Program Overview

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program

The Cooperative Education (Co-op) program is an opportunity for students to gain professional work experience before graduation. This program allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, enhancing their skills and increasing their employability.

What is Cooperative Education?

Cooperative education (co-op) is a paid work experience that provides students with the opportunity to work in their chosen field while still pursuing their degree.

Benefits of Participating in a Co-op Position

Some advantages of participating in a co-op position include:

• Determining if the current major/program is a good match
• Gaining real-world experience within a company to include on the resume
• Increasing the likelihood of future full-time employment with the current co-op employer through exemplary performance
• Improving interviewing skills for future positions by becoming familiar with an employer's expectations
• Earning a salary to help pay tuition

Co-op Eligibility and Requirements

Undergraduate Student Co-op Information

• Students must have junior standing (57+ credits)
• Cumulative GPA of 2.7 or above
• Good academic standing
• No prior work experience is necessary
• Two co-ops (during different semesters) may be taken
• Academic credit is awarded for co-op work: 3 credits for each co-op, with a maximum of 6 credits for completing 2 co-ops

Graduate Student Co-op Information

• Domestic Students:
  • Enrolled for at least one semester at NJIT
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Good academic standing
• International Students (F-1 Visa Holders):
  • Enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year (fall/spring semester) at NJIT
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Good academic standing
• Academic credit is awarded for co-op work: 3 credits for each co-op, which are additive credits in the program

Differences Between a Co-op and an Internship

• A co-op is always a paid work experience, whereas an internship is not always paid
• College credit is given for a co-op, but not for an internship

Finding a Co-op

Students can find co-op positions by:

• Searching CDSLink, NJIT's jobs database
• Using online career resources such as CareerShift
• Utilizing LinkedIn
• Attending Career Fairs
• Networking

Applying to the Co-op Program

To apply, students must:

• Complete the Co-op Application through CDSlink
• Schedule an appointment with their career advisor to review their resume and discuss other topics
• Update and load/upload their resume in CDSLink
• Start searching for co-op positions