requires a lot of work and there are no easy answers.
• The co-op coordinator will maintain a list of available internships. However, students should not rely upon this file as their only source for internship opportunities. Students are responsible for their securing their own internships, as the search process will prepare them to conduct their own job search when they graduate from NOVA. The search for internships and the internship itself are equal parts of the learning process.
• The entire process of securing an internship may take one to six months.
• Students must be mature and self-directed learners, be able to conduct their own job searches, accept the fact that it takes time and understand that there might be disappointments of not being chosen for certain positions. There are no quick fixes to finding an internship and the only answer to finding a position is the student’s persistence.
• The Co-Op Office will not register students for any internship that is located outside the DC, MD or VA area. The office will maintain student files for the semester in which the student submitted an application. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Co-Op Office in writing that they want to extend their internship application to another semester.
• The Co-Op Office will not assist students who want to participate in internships without registering for the co-op course.

Enrolling in the Co-Op Course

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents who meet all the eligibility requirements may complete a maximum of 10 credits of co-op credit over a period of three semesters (i.e., a student could register for two semesters of 3 credits each and a third semester of 4 credits). Each co-op is treated as an individual course. Therefore, each co-op must contain a new set of responsibilities and learning objectives that are different from any co-op the student has previously completed. Students will also have a different set of academic assignments for each co-op.
• Once students find an internship, the co-op coordinator will determine if the position is directly related to their major. This review process requires at least one week. There are times when these positions are not approved. Thus, students (especially F-1 students) are advised to register for 12 credits and if the internship is approved, they can drop one of their courses and take the internship, provided that they have received permission by the International Student Center to engage in CPT.
• Once the student has submitted their objectives and the contract has been signed, students will be required to meet with an assigned faculty member and complete assignments as designated by the faculty member.
• Employers will be asked to evaluate students and this evaluation will be incorporated into their final grade.