Electrical & Computer Engineering Co-ops

The electrical and computer engineering (ECE) co-op program provides the students a great opportunity to enhance their employability after graduation. The students gain valuable practical work experience in electrical and computer engineering at many leading companies. They get the opportunities to demonstrate their skills and values. They are more confident and more motivated after the co-op experience.

More than 300 co-op positions were provided to ECE students in the past five years by more than 100 unique companies. The co-op experiences have helped our graduates to find ideal jobs before or soon after graduation.

What is Co-op?

A student takes one semester off to work full time in industry during one of the following co-op cycles:

• 6-plus month
  • Spring semester and Summer, or
  • Summer and Fall semester
• 3-month option: Summer only (at least two summers)

Preparation: Before the co-op, a student takes professional development seminar course (ENGN.2100, 1 credit) to learn.

• Resume writing
• Strategic interviewing
• Professional behavior
• Presentation skills
• Professional networking
• Other job-hunting skills

Reflection: After the co-op, a student takes an assessment course to reflect the co-op experience, identify technical and professional skills that have learned, and to plan next steps of career development.

Benefits of the Co-op Program

• Helps to find an ideal job, faster, or right after graduation
• Many students get full-time job offers before the co-op has ended
• Best opportunity to demonstrate your skills and value
• Earn an average of $26,000 (in 6 months), to pay a portion of tuition
• Higher salary after graduation than peers without co-op
• When eligible, can be counted as one technical elective course
• Helps to decide future courses, career path, Master of Science (M.S.)/ Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs
• Gain experience in actual work environment
• Enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Promote maturity
• Promote networking skills
• Promote teamwork

Co-op also has many benefits for companies to recruit employees and for universities to gain feedback on programs in order to adjust course materials or add new courses.

Contact the Co-op Center

Career and Co-op Center
Meehan Student Center, Suite 450
100 Meehan Way (220 Pawtucket Street)
Lowell, MA 01854-5148
Phone: 978-934-2355
Email: career_services@uml.edu
Career and Co-op Center website

The Co-op Advising team is available to meet with co-op students throughout each phase of the program.

Co-op advisor and coordinator for ECE students:Kate Loughlin, Email: kate_loughlin@uml.edu.

In department co-op office hours are offered weekly to ensure all students have an opportunity to connect with the co-op advisor in the ECE makerspace (Ball Hall 402).

All ECE undergraduate students are welcome! No appointment needed!

Co-Op Success Stories

Dozens of ECE students work in co-op positions each year at top employers in the region. The co-op experiences often result in our graduates finding their ideal jobs before or soon after graduation.

Co-ops also allow companies to recruit employees and for universities to gain feedback on programs in order to adjust course materials or add new courses.

Here are just a few of our success stories.