Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College | The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs

Internships

Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)

INTA students who decide they want to intern with the same organization for at least four semesters during their time at Georgia Tech should consider enrolling in the Co-op Program. Although the Co-op Program is mainly composed of engineering students, several INTA students participate in the Co-op Program every year. Co-op placements for INTA students are usually limited because employers attractive to INTA students often do not offer co-op programs. Additionally, INTA students often do not want to commit to four semesters with one organization. Most INTA students want to have several unique internship experiences, possibly one internship with a media organization, another internship with a think tank or government agency, and a third internship with a business.

Professional Internship Program

Typically more attractive to INTA students is the Professional Internship Program. The benefits of the Professional Internship Program are identical to those offered to co-op students, but the bonus is that participants are allowed to switch employers each intern semester. Should a student start in the Professional Internship Program and decide to stay with the same organization for multiple semesters, the student can easily switch to the Co-op Program.

INTA encourages students to explore both the Co-op Program and the Professional Internship Program to see which best fits their needs. Students interested in Co-op or the Professional Internship Program should contact the Office of Professional Practice to speak with the INTA co-op advisor or the professional internship coordinator. The Office can be reached at 404.894.3370. Students should also discuss internship possibilities with the INTA academic advisor.

Externships

Career Services' Extern Program is a volunteer "job shadowing" experience in which freshmen and sophomores spend one week during school vacation, in March (spring break), Summer, and/or December observing and working with professionals, investigating a career field, and experiencing a typical week on the job.

The Extern Program offers the chance to "test" a career without risk and without a semester-long commitment. This can also get your foot in the door for a competitive internship at a later date. Learn more about what professionals do by becoming an extern and spending a week with these professionals.

This experience is not for credit, but is rather designed to greatly benefit both you and your sponsor. The program will allow a student to clarify his/her career goals, and allow the sponsor to scrutinize interests, skills, and abilities of potential interns and/or employees. To learn more about the Extern Program, check out the GT Career Services' Web site.