• Must be admitted to UNA as a regular, degree-seeking student.
• Must have completed at least 24 semester hours toward a degree in progress at the University of North Alabama with a minimum UNA GPA of 2.5 (NOTE: Some majors may have broader or more stringent GPA requirements and/or more semester hours).
• BBA students must be formally admitted to the College of Business and Technology in order to participate in an internship (this does not include BSCS and BSIT students).
• Transfer students must have successfully completed one semester at UNA.

You are encouraged to seek employers that may be offering internships. One of many places to look is Symplicity.

1. Log in to Symplicity with your portal username/password.
2. Upload your resume (subject to approval).
3. Follow job application instructions.
4. Upon obtaining an internship offer, download the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will need to be signed by your  proposed employer.   This document outlines the responsibilities of the employer.  Download the MOU here. 
5. In Symplicity, select the Experiential Learning option on the left-hand menu.
6. Add New Experience.  For detailed instructions, click here.  
7. When completing the application, it’s essential that you select the appropriate internship type based on your major and, if applicable, international student status.
8. Upload the completed MOU as an attachment to your Experiential Learning Application.  International students will also need to attach a CPT Authorization Request Form (contact Sarah Stevens in UNA’s Office of International Affairs if you have questions).
9. Once you complete the above steps and submit your documentation in Symplicity, the system will initiate a workflow process for approval. The initial review / approval will be completed by the faculty chair in your department. 

**If you are not permitted to earn or do not choose to earn academic credit, you may still have the internship recognized by the University Interdisciplinary Program for no academic credit. (Must complete a minimum of 50 hours)

• You must work the minimum number of required hours in order to receive academic credit. Program hour requirements vary from a minimum of 150 hours (10 hours/week) to 480. You will be required to verify your hours worked.
• Follow the instructor’s syllabus as to the requirements for the internship class. The requirements may include submitting a Task Reporting Form every two weeks stating of how many hours you have worked, what tasks you have completed and what you have learned. You may be asked to complete a blog, write a weekly personal journal or a final reflective paper.
• Your employer/supervisor will be emailed an evaluation near the end of the term. They are asked to complete the evaluation based on their perception of your performance. It is your responsibility to see that your supervisor returns the evaluation form by the last day of class as determined by the Registrar’s Office. Your grade for the internship will be based on the evaluation. You will receive an Incomplete if it is not received.

• For a student to be considered eligible for the CO-OP program, they must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Student must maintain this to stay in the CO-OP program.
• Student must have completed at least 24 hours of study.
• Student must be under an unrestricted admission status. No academic or non-academic holds on account.
• Each semester a student works, they are required to register with the University as a cooperative education student.
• Transfer students from another college or university must complete one full semester at UNA and have at least 24 hours of cumulative college credit prior to applying.
• Transfer students expecting to continue in a current CO-OP must have documented CO-OP work experience from another accredited institution and will be considered on an individual basis.
• CO-OP is zero credit on the student's transcript with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
• During CO-OP work terms students are not eligible to receive financial aid unless the student is enrolled in a parallel CO-OP (Must be enrolled for 6 hours to receive aid).
• Student is considered full-time (alternating work semester) for purposes of health insurance, student loan deferment and priority registration.

• Alternating CO-OP: Student must have enough time remaining before graduation to do 3 work terms. Student should be a sophomore or junior and work alternating semesters so as to end up with a fall, spring and summer CO-OP. Student would work full time one semester and attend classes full time the following semester on a rotating schedule. Three rotations equaling 52 weeks of work experience. There is no allowance for consecutive work-only semesters. $45 fee payable to the UNA Business Office.
• Parallel CO-OP: Student would work no more than 20-25 hours per week and take a minimum of 6 course hours. Student must have enough time remaining before graduation to do 3 work terms. Student should be a sophomore or junior but would work alternating semesters so as to end up with a fall, spring and summer CO-OP. Three rotations equaling 52 weeks of work experience. $45 fee payable to the Business Office.
• Professional Practice: Student must have completed at least one semester (full-time) of coursework at the University. Option available to a student who has received a job opportunity requiring them to work full-time for an entire semester. Examples include Disney Program and Redstone Arsenal entities. $45 fee payable to the Business Office. Experience is for one semester.
• Graduate CO-OP: Student may apply for a graduate CO-OP if they have been unconditionally admitted to a graduate program and enrolled in coursework. $45 fee payable to the business office. Student must be able to complete 2 work terms.

The Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) provides students with part-time federal jobs during the school year or during the summer that do not have to be directly related to their major or career goals. The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) offers work experience directly related to a student's academic studies and requires commitments from the student, their school and the employing agency. Students may be eligible for permanent employment after completing their education and successfully meeting work requirements.

These programs may or may not require a 3 term rotation, but rather, are training programs designed to promote the student into permanent employment upon their graduation. This may also extend to the graduate level. Redstone entities hire students at various stages in their academic career and some may not have time left before graduation to work 3 rotations. For more information please go to:

https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads

You are required to have a resume in Symplicity. You are encouraged to seek employers that may be offering co-ops in Symplicity.

1. Log in to your account in Symplicity using your Portal login information.
2. Click on STUDENTS and REGISTER; upload your resume (subject to approval).
3. If the employer requires Letters of Recommendation, please submit to your Symplicity account as "Other Documents."
4. Visit the Business Office and pay the $45 fee. Bring receipt to the Career Center.
5. Upload and submit copy of your unofficial transcript into your Symplicity account. You may copy and paste your transcript from your UNA portal account into a Word document in order to upload.
6. Follow job application instructions.
7. Discuss financial aid eligibility and issues with Student Financial Services before accepting a work assignment.

Once CO-OP work assignment is obtained, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Student to complete and sign the following four forms. Follow the instructions on the forms. Forms to be completed in their entirety:

CO-OP Application
CO-OP Memo of Understanding

Step 2: Student must schedule an appointment with Career Center for the pre-work interview and must bring all signed forms. This interview includes job readiness training about what is expected of the student. If the student has employer required paperwork it will be completed at this time and submitted to the employer. Upon completion of this interview, the student would be permitted to register for COOP course thru Banner by the Career Center.

Step 3: Student registers in Banner.

Step 4: Visit the Business Office and pay the $45 fee. Take the receipt to the Career Center.

Step 5: At the end of the term Career Center requests Employer Evaluation (with the exception of the Professional Practice).

Step 6: Schedule and complete post-work interview on campus with Career Center office.

Step 7: A copy of transcripts is sent to the employer at the end of the term to verify GPA (if the employer required).

Please contact the Department of Foreign Languages for specific instructions regarding internship possibilities, to complete internship forms, to gain approval for an internship experience, and to ask any questions you may have about processes and procedures.  

• Agreement
• FL 496 Initiation Form
• FL 496 Supervisor Evaluation
• FL 496 Sample Syllabus
• Intern Report