A co-op (cooperative education) experience is any full-time work experience related to an engineering degree program in which a student temporarily leaves school (at least one semester). These experiences typically last 6-9 months and delay graduation, but benefits include potential academic credit and direct employment upon graduation.
Students planning to pursue a co-op experience are encouraged to plan ahead. Be sure to meet with your academic advisor to plan your schedule to minimize the additional time required to complete your degree. This discussion is important to determining if/how co-op experience can fulfill course requirements.
As part of planning, students should meet with a financial aid advisor to understand the impact of leave of absence or other registration policies.
For undergraduate students, in order to minimize the number of semesters required for degree completion, please adhere to the recommended co-op timing for your department.
International students should meet with an advisor from UB International Student Services (ISS) to ensure compliance with work authorization regulations.