Program Overview

Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering

The Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering at San José State University offers a comprehensive range of programs and resources for students pursuing a degree in engineering.

About the College

• The college is committed to providing students with a high-quality education and hands-on experience in their chosen field.
• The college has a strong reputation for producing well-rounded and highly skilled engineers who are prepared to succeed in their careers.

Programs

• The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of engineering, including:
  • Aviation
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
  • Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Interdisciplinary Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Co-operative Education

What is Co-operative Education?

Co-operative education is a unique form of university-industry collaboration that merges a student's commitment to university education with an industry commitment to providing experiential learning.

Employer Expectations

• When offering a co-op position, the company is generally committing to employing the student in work assignments related to their engineering major for at least one semester and summer (5-6 contiguous months).
• The company's commitment is subject to the student's satisfactory performance as the co-op progresses.

Employer Benefits of a Co-op

• Co-ops are a great way to recruit, train, and evaluate excellent future employees.
• They can provide professional staff to assist on critical projects, and they provide a mechanism for the company to gain name recognition and a strong reputation as an employer within the university.

Student Benefits of a Co-op

• Co-op students are paid for hours worked at their co-op position.
• This means that co-op students gain financial support along with significant professional experience prior to graduation.
• As they complete their program and when searching for a full-time job, they enjoy a significant competitive edge.
• Many co-op employers also extend full-time job offers to their co-op students after they graduate.

Academic Planning

Undergraduate Students

• Although co-op students are not expected to take any classes during working hours during periods when they are working full time, individual employers may provide schedule flexibility that allows for limited exceptions.
• Students considering a co-op opportunity should meet with their advisor to consider how planned classes could be rearranged in future semesters and summers to allow the student to work full time for 1 and possibly 2 semesters at the co-op company while completing their degree.

Student Eligibility

• A student ideally would start a co-op in their 2nd semester, sophomore year.
• Undergraduate students need to have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA overall and in the major (math/science/engineering courses) to be eligible for a co-op in this program.
• Freshman must have completed at least two semesters before they begin a co-op.
• Seniors who have completed one semester of the Sr. Design course are typically not permitted to begin a co-op.

Graduate Students

• Graduate students are not eligible for SJSU's College of Engineering Co-op Program.
• Graduate students may apply for internships open to MS students via SJSU's Handshake program.

FAQs

How can a student find available co-ops?

• All co-ops will be posted via SJSU Handshake.
• Please log into your Handshake account using your SJSU ID and password and search available positions with the string "SJSU Eng. Co-op".

Will a co-op count for university credit?

• The course: ENGR197 Cooperative Education Project (or a designated alternative) may be taken for course credit for work done in your co-op experience.
• The following programs will count it as an approved technical elective towards your major requirements:
  • Aviation
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
  • Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Interdisciplinary Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Do I need to pay tuition while doing a co-op? And will my registration at SJSU be dropped?

• You will only need to pay tuition if you register for a class, such as Engr 197.
• At SJSU, you can stop taking classes for one term (not including summers) without filing any paperwork.
• If you will be gone for two adjacent semesters (fall-spring or spring-fall), then you will need to apply for a leave of absence from the university.

Can I live in university housing while taking a semester off to work at a co-op?

• Yes.
• The SJSU Co-Op Program Director will, if required, provide you with a letter to the housing office confirming that you are involved with an official university program.

Can international students engage in a co-op?

• Co-op opportunities are open to U.S. citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR 's) ONLY.
• Those in non-immigrant status (e.g. F-1 status) are not eligible to apply.
• F-1 students can access information regarding CPT eligibility and contact ISSS with any questions.