Internships
and Co-op Opportunities
CMU
Student Employment Programs
Work Study
General Student Assistance Employment Opportunities
Off-Campus Employment
Internships and Co-op Opportunities
CMU encourages internship and co-op experiences for graduate
students. By definition, an internship is a requirement of a
student’s program of study, while a co-op experience
enhances but is not required for the program. Both require
that the student perform services related to the student's
area of study. The service is generally provided to an agency
or business outside of CMU's control, and pay levels generally
reflect the graduate student's advanced standing. For
information on internship or co-op opportunities, students
should contact their academic department.
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CMU
Student Employment Programs
University regulations prevent any full-time student from
working on campus more than 20 hours per week during the
academic year. Student employees may work up to 40 hours per
week when school is not in session and during the summer.
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Work
Study
CMU participates in two work study programs available to
graduate students: Federal College Work Study (FWS) and Michigan Work
Study Program for Graduates (MWS). MWS is available only to
Michigan residents. Both programs require that the student be
enrolled in at least 5 credits in a graduate program of study.
Eligibility is based on financial need. Therefore, to qualify
for work study, students must demonstrate financial need by
completing the FAFSA form and if requested, by
submitting verification materials (e.g., income tax returns)
to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Contact the
financial aid office for more specific information.
Eligibility for work study does not guarantee job placement.
Every effort is made to refer students to positions compatible
with their interests and qualifications. Pay rates are
commensurate with job duties and skills. Any student
participating in the FWS or MWS program is told the maximum
amount he/she can earn during the academic year, from this
program. After students have earned the amount for which they
are eligible for a given year, they will be allowed to
continue their job placement only if the hiring department has
another source of funds for paying them. (See GSA below.)
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General
Student Assistance Employment Opportunities
General Student Assistance (GSA) provides an opportunity for
campus offices to hire undergraduate and graduate students
regardless of the students’ financial need. The demand for
these positions exceeds the supply, so pay levels may not be
attractive to graduate students.
There is no limit to the amount of GSA money a student can
earn in a year. Graduate students should check with their own departments and
with the Student Employment Office in the Bovee University
Center regarding GSA opportunities. All GSA positions are
processed through the Student Employment Office.
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Off-Campus
Employment
Students are free to seek employment off campus with no
interference from the university. (International students
should contact the Office of International Education to
determine eligibility for off-campus employment.) To assist
students in finding jobs, CMU operates the Job Bank, located
in the Student Employment Office in the Bovee University
Center. Students who are not employed on campus through the
work study programs (FWS or MWS) and who are not graduate
assistants may use the services of the Job Bank.
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Disclaimer
