College of Engineering / CDCR / Cooperative Education Program / Program Information
Program Information
Student Applicant Roadmap
Interest Meeting
- Attending one interest meeting is required to apply to the Co-op Program.
- Dates and times can be found here.
- Engineering students must have a minimum of 2.5 GPA and be in-major before applying.
- Click here to apply to the Co-op Program.
- Co-op employers are invited to campus to connect directly with prospective co-op students.
- Interview Days occur every fall and spring semester.
- Interviews are scheduled before the event takes place. Students can start scheduling interviews as soon as their resume, transcript, and Co-op Alternation Schedule is uploaded to Handshake.
- Students typically receive job offers within 2-3 weeks after the interview.
- Job offers are for 3 semesters of work rotations at the same company.
Example Co-op Alternation Schedule:
|
Semester |
Plan A |
Plan B |
Plan C |
|
2nd year - Fall |
School |
School |
School |
|
2nd year - Spring |
Work |
School |
School |
|
2nd year - Summer |
School |
Work |
* |
|
3rd year - Fall |
Work |
School |
Work |
|
3rd year - Spring |
School |
Work |
School |
|
3rd year - Summer |
Work |
School |
Work |
|
4th year - Fall |
School |
Work |
School |
|
4th year - Spring |
School |
School |
Work |
|
4th year - Summer |
* |
* |
* |
|
5th year - Fall |
School |
School |
School |
|
5th year - Spring |
School |
School |
School |
*Optional Semester for co-op work, school, study abroad, internship, etc.
Work & School Rotations
- Housing
- Co-op students are responsible for their own housing costs; however, some companies may offer housing stipends or provide housing for students.
- Salary
- All co-op positions are paid with an average salary of $19.50/hour.
- During work rotations, students will register for COOP 4920. Students in work rotations do not pay tuition but pay a $100 course fee to maintain student enrollment status at Auburn.
- During these work terms, scholarships are placed on hold and all students are still eligible for football tickets (with an extra fee). Throughout this whole process, students will receive support from Co-op staff.
- Please review these scholarship FAQs for co-op students.
- Requirements for Each Co-op Term
- You must enroll in COOP 4920 course each work term
- You must work for the same employer for 3 semesters
- You must complete the work report and SkillSurvey evaluation after each work term
- You must complete rotation verification survey each semester
- Following completion of each work term, students will complete self-evaluations of their performance and supervisors are required to evaluate their students as well.
- The SkillSurvey assessment is a valuable tool that allows students obtain feedback from multiple managers and co-workers regarding soft skill development.
- This evaluation tool was developed based on the 8 NACE Career Ready Competencies, which have been determined by recruiters of college students as the 8 most desired soft skills in new college graduates.
- Refer to this page to better understand your career competencies.
- In addition to the SkillSurvey evaluation, all co-op students will also complete a workplace evaluation survey at the end of each work term. The purpose of this brief report is to receive students’ honest opinions about their experiences at their organizations. Responses on this report are not shared with the student’s co-op employer.
- All students who have accepted co-op positions are required to attend a Co-op Send-Off Meeting at the end of the semester in which the student accepts a co-op position. At this meeting, students will receive helpful guidance for having a successful co-op work experience.
- Once the student completes both evaluations, co-op students receive the Co-op T-Shirt after each work term
- A diploma-sized certificate will also be awarded to go alongside the graduation diploma. This Co-op Diploma must be requested in the semester in which the student graduates. The Co-op Program staff will contact you to order your Co-op Diploma.
Senior Co-op Status and Graduation
Once you have completed all required work semesters, the AU Co-op Office maintains your records in what is referred to as the "Fifth Year" co-op status until graduation. Upon successful completion of all 3 co-op work semesters, in addition to your university diploma, you will be eligible to receive a Cooperative Education Certificate during the semester you apply for graduation. The certificate is a great companion piece to your diploma.
The fee of the Co-op Certificate is $15.00 (cost is subject to change) and is ordered through the Co-op Office at the beginning of your graduation semester. At the time you receive your certificate you will be asked to complete a survey form which is used for the purpose of receiving constructive appraisal of the program from co-op graduates.
Employers of co-op students understand that, unless you have agreed otherwise, you are free to pursue professional opportunities at graduation time with any employer of your choice. You are not obligated to return to work with your co-op employer after graduation; however, we recommend that you give your co-op employer serious consideration since you have built valuable experience, reputation, and fringe benefit time with them.
As a co-op graduate, you will be more than a regular graduate. The co-op graduate is special. You will be a product of many efforts by Auburn University, the Co-op Program, your employer, and your own self-application. You will have become a proven, experienced, self-assured graduate.
