Why participate in a co-op or internship?
- Gain knowledge of the industry – gain hands-on experience in a professional setting.
- Explore your career path – these experiences can help you confirm your interests or discover new ones.
- Build your resume – a strong resume can help you obtain and approach interviews in a positive and confident manner.
- Develop new skills - learn new skills and apply what you've learned in the classroom in a practical way.
- Make connections - meet professionals in your field and start building your professional network.
Auburn University Co-op Program + Engineering Internship Program
- Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher institutional cumulative GPA to enroll in the Engineering Co-op Program, for all work-school rotations.
- You must be declared in-major status prior to first work term, with an approved Co-op Work Plan by your academic advisor.
- Three-semester commitment with the same company and co-op experiences are always paid.
- Co-op takes place year-round and students gain up to one year of experience and is a full-time work experience.
- Co-op students have the opportunity to develop an in-depth skillset and manage their own projects during their work terms.
- Companies give more responsibility to co-op students due to the longer period of time spent at the company.
- Co-op students receive priority registration status and are able to register each semester during the early registration period for priority students.
- Students do not pay tuition during co-op work semesters and are enrolled in a 0-credit, $0 fee course to maintain student status.This course is graded S/U.
- Students must maintain good academic standing per Auburn University's policy (GPA of 2.0 or higher) to enroll in the Engineering Internship Program.
- One semester commitment.
- Internships typically take place only during the summer semester or 10-12 weeks but can happen during fall and spring semesters as well.
- Internships may be part-time or full-time.
- Internships allow students to spend time at different companies.
- Students can intern as early as the summer after their freshman year.
- Students do not pay tuition during internships and are enrolled in a 0-credit, $0 fee course to maintain student status. This course is graded S/U.
CO-OP + INTERNSHIP PROCESS
As you pursue a co-op or internship work experience, you can follow this three-step process: Interest, Search + Secure and Report + Enroll.INTEREST
Interested in learning more about a co-op or internship?
- Attend a Co-op and Internship Interest Meeting during a fall or spring semester.
These 50-minute sessions are designed for students considering pursuing an engineering co-op or internship. Co-op + Internship Ambassadors along with a CDCR staff member discuss the benefits of gaining work experience, compare co-op and internship experiences, review eligibility requirements, and share important resources + next steps. Meetings take place Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 4pm during the first half of the semester. Visit our event calendar for more details and for students to register.
- Complete the Co-op and Internship Interest Form.
SEARCH + SECURE
Ready to begin your search for your next work experience?
- Participate in and complete Co-op and InternReady. You will be automatically enrolled in this free, 0-credit Canvas course upon completion of the Co-op and Internship Interest Form.
- Meet with an Engineering Career Coach: Schedule an Appointment on Handshake.
- Stop by the CDCR during Drop-Ins on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Visualize your potential co-op work rotations!
Recruiting Timeline
Internship application deadlines vary, often depending on specific industry areas and organization types. It is best to identify potential organizations of interest early in the fall semester to determine where the deadline might fall and proceed accordingly.
This timeline outlines a typical on-campus recruiting schedule for each academic year.
| Early September |
Recruitment activity begins |
| September |
Peak volume for on-campus recruiting events |
| October |
High-volume on-campus recruiting activity continues |
| November |
Reduced on-campus recruiting activity |
| December |
No on-campus recruiting activities |
| January - February |
High volume for on-campus recruiting events |
| March - April |
On-campus recruiting continues, typically for "just-in-time" hiring |
Co-op + Internship Ambassadors are a group of student leaders devoted to outreach and programming to increase awareness of the Co-op + Internship Program and encourage undergraduate participation. Co-op + Internship Ambassadors are upperclassmen who have successfully completed at least one co-op or two internship work terms, demonstrate leadership on campus and at their respective workplaces, and want to positively impact the campus community at large. Eligible students will be invited to apply for this volunteer role in March of each year.
Interested in connecting with an ambassador to ask about their experience?
Complete the Ambassador Connections survey or email any student below.
Below are the Spring 2025 Co-op + Internship Ambassadors.
Abigail Taylor
Software Engineering
Intern, J.B. Hunt Transportation
Anderson Lee
Mechanical Engineering
Intern, Lhoist North America
Annabel Morrisard
Chemical Engineering
Co-op, SABIC
Antonio Herrera
Mechanical Engineering
Co-op, Club Car | Internship, Tesla
Bexley Knight
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Internship, STERIS | LPL Financial
Camille Daugherty
Civil Engineering
Co-op, Enercon Services
Ethan Lynde
Civil Engineering
Intern, Baxter & Woodman, Relativity Space, Stanley Consultants
Glen Stahl
Materials Engineering + Industrial & Systems Engineering
Co-op, GE Appliances | Internship, Disneyland, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Griffin Collier
Mechanical Engineering
Co-op, SCI Technology
Jacob Hurst
Civil Engineering
Co-op, Engineering Consulting Services
Josh Dobelbower
Aerospace Engineering
Co-op, Gulfstream Aerospace Company
Kralyn Thomas
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Internship, KIA | Milliken & Co
Riley Johnson
Civil Engineering
Co-op, Alabama Power Company
Seth Walker
Chemical Engineering
Co-op, IntraMicron | Internship, ExxonMobil
Shrimayi Karanam
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Co-op, Johnson & Johnson | Internship, IBM
Tanner Thompson
Mechanical Engineering
Co-op, Ulliman Schutte Construction
Tate Alston
Aerospace Engineering
Intern, Archangel Systems Inc
Tyler Teufel
Software Engineering
Internship, LPL Financial
William Kong
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Co-op, Delta
Are you a current international student?
Please review specific information regarding Curricular Practical Training here.
REPORT + ENROLL
Join the Auburn University Co-op Program or Engineering Internship Program!
