About the Program

The Cooperative Education Program (or Co-op Program) is a partnership among the employer, university, and student that provides relevant work assignments for the students while at the undergraduate level. The employers benefit from the expertise and enthusiasm of the student, and find the program a cost-effective means of completing projects. Many employers also utilize the program as a recruitment tool for post-graduate employment.

The program integrates a rotation of school and employment terms that enables the cooperative education student to complement his or her formal classroom training with additional technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and financial remuneration. The co-op graduate possesses the maturity and assurance of a more seasoned employee and the ability to incorporate academic knowledge and theory into practice. During co-op sessions, students earn competitive salaries, which makes this program also financially rewarding.

The co-op option is available to all undergraduates from engineering, computer science and chemistry at Oakland, engineering at Bradford, Greensburg, and Titusville, and engineering technology at Johnstown. Students must be in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 QPA), and must be eligible to complete a minimum of three work terms, with the exception of chemistry, computer Science, or information science majors who must complete a minimum of two rotations. Most students begin during the sophomore year and complete the program during the senior year.

The engineering co-op program is ABET accredited; students earn a maximum of three credits which can be used towards the completions of departmental graduation requirements. Upon completion of the work sessions, students write a technical paper on their co-op experience.

Staff members from the co-op office assist students with resume preparation and interviewing skills. Staff members also develop the co-op opportunities with employers who are local, national, and sometimes international. The co-op program also sponsors a job fair to facilitate placement between the employer and student, and to offer our students the opportunity to present themselves to employers. In addition to on-campus, site, and phone interviews, the job fair is an excellent opportunity for students to evaluate our employers, and for employers to gain visibility on campus.

Designated faculty members from each participating department approve students' co-op schedules and remain in the capacity of advisor throughout the students' tenure in the program. Faculty and co-op staff members also visit the work sites. The co-op office works with students individually to try and place them in appropriate assignments; although placement is not guaranteed, in most cases students can find appropriate positions, particularly if they are willing to look beyond the Pittsburgh region. The average starting salary for co-op students for the 2008-2009 year is $2623.   Students who complete the program requirements are honored at a recognition reception each year. Employers, staff and faculty, and parents are invited to attend. Each student is presented with a certificate of program completion by the Dean.

Co-op Program History

Our original program began in 1910 and flourished until the depression forced its suspension in the 1930's. In 1987, the Engineering Co-operative Education Program was re-established and, within a few years, expanded beyond engineering to include the University's nationally ranked undergraduate chemistry and computer science departments and the engineering technology program at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

The first engineering degrees at PITT were awarded in 1846, making us the country's sixth oldest continuing engineering program. We are also the nation's third oldest co operative education program in engineering.

Participating Co-op Companies

The Co-op Program places students with companies and organizations who are private and public, regional, national and international, large and small, all of whom have quality co-op positions to offer. The following lists many of our participating companies. This is intended as a sampling of co-op companies. If you are interested in a company that does not appear on the list, we will try to initiate a relationship with them. Just stop by our office and we will assist you.

Click here for a list of recent co-op company participants.

 

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STUDENT COMMENTS

Read some of our Co-Op Student Comments

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