Cooperative education and internship experiences are a great way for students to take their marketing education to the next level. These experiences provide opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge gained through coursework to marketing-related projects in the business setting.  

An added benefit is the impact on salaries for those who have participated in an internship or cooperative education program. According to the University of North Dakota’s 2010-2011 Employment Survey of 2008-2009 Graduates done by the Office of Institutional Research, the participants of these programs reported an average salary higher than those who did not participate in such programs. On average, those who participated in an internship or co-op earned $3,650 more than those who didn’t participate in such activity while at UND.

The Department of Marketing makes a distinction between the cooperative education (MRKT 397) and internship (MRKT 497) experiences based on student qualifications and the opportunity offered by the employer.

Co-op Experiences

For the co-op, the student must have a GPA of at least 2.5, completed MRKT 305 (Marketing Foundations), and the work situation should provide the student with the opportunity to assist with marketing activities and understand the role of marketing for that company/organization.  It must also be a paid experience. 

Internship Experiences

Qualifications and expectations are raised for the internship.  The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.75, completed 12 credits of Marketing (to include MRKT 305), and have the opportunity to create/develop/plan marketing activities and hopefully because of timeline, follow through with implementation and evaluation.  The experience can be either paid or non-paid.   

For both types of experiences, students must work at least 70 hours for each credit.  Generally students take the courses for three (3) credits.  Only three credits of either the co-op or internship will count as a Marketing elective but students may take both for up to eight (8) credits; the additional credits can be used as general business electives.  Most students do local internships during Fall and Spring semesters but take advantage of other opportunities during the Summer, including international internships.  Click Here for Internships Opportunities

List of Companies used for recent internships