Printer Friendly"Experience Needed" will no longer be an obstacle to your professional goals if you engage in cooperative education! The College of Engineering Cooperative Education Program at UMass Lowell can provide important benefits to you, has a few requirements that you’ll need to know and several expectations and process steps for you to follow.
Benefits
The Cooperative Education program gives you the chance to:
- Explore your interests
- Enhance your technical competence
- Learn new skills in the professional workplace
- Gain meaningful experience
- Work with professionals who can become part of your network, provide references for you and mentor and guide you to short-and long-term success
- Earn money for your education
- Earn academic credit for your experience
Requirements:
You may be eligible to participate in the Cooperative Education program if you:
- Have completed your freshman year and at least one full academic semester at UML. Typically employers hire junior and senior level students for co-op positions.
- Maintain good academic standing
- Get the approval of your department's faculty co-op advisor.
You must take a few important steps to be awarded academic credit for your co-op experience:
- Gain approval of your faculty co-op advisor for the position you hope to pursue. BEFORE you apply for the opportunity
- Complete the small amount of required paperwork, including 1): the Co-op Contract, which must be thoroughly read and signed by you, your prospective co-op employer, your faculty co-op advisor (this is the point at which your faculty co-op advisor will provide a course registration permission number), and, if you’re studying here on an F-1 Visa, the international student advisor must also sign the contract and your I-20; and 2) the Co-op Contact Information Data Form.
- Register for an Industrial Experience course, using the permission number given to you by your faculty co-op advisor.
- Towards the end of your co-op experience, both you and your supervisor will be asked to complete an evaluation of your experience.
MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS
Meaningful Experience
Cooperative Education at UML will give you the opportunity to work in your field. You gain professional experience that makes you more competitive in the job market. In fact, co-op jobs often turn into full time jobs after graduation.
Academic Credit
Each department in the College of Engineering has slightly different guidelines for the number of co-op worked hours required and the total number of credits that can be attained through co-op experience. Please contact your faculty co-op advisor for details.
Flexibility
Cooperative Education fits your schedule. At UML, part-time co-op jobs can begin at any time during the year. Full-time co-op jobs coincide with the University's academic semester calendar - so they will not conflict with your academic schedule. The co-op program is completely voluntary. You can try Cooperative Education for just one term or participate for several co-op semesters.
Want to Get Involved?
Review "Typical Process for Internships, Co-op and Other Academically Related Experienced Based Education."
Visit the Office of Career Services at 200 Southwick Hall to review the binder of co-op positions offered by employers.
Use this Web site to register with the office’s online system and search for co-op positions posted on their website.
Make an appointment with a career counselor to enhance your resume, upload it to the online system and learn about additional ways to identify co-op employment possibilities.
Make an appointment to meet with the faculty co-op advisor in your department.