The Drexel Plan of Co-Operative Education enables the undergraduate student to balance classroom theory with practical experience prior to graduation. The student's participation in co-operative education is a degree requirement for all majors in Design Arts, Engineering, Information Science and Technology, Computer Science as well as those students electing the five or four year co-op option in Arts and Sciences and Business and Administration.

A pioneer in co-operative education since 1919, Drexel operates one of the largest cooperative education programs in the nation (in students placed annually). Over 1,500 business, industrial, governmental, and other institutions located in 27 states and 12 foreign countries "cooperate" with Drexel in offering students the opportunity to acquire practical experience in employment related to college studies.

Cooperative education at Drexel emphasizes career management through experiential learning as an integral part of the educational process. Drexel co-op is based on paid employment in practical, major-related positions consistent with the interests, abilities, and aptitudes of the students. A small percentage of students accept non-paid co-ops. Non-paid co-op jobs are dependent on the major and industry.

Under the Drexel Plan, the student attends classes at Drexel University full-time (minimum of 12 credits per term) for the entire freshman year. Then, beginning at a predetermined point, (depending upon the major) the student alternates periods of full-time classroom studies and full-time employment with University-approved employers. The Drexel academic year is based on four terms that are three months long, a format under which co-operative education operates most favorably. Normally, students are on co-op for a six-month period (two-terms) of employment, alternating with two terms of classroom study.

To learn more about cooperative education, please visit the sites for the National Commission for Cooperative Education and the World Association of Cooperative Education.

CO-OP STEP-BY-STEP