Co-op Path for CCS Undergraduate Degrees

The College of Computing Sciences (CCS) has a co-operative education path for its bachelor degrees ¹.

Students are required to fulfill the usual degree requirements but may substitute approved work experience for two of their general electives. In contrast to the standard bachelor's degree, the co-op path requires working full-time for a total of two semesters.. The co-op experience is closely aligned with your major studies and improves your understanding of the relationship between classroom theory and practical application.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) FAQ

What is co-op?

Cooperative education (co-op) is an academic path in the College of Computing Sciences (CCS) that offers the student an opportunity to gain a year of paid professional work experience while earning a degree.

What is the difference between the traditional bachelor’s degree and the co-op path?

A student in the co-op path works full time for two semesters (or equivalent) as part of his or her undergraduate experience.

Is academic credit awarded for co-op work?

Yes, a student may earn up to six academic credits for co-op.

Are co-op positions paid?

Yes, all co-op positions are paid.

Are co-op positions full-time or part-time?

Both full- and part-time co-ops are available. To complete the co-op path, the student must complete two full-time co-ops or equivalent.

Who is eligible to participate in the co-op path?

Any student who has completed sophomore year in a CCS degree program (or has permission of advisor) and who has a GPA of 2.5 or above is eligible.

Advantages of Co-op

Gain real world experience within a company.
Develop professional and communication skills in a business environment.
Establish professional connections with your current co-op employer through exemplary performance.
Earn a salary which helps pay your tuition.
Improve interviewing skills for future positions by becoming familiar with an employer’s expectations.
Determine if the current major is a good match for your interests, skills, and values within CCS.

CCS Undergraduate Degrees with Co-op

What Co-op Opportunities Are Available?

There are a lots of interesting and well paying co-op positions available. Computing jobs are among the fastest growing and highest paying nationally, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

CCS graduates assume positions of responsibility and leadership in the Internet economy, as well as in corporate, governmental and community organizations.

Examples of co-op opportunities:

Work on software systems, applications, databases, networks, firewalls, and web servers.
Work in health, pharmaceutical, e-commerce, financial or transportation industries.
Manage security for computing systems, databases or web servers.
Write programs for gaming, mobile computing, and cell phones.
Solve multifaceted computing problems in a variety of disciplines.
Manage networks, servers, data-bases.
Design, analyze, and implement computer algorithms.

Some Recent Co-op Employers

Citigroup
Colgate-Palmolive
IBM
Picatinny Arsenal
UBS Financial Services
UPS
Verizon Wireless

Co-op Paths

		Co-Op Path A	Co-Op Path B	Co-Op Path C
	Fall	Class	Class	Class
Freshman	Spring	Class	Class	Class
	Summer	Break	Break	Break
	Fall	Class	Class	Class
Sophomore	Spring	Class	Class	Class
	Summer	Break	Break	Co-op
	Fall	Class	Co-op	Class
Junior	Spring	Co-op	Class	Class
	Summer	Class	Class	Co-op
	Fall	Class	Co-op	Class
Senior	Spring	Co-op	Class	Class
	Summer	Break	Class
	Fall	Class

What Co-op Students Are Saying
Getting your foot in the door these days is the most difficult part of starting your career. The Coop program is a priceless asset for any student since companies are much more lenient towards your knowledge and skill level as a student, rather than an unemployed graduate. - Rob IS Graduate	Prior to post-college experiences, most students don't get to experience employment in their major field of study. So they can only trust what their professors have to say about it. The Coop program allows students to experience it for themselves, and make their own decisions and form their own opinions about a possible career in their field. - Don, CS Senior
Collaboration is also taught very well in the Coop environment. In my Coop experience I was joining an already established team working on a project that had strong roots. - Michal, CS Senior	By being a well-rounded student with exposure to a working environment, it puts you ahead of a lot of potential competition for jobs after graduation. - Ken, IT Senior

What Co-op Students Are Saying

Getting your foot in the door these days is the most difficult part of starting your career. The Coop program is a priceless asset for any student since companies are much more lenient towards your knowledge and skill level as a student, rather than an unemployed graduate.

- Rob IS Graduate

Prior to post-college experiences, most students don't get to experience employment in their major field of study. So they can only trust what their professors have to say about it. The Coop program allows students to experience it for themselves, and make their own decisions and form their own opinions about a possible career in their field.

- Don, CS Senior

Collaboration is also taught very well in the Coop environment. In my Coop experience I was joining an already established team working on a project that had strong roots.

- Michal, CS Senior

By being a well-rounded student with exposure to a working environment, it puts you ahead of a lot of potential competition for jobs after graduation.

- Ken, IT Senior