Experiential Learning
Experience is the key that unlocks your future!

Experiential Learning is an excellent opportunity for students to gain real-world experience while still enrolled in school. Experiential Learning incorporates classroom learning with real world experience, provides students with work experience, and improves their post-graduating job prospects. The Experiential Learning Program also teaches valuable job-search skills like resume writing and interviewing techniques. Below are some of the Experiential Learning options we have available.

Want to learn more about Experiential Learning? The First Step is to Attend One of Our NinerJobNet Orientation Sessions.

The Options:

• Cooperative Education
  • Cooperative Education Program Salary Report 2001
• 49erships & Service Learning 49erships
  
• Internships
• Other Experiential Learning Options
• A Sample of Participating Employers
• How to Participate in These Programs
• Applications & Procedures
• Intern Housing Information
  

Cooperative Education

What is Cooperative Education (Co-op)?

• A career-related educational program to help students gain experience before they graduate.
• Available to students in the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, and Engineering.
• A paid work experience in a professional setting.
• Students may work alternate full-time semesters (Sept.-Dec., Jan.-May, May-Aug.) of work with full-time semesters of school; two back-to-back full-time semesters of work; or parallel part-time semesters of work with part-time semesters of school. (Engineering and Engineering Technology students must participate in alternate or back-to-back schedules; Computer Science students must participate in alternate schedule only)
  (Engineering students may earn 1 complete year towards their professional license.)

Student Eligibility Requirements:

• Student must be in good University standing.
• Students must have a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA and full-time student status.
• Students usually begin in their Junior year; however, Engineering and Computer Science students begin during their Sophomore year.
• Transfer students must complete 12 credit hours at UNC Charlotte prior to co-op application.
• Students must commit: 2-3 Alternating semesters; 3 Parallel semesters; or 2 Back-to-Back semesters. (Students in the College of Engineering MUST commit to complete 3 alternating semesters; Computer Science students need only 2 alternating semesters.)

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What is a 49ership?

• A non-credit internship experience lasting one semester and sponsored by the University Career Center.
• A career-related educational program to help students gain experience before graduation.
• Fall and spring participation is part-time; summer opportunities are either part-time or full-time.
• May be paid or unpaid opportunities, but the Fair Employment Act should be considered

What is a Service Learning 49ership?

• A non-credit internship experience with a nonprofit or government agency lasting one semester and sponsored by the University Career Center.
• A career-related educational program to help students gain experience before graduation.
• Fall and spring participation is part-time; summer opportunities are either part-time or full-time.
• May be paid or unpaid opportunities, but the Fair Employment Act should be considered

Student Eligibility Requirements

• Student must commit to work a minimum of 80 hours over 5 weeks in a given semester.
• Students must have a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and full-time student status.
• Current undergraduate or graduate status and in good University standing.
• Students must have completed freshman-level courses.
• Transfer students must have completed 12 undergraduate credit hours or 6 graduate credit hours at UNC Charlotte prior to application.

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What is an Internship?

• A career related work experience that provides students an opportunity to gain experience before they graduate while earning credit hours.
• Check with academic departments for availability

Student Eligibility Requirements

• Students should check directly with their department.

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Other Experiential Learning Options

Nationally Established Internship Program

• Available to All majors
• The Career Resource Collection provides valuable leads when searching for internships.
• National Intern Programs send their literature to UNC Charlotte to recruit many types of majors, but students apply on their own.
• Examples: YMCA, Amnesty International, The Committee for Economic Development.
• Professional Staff will provide assistance.

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A Sample of Participating Employers

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How to Participate in These Programs

• Attend an Experiential Learning Information Session to receive more information and an application.
• Complete and return the application materials to the University Career Center.
• Graduate students in the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Business Administration may apply for participation in Co-op and 49ership Programs. Graduate Students in the College of Engineering may only apply for participation in the 49ership program.

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