Co-op Program and Internships
The cooperative education program (co-op) is designed to give students the opportunity to obtain real engineering work experience before graduation. The co-op program is optional for engineering students although highly recommended.
The program offers students the opportunity to alternate semesters of full-time study and work related to the student's major.
The cooperative education and internship programs simultaneously provide for the development of fundamental principles in the classroom and for their application in practice. The student has the opportunity to find the type of work and organization in which the student can best apply individual ability. The student gains an appreciation of the problems of labor and management by first-hand experience. The student develops mature judgment by coping with the everyday problems. The employer of a co-op or internship student has the ability to train and select a student whose abilities and aptitudes can be adapted to the needs of technical staff requirements.
While a student is at work, all rules and regulations prescribed by the employer must be obeyed. In addition, the student is subject to all current labor laws and conditions. The student is considered a full-time student by the University while on industrial assignments.
The University does not guarantee employment, but makes every effort to place a student in the best learning situation that is consistent with the acquisition of sound professional experience.
Co-op jobs and internships have proven to be an excellent way for students to work in teams with talented engineers as well as to become more certain of what engineers do. Many seniors receive permanent job offers from the same companies that hired them as co-ops or that they interned with.
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