Welcome to your information source for Cooperative Education, or “co-op”. It’s a college program that integrates your classroom studies with paid, productive, real-life work experience in a related field.

How the Co-op program benefits YOU:

• Enhances your classroom learning by integrating academic curriculum and real-world work experience.
• Confirms or redirects your career decision-making through on-the-job experience in a chosen field.
• Enhances the affordability of your education through employer-paid wages. This is a means of financial assistance that is available to all students.
• Improves job opportunities after graduation by giving you valuable work experience and contact with potential future employers.
• Puts into practice valuable job-search skills such as career assessment, resume writing and interviewing techniques.

How Co-op Works & How to Get Started

The Co-op Advantage:

“Completing a Co-op has countless benefits that students may not know about.  After working two different internships early in my college career, I decided to pursue a Co-op with UTC Aerospace Systems for the first semester of my Junior year.  Simply put, it was the best decision I could have made.  The five-month time frame, in comparison to 8-10 weeks for an internship, allowed me to work on multiple projects and gain invaluable project management experience.  In addition to improving the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired at RPI, I built an extensive network that includes managers, directors, and executives.  I would recommend a Co-op for all students looking to strengthen their skills as well as increase their chances of landing a job upon graduation.”

Co-op Questions? Call us at (518) 276-6234, M-F, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. (EST)