Cooperative Education & Internships

Cooperative internship education integrates work experience with academic study. Students are evaluated in a work environment which is related to their major, and receives credit for their work experience. Depending on the employer, you may also be paid for your cooperative internship work.

While most Kapiolani Community College (KCC) students participating in cooperative internships will work at businesses on Oahu, students in programs such as culinary arts and hospitality can also work on neighbor islands, on the mainland and even overseas. Please check with your department to learn more about work placements.

Students will receive between two to four credits per semester for cooperative internships and may not exceed a total of eight credits that will be counted toward a certificate or associate degree. You may be required to attend a cooperative internship course, and fulfill other requirements such as writing reports and completing evaluations.

Programs Providing Cooperative Internship Opportunities

• Business Education
• Culinary Arts
• Hospitality Programs
• Legal Education
• New Media Arts

Program Requirements

Hours required as a cooperative intern vary by department, and also vary depending on the number of credits in which you are enrolled.

Most cooperative internships require an hour of lecture or seminar per week over the course of a semester in addition to the work hours.

Some sites may have uniform requirements or a dress code. You may be expected to complete an evaluation or be subject to regular evaluations.

Benefits of Participation

Students may benefit from working in major related jobs in the following ways:

• Working can help you to integrate classroom knowledge with real-life experience.
• You will learn more about selecting appropriate career goals as you work in environments related to your major and learn specific occupational skills.
• Working can help you to develop helpful employment contacts and references.
• You may be able to earn money while in your cooperative internship to defray college expenses.

Contact Information

You may contact the appropriate departments directly to learn more about their cooperative internship opportunities.

For general information about cooperative internship education, contact Kekaulike Information and Service Center (KISC).