The UMass Lowell Undergraduate Professional Cooperative Education program is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with work experience. Commonly known as "co-op", this valuable experience is an academic program designed to complement a student's formal education with paid practical work related to the student's academic major.
What is Co-op at UML?
- A full-time, paid work experience with an industry partner, usually for 6 months.
- A program for undergraduates that alternates a semester of on-campus academic study with a work experience in industry.
- A three-phase sequenced series of courses incorporating a pre-co-op preparation course, the co-op work experience, and a post-co-op reflection seminar.
- A structured, selective, voluntary program for full-time undergraduate students in the Francis College of Engineering, Kennedy College of Sciences, Manning School of Business, and Department of Economics.
- Coordinated and supervised by co-op staff in conjunction with faculty and industry partners.
Benefits to students in the Professional Co-op Program:
- Earn a salary while on co-op, which can assist in offsetting college expenses.
- Maintain their full-time student status during the cycle when working full-time at an employer location.
- Work closely with their assigned co-op advisor who serves as a resource throughout the program.
- Participate in preparatory and reflective seminars which surround the work experience, earning up to 3 credits.
- Gain invaluable experience, skills and insight to help with the school-to-work transition.
- Participate in co-op events exclusively designed for co-op students, connect with co-op employers and upper-class co-op students.
