Printer FriendlyCooperative Education: A Dynamic Industrial- Educational Partnership
The faculty in the Plastics Engineering Department enthusiastically supports the Cooperative Education Program at UMass Lowell. Our undergraduate and graduate students are strongly encouraged to incorporate professional industry experience into their academic program of study.
Cooperative Education (better known as co-op) is a unique and mutually beneficial partnership between you, an employer, the Plastics Department, and the Office of Career Services. Through a combination of classroom study and a minimum of two approved engineering-related work experiences, you will gain critically important skills related to your educational and career goals and your employer will gain your valuable contributions to their organization. With the department’s exceptionally strong industry connections, qualified students are able to obtain co-op positions at a diverse array of companies.
Why Participate in Co-op:
- Advance your technical and business skills.
- Learn how your academics connect to the real world.
- Significantly increase your marketability and build a great resume.
- Get paid and earn academic credit.
- Add value to an organization.
- Network with engineers and gain professional references.
- Accelerate your professional preparation.
- Work with industry partners—from across town to across the country.
The NEW Undergraduate Co-op Program: A Three Phase Work-Learn Process
The Plastics Department has recently restructured the undergraduate co-op program to help you more easily seek and secure meaningful work experiences, incorporate co-op into your overall academic program, and earn academic credit. Beginning in the fall of 2009, you may, with the approval of your advisor, participate in a Voluntary Co-op Curricular Track that will support, instruct, and guide you through the entire co-op experience. This track includes three distinct phases:
Preparation: All sophomores enroll in a required Professional Development Seminar that provides the resources and skills to manage a co-op search, secure a position and work successfully in a professional environment.
Work Experience: During the summers following your sophomore and junior years you will complete a full-time summer co-op work experience, for a minimum of two employment periods during your undergraduate program. You may also elect to participate in longer co-op work periods during the spring of your junior year and/or fall of the senior year.
Assessment: Following each co-op work period and to earn academic credit, you will assess and review your work performance and learning through a variety of measures.
Find Out More: To learn more about the new Plastics undergraduate co-op program, visit our How Co-op Works, Co-op Tips, and Participating Employers pages, download the Co-op Track Curriculum Sheet, Co-op Forms and the Employer Resource Guide.
For specific information about your eligibility and co-op work opportunities, please contact:
Prof. Steve Driscoll, Faculty Co-op Advisor, Ball Hall 113
978-934-3438
Prof. Steve Orroth, Faculty Co-op Advisor, Ball Hall 203 A
978-934-3416
Diane Hewitt, Associate Director, Cooperative Education, 200 Southwick 978-934-2685