Student information:

Cooperative education program

Ready to get started on your cooperative education experience? The information below will help you find the right co-op and answer any questions you have.

Eligibility

Here's what you need to have ready if you want to get started in the program:

Students should be in good academic standing and typically in their sophomore year.

Students must have declared their engineering discipline.

Students should have completed 35-55 credit hours when they begin interviewing for a co-op assignment.

Transfer students may apply during their first semester in the College.

Co-op vs. Internship

What's the difference between an internship and a Co-op?
Find out below which works best for you.

Time commitment

Co-ops are at least three work terms alternated with school, while internships are only one work term of about 12 weeks.

Eligibility with companies

For co-ops, students can find positions after 3 semesters of engineering courses.positions.

Job diversity

Because of multiple rotations, students in co-ops have the opportunity to be given different assignments within a company, whereas internships are limited to one area of responsibility.

Course credit

Co-op students gain up to three credits that can be used as technical electives, where as internships are not credit bearing.

Graduation impact

Co-oping extends graduation by a year, providing at least one full year's worth of experience, where as internships have no impact on graduation date and offer at least one term's worth of experience.
Have questions? We're here to help!
Please contact the Engineering Success Center at engr-careeradvising@colostate.edu

Start your co-op experience

Step 1:

  • Student meets with advisor to determine best semesters for individual degree progression.
  • Note: Tentative deadlines are October 1 for spring start Co-ops, March 1 for summer start Co-ops, and June 1 for Fall start Co-ops.
Co-op program checklist (PDF)

Step 2:

  • Student completes Co-op application with college Co-op Coordinator.
  • Prepare resume, review resume, mock interviews, and attend Career Readiness Workshops and career fair(s).
Co-op interest form (PDF)

Step 3:

  • Student registers for next semester classes and also ENGR 389.

Step 4:

  • Job search via Handshake (and outside for internships), interviews, finalize accepted offer from company.
  • Job searching and networking help is available from co-op coordinator

Student accepts co-op:

  • Drop other classes
  • Keep ENGR 389.
  • Proceed to Step 5.
OR

Student did not receive or accept co-op.

  • Drop ENGR 389.
  • Keep other classes.
  • Repeat Steps 3-4.

Step 5:

  • Student pays tuition and fees for the one-credit ENGR 389 class, based on residency status, which allows conferment of insurance, scholarships, student benefits and active enrollment status to prevent student loan collection process initiation.
Co-op Student Agreement (PDF)

Step 6:

  • Within the first 2 weeks of Co-op, student meets with supervisor to fill out Goals and Expectations worksheet and submits it to the Co-op coordinator.
  • Student engages in co-op experience.
Co-op Goals and Expectations (PDF)

Step 7:

  • Student and employer each complete their own evaluation and submit these to the college Co-op Coordinator.
  • Student completes ~1 page written work report addressing the Goals and Expectations that were agreed upon at the start of the term.
Co-op work experience report (PDF)
Co-op employer evaluation report (PDF)

Step 8:

  • Student schedules wrap-up meeting with co-op coordinator.
  • College Co-op Coordinator submits satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade for student.

Note: Students do not earn credit for internships. Any data for Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering students interning is only collected on an ad hoc basis and does not exist for the broad population.