Working with corporations, government agencies, and the University of Michigan, the Cooperative Education Program gives students the opportunity to gain work experience before graduating. Alternating work semesters with school semesters, you can work towards career goals in a meaningful job while going to school, testing degree interests in real-world situations. Co-op students frequently qualify for higher starting salaries after graduation because of their experience. Many organizations participate in the co-op program to develop future employees, offering permanent positions to numerous former co-op students after graduation.

Typical Co-op Assignments

A typical assignment requires a commitment of two semesters (eight months) that can be satisfied in a variety of ways. Students can work four months, return to classes for a semester, and then complete the remaining four months. Students may also opt to work during the Spring-Summer semester and either the Fall or Winter semesters to fulfill the eight months. Two summers do not constitute a co-op experience.

Eligibility

Students should be in good academic standing at the University with a preferred GPA of 2.75, and completed the basic mathematics and science courses. Students should also have completed between 35-55 credit hours towards their degree program to be considered for an assignment. Transfer students may apply during their first semester at the University.

During the Assignment

Students in the Co-op program are registered students at the University and will be enrolled in Engineering 400: Cooperative Education Engineering. The student's co-op work semester(s) are entered on the transcript and becomes part of the student's academic record.

How to Apply

Students should contact or visit the Engineering Career Resource Center (ecrc-coop@umich.edu, (734) 647-7160).