Undergraduate Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)

The Stevens Cooperative Education Program for Undergraduate Students is a five-year, competitive program that combines classroom education with practical real-world work experience. A co-op experience allows students to alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of full-time paid professional work in a job related to the student’s academic program of study.

Benefits to students

  • Gain valuable work experience in a job related to your degree before graduation.

  • Earn a full-time hourly salary during each work semester.

  • Establish and broaden a network of professional contacts in a career field and industry.

  • Receive exclusive invitations to Co-op recruiting events.

  • Work with a team of academic advisors and career center professionals.

  • Serve as a Co-op Peer Mentor for new students in your senior year.

Eligible undergraduate degree programs

Biomedical Engineering

Engineering Management

Chemical Engineering

Engineering with a concentration in Naval Engineering

Civil Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Computer Engineering

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Computer Science

Mechanical Engineering

Cybersecurity

Software Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Preparing to participate in the Co-op Program

First-year undergraduate students enrolled in one of the eligible undergraduate degree programs are required to complete five critical steps before obtaining approval to enroll in the Co-op Program and starting their first co-op job. International students may participate in the Co-op Program after completing an additional step.

1. Complete four 50-minute career education workshops.

  • Career education workshops are offered in-person and virtually throughout the fall and spring semesters. Workshop descriptions and the schedule workshops are held can be viewed by clicking Events in Handshake.

    • SCC 101 Introduction to Career Services & Cooperative Education

    • SCC 102 Resume Writing

    • SCC 103 Job Search Strategies

    • SCC 104 Interviewing Skill

2. Attend Co-op Decision Day

  • All students interested in participating in the Co-op Program are required to attend Co-op Decision Day.

  • Co-op Decision Day is an in-person event offered twice a year in October and February. During Co-op Decision Day students are informed about the co-op process, program expectations, and important deadlines. Students will also meet members of the career center’s co-op team, academic advisors, Co-op Program Peer Mentors, and Stevens alumni who were former co-op students.

3. Complete and submit the Co-op Program Application by the deadline.

4. Read and sign the Co-op Student Participation Agreement by the deadline.

5. Complete all first-year academic coursework with a minimum 2.20 GPA.

  • Students may apply to participate in the Co-op Program while in the process of completing first-year course work during the fall and spring semester of their first year.

  • However, students will not be approved to enroll in the Co-op Program or start their first co-op job until all first-year course work is successfully completed and grades are submitted to the registrar by all professors.

6. International Students Only:

Meet with the Office for International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) to complete all steps required to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization. CPT is work authorization that is granted to eligible F-1 visa students so that the student may complete the requirements of a course or the Cooperative (Co-Op) Education Program.

Recruiting events for Co-op students

  • On-campus or virtual Interview Days held throughout the academic year

  • Fall and Spring Career Fairs held in September and February

  • Co-op Decision Day for students interested in participating in the Co-op Program held in October and February

  • Co-op Networking Night held in October to meet a variety of employer representatives and recruiters.

Questions?

Contact the Stevens Career Center at careercenter@stevens.edu.