How to get involved:

Cooperative Education and Internships provide WSU students the opportunity to gain real-world, professional work experience related to their major. This allows students to connect their academic coursework with the professional world. Opportunities vary in length from one semester to multiple semesters and may be paid or unpaid. 

Academic Credit and Zero Credit options are available. (Zero Credit may receive a transcript notation.)

Local and National Employers vary in size from under 50 employees to the "big guys" with several thousand employees. Our employers cover a variety of industries, from big accounting firms and aircraft companies to smaller, nonprofit organizations. Employers work with most majors at WSU and are located in Wichita and across the country.

Steps to get started:

Step 1:

The Co-op & Internship Program requires students to meet certain academic standards set by each college. 

Barton School of Business
  • Contact Barton School Advising
  • *Graduate students* Please contact the Shocker Career Accelerator
    • Call (316) 978-3688 or email SCA@wichita.edu
College of Applied Studies
  • Contact the Shocker Career Accelerator
    • Call (316) 978-3688 or email SCA@wichita.edu
College of Engineering
College of Fine Arts
  • Contact the Shocker Career Accelerator
    • Call (316) 978-3688 or email SCA@wichita.edu
College of Health Professions
  • Contact the Shocker Career Accelerator
    • Call (316) 978-3688 or email SCA@wichita.edu
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

**For F1 Visa Students Only**

Obtain the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization form from the Office of International Education. Authorization for CPT is valid for one semester only, so the authorization must be renewed each semester. Bring the completed CPT form to the Shocker Career Accelerator (request an appointment) for signatures, and then take the signed form back to the Office of International Education.

Step 2:

Activate your profile on Handshake (wichitastate.joinhandshake.com). Use your shockers.wichita.edu email address and password to log in.

Step 3:

Call (316) 978-3688 for a job search appointment with a Shocker Career Accelerator staff member.

Step 4:

On Handshake, you can view employers, apply for co-op/internships, see upcoming career events, and more!

 


Degree Programs, Positions, Employers by College

Barton School of Business

Average Salary: $8 - $22/hour

Degree Programs
  • Accounting
  • Business
  • Business Analytics
  • Economics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Human Resource Management
  • Information Technology and Management Information Systems
  • International Business
  • Management
  • Management Science and Supply Chain Management
  • Marketing
  • Real Estate
Example Positions
  • Appraisal Assistant
  • Audit Intern
  • Financial Analyst
  • Grant Management Intern
  • Human Resources Intern
  • Marketing Research Assistant
  • Purchasing Intern
  • Recruiting Assistant
  • Special Events Assistant
  • Tax Associate
Sample Employers
  • AGH
  • AgVantis, Inc.
  • BKD, LLP
  • Consolidated Electric Distributors
  • Edward Jones
  • Ernst & Young
  • Kansas Humane Society
  • Koch Industries, Inc.
  • KCOE Isom
  • McCurdy Auction
College of Applied Studies

Average Salary: $9 - $12/hour

Degree Programs
  • Early Childhood Unified: Birth-Grade 3
  • PreK-12 Education
    • Art Education
    • Foreign Language Education
    • Music Education
    • Physical Education
  • Elementary Education K-6 Grade
  • Middle Level Education 5-8 Grade
    • English Language Arts
    • History Comprehensive
    • Mathematics
    • Science
  • Secondary Education 6-12 Grade
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Earth and Space Science
    • English Language Arts
    • History/Government
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
  • Athletic Training
  • Exercise Science
  • Sport Management
  • Workforce Leadership and Applied Learning
    • Education and Innovation
    • Emergency and Public Service Leadership
    • Hospitality Management
Example Positions
  • Paraeducator/Teaching Assistant
    • Math
    • Reading/Language Arts
    • Science
    • Social Studies
    • Foreign Language
    • Technology
    • Intervention Tutor
  • Sport Site Supervisor
  • Fitness Assistant
Sample Employers
  • Maize Public Schools
  • Wichita Public Schools
  • WSU Child Development Center
  • WSU Athletics
  • YMCA
College of Engineering

Average Salary: $9 - $22/hour

Degree Programs
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Applied Computing
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computing
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Engineering Management
  • Engineering Technology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering
Example Positions
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Manufacturing Intern
  • Networking
  • Operations Analyst
  • Quality Engineer
  • Software Development
  • Test Engineer
Sample Employers
  • Airbus
  • Bombardier Learjet
  • Building Controls & Services
  • Deloitte Consulting
  • Evergy
  • Lockheed Martin
  • NetApp
  • NIAR
  • Spirit AeroSystems
  • Textron Aviation
College of Fine Arts

Average Salary: $8 - $13/hour

Degree Programs
  • Acting for Digital Arts
  • Animation
  • Audio Production
  • Electronic Media
  • Filmmaking
  • Game Design
  • Graphic Design
Sample Employers
  • Disney
  • Envision
  • GoCreate
  • ICT - SOS
  • Kansas Humane Society
  • Kids in Training
  • Mathur Media Group
  • Sedgwick County Zoo
  • Ulrich Museum
  • Wichita Symphony Orchestra
College of Health Professions
The Shocker Career Accelerator provides career essential skills development for students in work-based opportunities majoring in Dental Hygiene, Health Management, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing, Aging Studies, and Physical Therapy. Health Professions majors may also work with their departments to acquire applied learning opportunities. The Shocker Career Accelerator hosts a robust career fair for the Health Professions students each year. We also provide mock interviews, resume reviews, cover letter development, and interest assessments. Communication Sciences & Disorders majors can co-op as a paraeducator or teaching assistant. 

 

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Average Salary: $8 - $12/hour

Degree Programs
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication
  • Criminal Justice
  • English
  • Geology
  • History
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
    • * Can work with students in other majors to find opportunities on a case-by-case basis.
Example Positions
  • Community Living Trainer
  • Community Support Worker
  • Corrections Worker
  • Court Room Monitor
  • Human Services Specialist
  • Investigative Intern
  • Lab Specialist
  • Legal Courier
  • Market Research Assistant
  • Mental Health Specialist
  • Production Assistant
  • Public Relations Intern
  • Special Events & Communication Intern
  • Youth Care Worker
Sample Employers
  • City of Wichita
  • Drug Enforcement Agency
  • Intrust Bank Arena
  • KAKE Channel 12
  • KWCH Channel 12
  • Mental Health Association
  • Mid-America Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  • Pando Initiative
  • Salvation Army
  • Tanganyika Wildlife Park
  • U.S. Marshals
  • Wichita Police Department