Comparing Micro-Internships, Traditional Internships and UConn Co-ops
Review the similarities and differences between a micro-internship, a traditional internship, and a UConn Co-op. Determine which option makes the most sense for your needs.
| Micro-Internship | Traditional Internship | UConn Co-op | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student’s Purpose | To support an employer for a short-term project | Gain practical, part-time career-related experience | Gain practical, full-time career-related experience |
| Role/Position | Work is assigned which needs to be completed; may or may not be directly related to an academic pursuit | Involves projects or ongoing work that is purposeful and of a professional nature, often related to an academic pursuit, with no more than 25% clerical work | Completes assigned work and projects that are purposeful and of a professional nature |
| Modality | More commonly remote, though they may be in-person or hybrid | May be in-person, remote, or hybrid; most effective option for engagement and conversion, have shown to be in-person or hybrid | More commonly in-person, though they may be remote or hybrid |
| Supervision | Supervisor is available as needed, not a constant presence | Supervisor serves as the main point of contact for assignments and projects; supervisor is also expected to ensure that mentoring occurs | Supervisor serves as the main point of contact for assignments and projects; supervisor is also expected to ensure that mentoring occurs |
| Duration | A short-term contract project, about 2-4 weeks | A set number of weeks and/or months, as determined by the employer If the student is taking an internship course, there may be requirements connected to the duration | Lasts at least four months; undergraduate co-ops can be extended an additional cycle for up to 12 months |
| Timeline | Any time of year | During a semester or two, a summer, or a full year; can be extended if the role continues to evolve | Over the course of a full semester, may start or extend into summer or winter breaks |
| Hours | Range is 5 to 40 hours total time | Commonly 8-15 hours per week during the semester; up to 40 hours per week during the summer *When a student earns credit, there are correlations between hours/weeks and the amount of credit being awarded | Minimum: 35 hours per week Maximum: 50 hours per week Employer establishes hours within these criteria |
| Eligibility | Domestic undergraduate & graduate students | Undergraduate & graduate students; domestic and international | Undergraduate & graduate students; domestic and international |
| Compensation (determined by employer) | Typically paid unless non-profit or meet FLSA Guidelines | Typically paid unless non-profit or meet FLSA Guidelines | Must be paid or offer a stipend |
| Credit (Determined by educational institution, not the employer Credit is not compensation, and students pay for the tuition) | N/A | An employer may make it a requirement or request that a student take an internship course, or a student may choose to take an internship course independently | N/A for undergraduates Graduate students take a 3-credit course |
| Learning | Learning typically has occurred prior to the project being assigned and reflects the goals of the student and the outcomes expected by the employer | Learning reflects the student’s goals, the employer’s expected outcomes, and faculty member/internship coordinator’s requirements (if for academic credit); may address the NACE Core Career Competencies | Learning reflects the student’s goals and the employer’s expected outcomes; university has documentation for employer and student to complete; may address the NACE Core Career Competencies |
