Through Widener's co-op and internships programs and student employment opportunities, you'll develop real-world experience that will set your career in motion before you graduate.
Taking on an internship, co-op, or student job can be transformative, both personally and professionally. From career-defining experiences to the mentors you meet along the way, these experiences provide insight, expertise, and mentorship that will shape your future.
Why complete a co-op, internship, or student job?
Apply what you learned in the classroom—and then some. You’ll have opportunities to use the skills and knowledge you developed in class and, most importantly, to tackle unforeseen situations that only arise in the real world.
Try out your dream career before you commit. Work experience provides clarity on what really captures your interest—and what doesn’t. You might find that you enjoy a specific area within your field that you hadn’t considered, or that a totally different path is right for you. That wisdom only comes from firsthand experience!
Stand out in a crowded job market. When your resume highlights your proven familiarity with the technical and interpersonal skills employers value—-in other words, you'll be ready to hit the ground running from day one—you'll have a competitive advantage throughout your job search.
Build your professional network before you graduate. As you form connections with colleagues at your co-op, job, or internship site, you’ll benefit from mentors who can offer guidance when you land your first role—and throughout your career.
Explore the Co-Op Program
Co-op is full-time, paid work experience available to business, engineering, and computer science students. Our co-op program has a wide network of employers across the Philadelphia region and beyond, so you can work with top-notch organizations near and far. Many employers even extend full-time job offers to co-op students after graduation!
Co-op is offered in a four-month and eight-month format. Depending on your program, you can choose to do both, thus gaining up to one year of paid work experience. The best part: you’ll still graduate on time, in four years. While on co-op, you do not pay tuition. You can choose to live on campus, at home, or travel.
Next Steps to Begin Your Co-Op Journey
Schedule an appointment with the Office of Career Design & Development. You'll discuss your goals, learn more about the co-op process, and figure out whether the program is right for you.
Complete the pre-co-op professional development program. We offer a summer-long professional development series before your first co-op that teaches everything from industry-level Excel training to perfecting those all-important oral and written communication skills.
Prepare for the co-op search process. You'll participate in resume review and a mock interview with employer or alumni volunteers, and benefit from unlimited access to your co-op advisor during the search.
When you return to campus after your co-op, you'll engage in reflection alongside peers and faculty, as you begin the important process of translating all you've learned in the workplace back to the classroom.
You can choose to participate in 4- or 8-month co-op cycles. Engineering and business majors can choose a combination of both to gain up to 12 months of work experience. Computer science majors can select either a 4-month or 8-month co-op. You have the flexibility to create your own co-op schedule. The table below offers a suggested schedule, depending on the academic year you choose to work:
Summer
Fall
Spring
First-Year
Study
Study
Sophomore
Study
Work
Study
Junior
Study
Study
Work
Senior
Work
Study
Study
Plan Your Internship
Internships typically last a semester, can be full or part time, and are often eligible to count as court credit. Because of their flexibility, you can pursue multiple internships throughout your time at Widener—in fact, we encourage it!
Find Internship Opportunities
Widener Internships are coordinated through academic departments. Professors within your major and advisors from the Office of Career Design & Development can connect you to an extensive network of local, regional, and national partners.
Worried you'll have to decide between a career-building experience you're passionate about and one that earns an income? College of Arts & Sciences students interested in pursuing an internship are encouraged to apply for financial assistance through the Experience MORE! program.
If selected as an awardee, you’ll receive a stipend to subsidize your work at an unpaid or underpaid internship, meaning you can get both the experience and the paycheck. You’ll also get help honing your cover letter, nailing your interview, and landing an internship that will set you apart with real-world work experience.
Recent internship sites include:
Philadelphia Union
Museum of Arts & Sciences (Smithsonian affiliate)
Delaware County Office of Sustainability
Food Research & Action Center
New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice
Delaware County Office of the Public Defender
United Health Services of Delaware
Work at Widener
On-campus roles are great for getting involved in the community and developing skills that will prepare you to apply for competitive co-op and internship positions further into your college career.
Federal Work Study
Some students are eligible to earn extra funds through the federal work-study program as part of their financial aid offer.
You may work up to 20 hours per week during any week in which classes are held.
You'll be paid biweekly at a rate of at least the current minimum wage.
Actual earnings will depend on the number of hours worked and the wage rate, but may not exceed the maximum eligibility amount determined by Financial Aid Services as part of your financial aid offer.
Direct University Employment
University employment may also be available if you are not eligible for work-study employment. You'll be paid biweekly at a rate of at least the current minimum wage.
Handshake: Widener University's Job Board
Through Handshake, you'll view listings of available federal work-study and direct university employment opportunities.
Proud to be part of the Pride? Meet with prospective students and their families to tour campus and share what you love about your Widener experience.
Student Affairs C.R.E.W. Member
C.R.E.W. members create memorable experiences for incoming students and are some of the most friendly and enthusiastic people on campus!
Campus Photographer & Videographer
University Relations and Student Engagement are always looking for students who are skilled behind the lens. Who knows, maybe your work could end up in our next marketing piece!
Library Assistant
(Shhh...) Prefer a quieter work setting? The Wolfgram Library has various employment opportunities for students.
Pride Recreation Center Assistant
From the check-in desk to helping facilitate intramural sports, the rec center has many engaging ways for students to work.
Graphic Designer
Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite and want to strut your Photoshop stuff? University Relations loves working with students to develop their skills.
IT & Computer Lab Assistant
Know a thing or two about electronics? Maybe helping the IT team or supervising a computer lab is a good fit for you.
Widener Fund Ambassador
Want to help spread the word about Widener? The Widener Fund team makes connections with alumni and other donors.
Tap into the New Careers by Design Canvas Course
The free, not-for-credit Careers by Design Canvas course has modules that cover topics from resume building and interviewing tips to salary negotiation and more. It also features the Career Impact Communities (CIC) module to help you broaden your thinking around career possibilities. CICs are broken down by major and industry and includes resume examples, videos, industry-specific job boards, and faculty experts you can contact for assistance.
Hear from your peers about their co-ops and internships.
Being able to have these internships and experiences outside of the classroom makes me feel happy because not only am I able to build connections, but I’m getting experience and understanding with the career that I want.
I had a lot of hands-on experiences [during my internship] where I would go out and interview either experts in a particular field or leadership at different parks and at different sustainability initiatives throughout the county.
After my eight-month internship at Boeing, I spent three months interning in Finance System Integration, which led to a full-time offer after I graduated. The knowledge I gained from Widener gave me the confidence to take on critical projects and succeed.
Every study abroad trip, every internship opportunity, every volunteer event, every class is contributing to me not only being a better person, but better in business. The world of business today requires us to be globally active.
