Program Overview

Cooperative Education Program

The Cooperative Education (CO-OP) program is an experiential internship program for juniors and seniors to gain hands-on experience with an organization while earning academic units towards their degree. Students practice and grow their engineering and computer science skills while enhancing the soft skills needed to thrive in their future careers.

What is CO-OP?

CO-OP allows students to:

• Connect classroom knowledge to industry practice
• Learn and practice professional skills needed to successfully collaborate in a team
• Practice job hunting and interviewing skills
• Build a network of professionals, mentors, and advisors
• Earn a paycheck to help defer educational expenses

How It Works

The Office of Cooperative Education provides support to students and their partner employers in the recruiting and hiring process. It starts with employers posting exclusive CO-OP positions in Handshake for SOECS students to search and apply. Employers review CO-OP student resumes, invite students for interviews, and complete the selection, hiring, and onboarding process.

The CO-OP Schedule

Here is an overview for hiring a student for CO-OP and the process for students during ENGR 25 preparing for the CO-OP offer.

Employers seeking to hire

• CO-OPs from January to August
  • August/September: Post CO-OP position in Handshake
  • October: Review student resumes
  • November/December: Interview students, offer positions to selected students
• CO-OPs from May to December
  • January/February: Post CO-OP position in Handshake
  • March: Review student resumes
  • April/May: Interview students, offer positions to selected students

Students seeking CO-OP

• CO-OPs from January to August
  • August/September: Search for CO-OP opportunities
  • October: Apply for CO-OP positions
  • November/December: Accept interview schedules, make decision on offered CO-OP
• CO-OPs from May to December
  • January/February: Search for CO-OP opportunities
  • March: Apply for CO-OP positions
  • April/May: Accept interview schedules, make decision on offered CO-OP

Guidelines for Employers

The vision for the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SOECS) is to be a top student-focused engineering/computer science school. Achieving our mission and vision for SOECS is only possible through close collaboration with the school's many organizational partners via the CO-OP program.

Benefits to Employers

• Accessible Talent Pool: Exposure to a year-round supply of well-trained, highly motivated student employees.
• Relief to Workforce: Students lend relief to an organization's more skilled, permanently staffed professionals to perform other tasks in peak or normal periods.
• Evaluate Prospective Employees: Employers have a cost-effective means of evaluating the potential of future employees without making a long-term hiring commitment.
• Promote Organization on Campus: Upon their return to school, CO-OP students share their work experiences with their classmates, thus bringing your organization to the attention of other students.
• Reduce Recruitment Costs: Provides you with a seamless way to meet your long-range recruitment goals.

Getting Involved

The CO-OP program is a three-way partnership involving SOECS, the employer, and the student. The Office of Cooperative Education provides support to students and their partner employers in the recruiting and hiring process.

Expectations for Employers

To ensure that all parties experience a positive relationship, we request that all CO-OP employers review the following SOECS expectations for the CO-OP assignment.

1. Employers are encouraged to post a brief job description that indicates the position is for SOECS students.
2. The job assignment must relate to the student's field of study.
3. The student should be supervised by a degreed engineer or computer scientist who should meet regularly with the student.
4. Students must be paid a reasonable salary.
5. Employers are expected to allow the CO-OP staff and faculty advisors to visit the worksite and review the program.
6. It is recommended that student learning objectives and employer expectations be outlined early in the process.
7. Employers must complete an evaluation (form provided by the CO-OP office) upon the student's completion of the CO-OP experience.

Guidelines for Students

The vision for the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SOECS) is to be a top student-focused engineering/computer science school. Achieving our vision for SOECS students is only possible through close collaboration with the school's many organizational partners via the CO-OP program.

Why CO-OP?

CO-OP is a requirement for undergraduate students majoring in Civil Engineering, Engineering Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, and Computer Engineering. CO-OP is an integral part of the curriculum for these majors.

How long is CO-OP?

Generally, a CO-OP extends over a semester and a summer. Since you receive academic credit for your CO-OP, the Director of Cooperative Education must ascertain and approve the quality and length of your experience.

What are the pre-requisites for CO-OP?

You should take ENGR 25 Professional Practice Seminar the semester before your CO-OP. This class helps you prepare your résumé and portfolio, hone your interviewing skills, give you ways to search for and apply for CO-OP positions, learn about having a successful CO-OP experience, and explore different industries and career options.

How many credits are earned for a CO-OP?

You will earn a total of 32 units or 16 units per academic term. While taking the CO-OP courses, ENGR 181 and ENGR 182, you will receive a syllabus, have graded assignments, and submit a final report.

May I take other classes concurrent with CO-OP?

You may not take other classes while on CO-OP. Consult the Stockton General Catalog for more information. Your employer has an expectation that you will dedicate full-time employment with them.

How do I find a CO-OP?

Finding a CO-OP is a collaborative process. Your active and early participation in the search is essential for success. The CO-OP office brings employers to campus for career fairs, information sessions, interviews, and arranges for off-campus interviews.

Recent Employers and Pay

The School of Engineering and Computer Science has a long history with many CO-OP partners who have employed students for positions and other types of practical experiences and work.

CO-OP Average Salaries (Summer 2023)

Previous CO-OP Employers

• Bioengineering: Abbott Laboratories, California Department of Water Resources, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Cepheid, City of Manteca, Public Works, Clark Pacific, Constellation Brands, E & J Gallo, Edwards Lifesciences, University of the Pacific, Vocera Communications
• Civil Engineering: California Department of Water Resources, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, City of Manteca, Public Works, Clark Pacific, Coffman Specialties Inc., Kimley Horn, Kjeldsen, Sinnock & Neudeck, Inc., MCR Engineering, Siegfried Engineering Inc., Teichert Construction, Terracon
• Computer Engineering: Aruba, a HP Company, Abbott Laboratories, City of Stockton, Public Works, Collins Electrical Co., Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Micron Technology, NVIDIA, University of the Pacific, Vocera Communications
• Computer Science: Abbott Laboratories, Bishop Wisecarver, Boeing, Cisco, City of Stockton, IT Department, E & J Gallo Winery, Holt of California, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Micron Technology, NVIDIA, University of the Pacific
• Electrical Engineering: Abbott Laboratories, Collins Electrical Company, Delicato Family Vineyards, Guntert & Zimmerman, Holt of California, Niagra Bottling, NVIDIA, Teichert Construction
• Engineering Management: Abbott Laboratories, Cepheid, Construction Testing Services, Damatt Engineering Inc., Guntert & Zimmerman, Holt of California, San Joaquin County, Public Works
• Engineering Physics: Abbott Laboratories, California Department of Water Resources, Construction Testing Services, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, University of the Pacific
• Mechanical Engineering: Altec, Delicato, Edwards Lifesciences, Guntert & Zimmerman, Inertia Engineering, Niagara Bottling, Proco Products, San Joaquin County, Public Works, The Numina Group, TriContinent Scientific, Wente Family Estates