Real World Experience
Explore Co-op
TOP 5 FOR CO-OP
U.S. News & World Report ranks UC co-op among nation’s Top 5. Our co-op program promotes paid on-the-job experience that fosters professional maturity and increases career options following graduation.
Gain real-world experience while collecting a real-world paycheck. Learn how to start your journey today.
What is co-op?
Cooperative education (you'll hear us refer to it as co-op) is a model where you will alternate traditional academic semesters with semesters spent working full-time in your chosen field. Co-ops are designed to introduce you to the professional engineering environment and preview a career path to determine if you're heading in the right direction. The best part? If one co-op brings the realization that you’re off-track according to your goals and interests, you have two to four more co-ops to explore your options.
How does co-op work?
You will alternate traditional academic semesters with semesters spent working full-time in your chosen field. Typically, you will complete between three and five co-op semesters prior to graduation. On the year-round co-op schedule, you'll complete at least a year of professional engineering experience, gain first-hand knowledge of professional practices and advancement opportunities.
Where can I co-op?
From Tesla and Toyota to Apple and Microsoft, UC has partnerships with more than 600 businesses, industries, research organizations, and governmental agencies located around the world. Students spend co-op rotations at businesses of all sizes and successful co-ops often lead to employment post-graduation.
"There is no substitute for the co-op program at UC in terms of experience and return on investment. I feel twice as prepared to enter the workforce.”
— Ryan Muir Chemical Engineering, '19 —
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