Cooperative Education FAQ

What are the requirements to be admitted into the Co-op Program at Stevens? 

 Students interested in participating in the Co-op Program are required to register and complete COOP 100: Introduction to Cooperative Education. COOP 100 is a zero-credit pass/fail course offered in the Spring semester (second term) of a student's first year at Stevens. Only students who have declared one of the eligible majors may register for COOP 100.  Additionally, students must meet the following criteria to be admitted into the Co-op Program:    

• Maintain good academic standing  

• Pass both MA125 and MA126 in the first or second term of the first year.  

• Apply to the Co-op Program as part of the COOP 100 course 

 Students who receive a failing grade and/or don’t meet the requirements for admittance will not be allowed to participate in the program.   

What happens if I am not able to meet all the requirements? 

Students who do not meet all the requirements will not be admitted into the Co-Op Program. 

When are decisions made for admittance into the program? 

Admission will be determined at the conclusion of the Spring semester of the student’s first year. 

I’m an international student, may I participate in the Co-op Program? 

Yes! International students are welcome to participate in the Co-op Program. We strongly advise you to speak with ISSS regarding your personal circumstances and work options.

I'm a transfer student, may I participate in the Co-op Program?

No. Students who transfer to Stevens are not eligible to participate in the Co-op Program. We strongly recommend that transfer students meet with a career coach in the Stevens Career Center early and often to prepare and start a search for summer internships. You can schedule an appointment with a career coach on Handshake or stop by the Stevens Career Center in Howe Center, 6th floor to schedule an appointment.      

How many co-op jobs do I have to complete? 

To successfully complete the Co-op Program students must complete three co-op work semesters. 

What happens when I get a co-op offer?  Do I just sign an offer letter? 

No. Students are required to get their offer letter approved before signing an offer letter. Please submit the letter to [email protected] for review to ensure the co-op job meets the Co-op Program requirements. Once the offer letter is approved, students will register for the corresponding co-op work semesters in Workday (COOP 102: First Co-op Work Semester, COOP 202: Second Co-op Work Semester, or COOP 302: Third Co-op Work Semester) depending on the co-op work semester in your academic plan.   

When can I work in a co-op job? 

Co-op jobs must last a minimum of 10 weeks (and up to 14 weeks) and can be completed in the Fall, Spring or Summer but must align with the academic plan submitted to the Stevens Career Center.  

• Spring Semester (January – May) 

• Summer Semester (May – August) 

• Fall Semester (August – December) 

Do I have to do all my co-op jobs at the same company? 

No. We encourage you to explore different roles and industries that may interest you. The Co-op Program is an experiential learning opportunity in which you can experience working at more than one employer and learn what industries, roles and employers are best aligned with your interests. 

Can my previous internship count towards co-op? 

No, students must be enrolled in the appropriate co-op course to earn credit towards their Co-op Program completion. The Stevens Career Center cannot retroactively give a student credit for a job or internship completed during a prior semester.

Can I accept an unpaid co-op job?   

No. The Stevens Career Center will not approve unpaid co-op jobs. We do not encourage students to agree to unpaid co-op jobs and internships.   

Can I participate in co-op if I am a student athlete? 

While it is possible to participate in the Co-op Program as a student athlete, we strongly recommend you discuss all options with your academic advisor and athletic coach to see what would work best for you. 

Can I study abroad and participate in the Co-op Program?

As each student’s situation is different, we encourage you to discuss your options with your Academic Advisor to determine if you can pursue both.

Is it possible to do AMP (Accelerated Master Program) and the Co-op Program in 5 years?

As each student’s situation is different, we encourage you to discuss options with your Academic Advisor.

What classes are required for the Co-op Program? 

The Co-op Program is comprised of a sequence of seven courses. Students interested in participating in the Co-op Program are required to register for COOP 100: Introduction to Cooperative Education. During this course, students will learn about the Co-op Program and will be given the opportunity to apply to the program. COOP 100 is only offered in the Spring semester. If admitted to the Co-op Program, students will register for courses listed below based on the academic plan they create with their academic advisor: 

• COOP 100: Introduction to Cooperative Education

• COOP 101: First Co-op Job Search 

• COOP 102: First Co-op Work Semester 

• COOP 201: Second Co-op Job Search 

• COOP 202: Second Co-op Work Semester 

• COOP 301: Third Co-Op Job Search 

• COOP 302: Third Co-Op Work Semester 

Why is registering for the appropriate courses important? 

To ensure that the Stevens Career Center, Office of the Registrar and your academic advisors are prepared to support students, students are required to register for the appropriate courses every semester you plan to either search for a job or work. 

I did not register for COOP 100: Introduction to Cooperative Education as a pre-requisite. Can I still apply to the program? 

No. Earning a passing grade in the COOP 100 course is a Co-op Program eligibility requirement for first-year students enrolled in one of the eligible degree programs. COOP 100 is only offered in the Spring semester and must be completed in the first year of study (2nd term/2nd semester).

How do I determine which semesters to work and which semesters to take classes?

All students will be required to meet with their Academic Advisor to create an academic plan that includes all academic coursework and three expected co-op work semesters. A student's academic plan must alternate semesters of study and co-op work semesters. If you need to change your co-op work semesters, the Stevens Career Center requires you to meet with your Academic Advisor to revise your academic plan.

What happens if I change my co-op work semester? Do I change my class schedule, too? 

Please meet with your Academic Advisor to create a new academic plan and send the new plan to [email protected]. The new plan will be reviewed by the Stevens Career Center for approval.