Cooperative Education, Co-op Program
Would you like to gain meaningful paid work experience prior to graduation?
Students with co-op experience are more competitive and attractive candidates for full-time job after graduation.
Information for Students
What’s happening?
Be sure to check out all the opportunities to connect with employers. Login to Handshake and explore co-op and internships opportunities in your field of study.
What is Co-op?
Co-op, short for Cooperative Education, is a program that allows students to alternate academia studies with relevant paid work experience prior to graduation.
How Co-op works?
Co-op is full-time paid employment directly related to your field of study. The length of a co-op can be a single term or 2 consecutive terms.
Co-op begins after students have completed their freshman and sophomore year in most cases, although this may differ. Depending on the co-op option, students can participate in the co-op experience either in the Spring or the Fall semester. You will be able in most cases to take courses over the summer break to qualify for the next semester and minimize any delay in your graduation.
Please contact our Co-op Coordinator for more details about how your co-op experience could be integrated in your curriculum flowsheet.
Co-Op Schedule
Students typically start applying for co-op opportunities in the sophomore year. Companies usually look for co-ops 1 or 2 terms in advance, so it’s never too soon to start the application process!
Students can participate in the co-op experience in the Spring or the Fall semester. It might also be possible to combine with the summer/winter break.
Example of curriculum with one term co-op and summer internship integrated
How to receive academic credits for your co-op experience
You can get up to 3 CE Technical Elective credits by taking CE496 course. Students are expected to enroll in CE 496 during the term in which the co-op is completed - cannot receive credit for a co-op that has already been completed. A minimum of 45 work hours are required for 1 university credit hours - a minimum of 135 work hours are required for 3 university credit hours.
Please contact our Co-op Coordinator with questions regarding CE 496 registration.
Financial Aid
If you have any questions regarding your co-op earnings and financial aid, please contact your Financial Aid Counselor:
1Capen (North Campus)
Phone: 716-645-8232
Email: UBFA@buffalo.edu
Responsibilities & ethics
Co-op employers expect CBE students to operate according to accepted business ethics and standards. CBE expects your behavior to be in accordance to UB Student Code of Conduct and Ethics policy.
Want to learn more about our CBE Co-op program?
CBE organizes info sessions for all students interested in our Co-op program. If you are unable to attend one of the sessions you can still learn about the Co-op experience by contacting our Co-op Coordinator for more details.
Contact Information
Mark Swihart
Mark Swihart
Interim CBE Co-op and Internship Coordinator
306 Furnas Hall
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Email: swihart@buffalo.edu
T: 716 645 1181