The Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op Program) is a professional development program that allows undergraduate students to alternate professional work experiences with classroom coursework.
Students typically complete a total of one year of work at their co-op company by either working continuously for a year or alternating work sessions with academic terms. Co-ops are typically completed during the sophomore or junior years.
Co-op experiences are paid and result in academic credit, although this credit does not apply towards the student’s degree. Co-op students receive an official entry on their transcript for each co-op experience, as well as a certificate of completion at graduation.
Please contact the ChBE Co-op Coordinator with any questions about the program or if your company is interested in participating.
Many thanks to past and present participating companies Chevron, Bend Research, Sundrop Fuels, Givaudan, Roche, TDA Research, Barafold, ConocoPhillips, Amgen and Dow!
Further general information on co-ops can be found on the College of Engineering and Applied Science Co-op website.
The best part about the co-op program is by far the connections you make and the experience you gain. I feel so much more confident in my schooling and about my ability to perform well in the real world after doing a co-op at Chevron. -John Thilenius
Working in a smaller company (Sundrop Fuels), I was able to see many aspects of the business such as how to collect the necessary raw materials needed and how to turn those materials into the desired product. -Andy Willett
The challenges of my co-op at TDA Research enabled me to broaden my understanding and implementation of a problem’s solution. I was also able to develop career goals for my next position. -Tyler Gleditsch
My opportunities at BaraFold and Protonex have helped open my eyes to the world of research and to better understand what a career in research would be like. -Sarah Hoyt