Program Descriptions

Choose The Program That's Right For You!

Cooperative Education Program

The Cooperative Education Program is an academic program in which students gain practical work experience that is directly related to their major, alternating with semesters in the classroom. Co-op students typically complete multiple, progressive work experiences with the same employer, thereby graduating with one solid year of career-related experience.

Cooperative Education Highlights:

Co-op is an academic credit option for all students in the College of Engineering (and engineering students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences) who are sophomores, juniors, or seniors and who have chosen a major field of study.
Co-op students should plan to complete three work rotations.

Professional Internship Program

The Professional Internship Program offers students academic credit for a professional work experience that is related to their current or intended field of study. The goal of the program is to help students choose their major. The program couples traditional engineering education with practical experience and can act as a stepping stone for possible future co-op experiences.

Professional Internship Highlights:

Professional internships are available to all students in the College of Engineering (and engineering students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences) who have completed at least one semester at Penn State.
Professional internships are usually limited to one semester each (fall, spring, or summer); however, multiple internships at different companies may be possible.
A professional internship can be "rolled over" into a co-op experience for students who plan to stay with the same company for two additional rotations.