Engineering

Cooperative Education or "Co-op" opens the door for students to work full-time in a paid professional engineering position while taking a semester away from coursework. Co-ops can take many different forms, but generally, students alternate a work term and an academic term.

There are numerous reasons to participate in a co-op program. See below for a highlighted few:

• Graduate with relevant engineering experience
• Earn a full-time wages for your work terms while still maintaining student status at VCU
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of what it would be like to work for a potential employer
• Build your professional network
• Improve your post-graduation job prospects

Work rotations are flexible based on employer needs. Students can begin co-op work rotations in the spring semester of the sophomore year. At least one work rotation must be in the fall or spring semester. See below for example rotation options:

	1st year			2nd year			3rd year
	Spring	Summer	Fall	Spring	Summer	Fall	Spring	Summer	Fall
Plan A
Plan B

Spring-summer-fall (year-long work rotation)

Students must be on-campus for the fall and spring of senior year. The duration of each work rotation is determined by the employer. Some employers use the semester as the work rotation period (fall rotation would run August through December; spring rotation would run from January through May).

Requirements for Acceptance to the Engineering Co-op Program

There are set criteria that a student must meet to be eligible to participate in the Co-op Program:

• Successful completion of ENGR 395 Professional Development
• A VCU GPA of 2.7 or higher
• Have completed at least 12 credit hours at VCU

If you meet these criteria, and you’d like to pursue a co-op, carefully follow the process below.

1. Enroll in and complete ENGR 395 Professional Development 1-credit course.
2. Find your co-op. Many students find co-op opportunities on their own, based on their own interests. You can also find co-ops on Handshake. Ensure it will provide the following experiences:
   • Application of engineering principles
   • Team participation
   • Problem-solving
3. As you consider a co-op offer from an employer:
   • • Make an appointment with your career adviser, Ms. Sharpe, to make a plan for your co-op experience, and to discuss important signed documents needed by Engineering Career Services.
     • Make an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss rescheduling your courses and how the co-op might affect your graduation date.
     • Visit the VCU Office of Financial Aid to determine what impact co-op might have on your funding.
4. Submit your co-op for approval on Handshake. Only approved experiences will satisfy the graduation requirement. All experiences must be submitted and approved before going on co-op. There are no exceptions!
5. Check the status of your co-op approval by your department chair.
6. During co-op, all majors must enroll in ENGR 398 during each work rotation. This online, zero credit course ensures that the co-op is a learning experience, with oversight & support provided by VCU. Passing ENGR 398 each rotation is a requirement for participating in the co-op program.
7. Once you’ve completed ENGR 395, your co-op work rotations, and ENGR 398 with each rotation, all majors must enroll in ENGR 498. This online, zero credit course validates that you’ve completed the requirements for co-op. If on the co-op track, it is required for graduation for ME, MNE, and CLSE majors.
8. You’ve done it! You’ll graduate with six months to over a year of real engineering experience on your resume. Congratulations!

ENGR 395. Professional Development. 1 Hour. Required for all engineering students who want to participate in the cooperative education program. All majors must take 395 before going on a co-op work rotation.

ENGR 398. Cooperative Education Experience. 0 Hours. All co-op students are required to take ENGR 398 concurrently with each co-op work rotation (class is online, zero credit). This is for all rotations, including summer rotations.  All majors must take 398 with each rotation. 

ENGR 498. Review of Cooperative Education Experience. 0 Hours. To be taken after completing all co-op work rotations to summarize, validate and complete the experience (class is online, zero credit). All majors must take 498 after completing all co-op rotations.  

A co-op work rotation during Summer 2025 can earn a student up to 3 academic credits. Please email to engrcareers@vcu.edu for details.

Q. What is the difference between a co-op and internship?
A. Internships and co-ops are both great ways for you to gain real-world engineering experience as a student. Internships are typically full-time during the summer or part-time during the school year, scheduled around your classes. A co-op position, however, is a full-time opportunity during the school year. To participate in a co-op, you will work full-time instead of taking classes for a rotation.

Q. What do you mean by ‘a rotation’?
A. Many employers require co-op students to participate in rotations; meaning you will alternate between attending classes as a full-time student one semester and working as a full-time employee the next semester.

Q. Will completing a co-op push back my graduation date?
A. Frankly, it depends. Some students are able to complete a co-op and still graduate in four years, however, many other students take longer to graduate. It all depends on how many rotations are required by the employer and your particular academic schedule. Engineering Career Services is here to help you think through your particular situation.

Q. When can I begin the Engineering Co-op Program?
A. You can start a co-op the summer after your freshman year. Or if you are a transfer student, you can start working after one semester at VCU.

You must complete the Engineering Professional Development course (ENGR 395), a one-credit course that’s designed to prepare you for success in the workforce.

All students in the Engineering Co-op Program must maintain a GPA of at least 2.7 or higher.

Q. Where are co-ops located and how does housing work?
A. Co-ops are located both locally and nationally. Many companies located outside of the Richmond area provide housing or housing assistance. Check out where some of our co-op students have worked!

Q. How will a co-op impact my financial aid or scholarship?
A. Your co-op may affect your scholarship and/or financial aid. You must meet with the Financial Aid Office and the awarders of your scholarship to discuss how your co-op may affect your benefits.

Q. How do I find a co-op?
A. Engineering Career Services provides several opportunities throughout the year, including two engineering career fairs, to connect with employers looking for co-op students. Make sure to visit our website, egr.vcu.edu/careerservices, for our full list of career events. Also, search VCU’s online job board, Handshake, and other online career resources to view available co-op opportunities.

Q. What are the benefits of co-ops?
A. You will graduate with professional engineering experience, potentially less student loan debt, and improved employment opportunities.