Have you secured an internship or co-op for a future semester?
- Report your Experience
- Enroll in the appropriate, affiliated course for each work term:
- COOP 4910 | First Co-op Work Term
- COOP 4920 | Second Co-op Work Term
- COOP 4930 | First Co-op Work Term
- ENGR 3920 | Undergraduate Engineering Internship
- ENGR 7920 | Graduate Engineering Internship
* Engineering Internships must be reported EACH term.
To be active in the Co-op Program, students must:
- Sign and return the Co-op Work Plan prior to the first Co-op work term (for engineering students).
- If coursework is needed during the work semester, you must have academic advisor approval and have the course(s) included on your work plan. It is recommended that no more than five credit hours are taken during a work semester.
- Enroll in the corresponding course (listed above). The course is a 0-credit hour, $0-fee course that documents your co-op work experience on your academic transcript. Students in work rotations do not pay tuition. There is a $100 course fee that will be incurred during the second term.
- Work for the same employer for at least three semesters.
- Maintain a 2.5 institutional, cumulative GPA
- Complete required assignments during the work term which include: Work Information Survey, Check-in Survey, SkillSurvey to receive a satisfactory grade in the course. All courses are graded S/U.
- Work for the assigned period of time established by the employer in the offer letter and in accordance with Auburn University's academic calendar unless special arrangements have been made with your employer. Under no circumstances will special arrangements be allowed to permit late arrival on campus after the first day of classes for scheduled school semesters.
To be active in the Engineering Internship Program, students must:
- Enroll in the corresponding course (listed above). The course is a 0-credit hour, $0-fee course that documents their internship on their transcript.
- Maintain a 2.0 institutional, cumulative GPA
- Work for the assigned period of time established by the employer in the offer letter and in accordance with Auburn University's academic calendar unless special arrangements have been made with your employer. Under no circumstances will special arrangements be allowed to permit late arrival on campus after the first day of classes for scheduled school semesters.
- Complete required assignments during the work term which include: Work Information Survey, Check-in Survey, SkillSurvey to receive a satisfactory grade in the course. All courses are graded S/U.
STUDENTS AT WORK
Here are resources and additional information for current students preparing to transition at work, or currently at work.
CO-OP PROGRAM STUDENTS | ENROLLMENT IN COOP 4910, 4920, and 4930
ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP STUDENTS | ENROLLMENT IN ENGR 3920 (UG), ENGR 7920 (GR)
*Enrollment must happen by the 5th class day of each semester. No retroadding will take place. If you are not enrolled for the appropriate course during your work semester, you will be dropped from the Program.
As part of the S/U Grade for each of the affiliated courses above, you will be required to complete each of the following three surveys each work term:
SURVEYS + EVALUATIONS
At various points throughout your work rotation, you will receive surveys and a link to an evaluation.
Beginning
At the beginning of your work term, you will receive a Work Information Survey to help provide our programs the most up-to-date information about your work experience. This brief survey asks for information such as city, state, and salary.
Middle
Around mid-term, you will receive a Check-In Survey. This survey is to check in on your work experience and for you to privately report any potential work issues to an Engineering Career Coach. Remember, you do not have to wait until this survey is sent to report an issue.
End
Towards the end of each work term, you and at least one supervisor are required to complete performance evaluations on SkillSurvey. Each semester, you will receive an email with a unique link to the survey.
SkillSurvey assessment is a valuable tool that allows students to obtain feedback from multiple managers and co-workers regarding soft skill development. It was developed based on the 8 NACE Career Ready Competencies, which recruiters of college students have determined as the 8 most desired soft skills in new college graduates. Refer to this page to learn more about the Career Ready Competencies.
Here are current benefits for participating in each affiliated Program:
CO-OP STUDENT BENEFITS
- Priority registration status
- Co-op Diploma ($15 fee) upon graduation
- Honor cord + padfolio awarded
- 1 year of relevant industry experience
INTERNSHIP STUDENT BENEFITS
- Padfolio awarded after completion of 2 internships
- Internship Program certificate
- Relevant industry experience
Salary: Co-op + internship positions are paid positions.
Housing: Students are responsible for their own housing costs; however, some companies may offer housing stipends or provide housing for students.
Meal Plans: Students can request an exemption from meal plans for each work semester through AU Access. AU Access > My Campus > Away from Campus Dining Accommodation Request.
For additional questions, contact Dining Services at dining@auburn.edu or 334.844.8504.
Scholarship Eligibility: During a work term, scholarships are placed on hold. Please contact the University Scholarships Office to double-check eligibility requirements. For more information, please review these scholarship FAQs.
*If you currently receive Samuel Ginn College of Engineering scholarships, please contact Jessica Taylor, Director of Engineering Recruiting and Scholarships, at dewbeja@auburn.edu.
Football Tickets: All students are still eligible to purchase football tickets during a work semester.
Spring 2025 (20 weeks)
Report to Work Monday, January 6
Survey 1 Due Friday, January 31
Survey 2 Due Friday, March 21
SkillSurvey Due Thursday, May 1
Work Term Ends Friday, May 23
Summer 2025 (12 weeks)
Report to Work Monday, May 5
Survey 1 Due Friday, May 30
Survey 2 Due Friday, June 20
SkillSurvey Due Friday, July 25
Work Term Ends Friday, August 1
Fall 2025 (20 weeks)
Report to Work Monday, August 4
Survey 1 Due Friday, August 29
Survey 2 Due Wednesday, October 17
SkillSurvey Due Wednesday, December 1
Work Term Ends Friday, December 19
Spring 2026 (20 weeks)
Report to Work Monday, January 5
Survey 1 Due Friday, January 30
Survey 2 Due Friday, March 20
SkillSurvey Due Friday, May 1
Work Term Ends Friday, May 22