Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education (Co-op) program is a multi-semester, structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience that combine existing courses/coursework with real work experiences.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) at a Glance

  • Minimum 2.5 GPA, minimum 60 credits

  • Earn credit towards your degree (Substitutes for courses in your degree program)

  • Gain practical work experience

  • 3 Credits per semester, for a total of 6 credits (two semester minimum, four maximum)

  • Approximately 10 hours per week, totaling 150 hours (per semester)

  • Evaluation is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory

Co-op experiences are embedded into 18 undergraduate degree programs at Â鶹ÊÓƵ:

  • Accounting
  • Accounting and Finance
  • Behavioral Science
  • Business Management
  • Communication
  • Criminal Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Government and Public Policy
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Finance
  • Game Design and Development
  • Health Sciences
  • Human Resource Management
  • Marketing
  • Media Design
  • Psychology
  • Video and Motion Graphics
  • Web Information Systems

Note: Students are not able to accept opportunities with home-based business/organizations.

Getting Started

Step 1

Log in to  to explore positions. You’ll need to create a Handshake account, create a resume or upload an existing resume. Now you’re ready to apply for a position.

Step 2

Schedule an appointment with a Work-Integrated Learning Specialist to receive credit.

Office of Work-Integrated Learning 
302-356-6820
work-integratedlearning@wilmu.edu

or schedule an appointment

International students must receive an approval from the office of International Admission before starting a position.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does a co-op experience last?

A: A Co-op program experience is a multi-semester program (2 minimum, with a maximum of 4, ideally consecutive). Students will have the opportunity to complete 10-15 hours of work experience per week resulting in approximately 300-600 total hours and may include additional faculty assigned work.

Q: How do I find a co-op positions?

A: Co-op position can be found in Handshake or students can find positions on their own with approval from the Office of Work-Integrated Learning.

Q: Does this take the place of an internship?

A: An approved Co-op experience will substitute for a required internship in a student's major upon approval from the chair.

Q: Am I guaranteed a co-op assignment?

A: Co-op job experiences are not guaranteed because there are many factors that may affect availability, including the employment market. Therefore, staff in the Work-Integrated Learning department cannot control, predict or guarantee whether you will be offered a Co-op experience in the semester you desire to work.

Co-op confirmations of job assignments/offers are left to the discretion of the employer and only the employer.