Co-op Education

Cooperative Education is an educationally challenging academic program in which undergraduate students receive academic credit as they work. Generally, students choosing to co-op do so during their junior and beginning of their senior year, but in some cases and with permission of the sponsoring company, students may have the opportunity to co-op as early as the freshman year. Lawrence Tech offers two types of cooperative programs.

Traditional Co-op Program

Also called the "Alternating" program, this program allows students to alternate full-time college studies with three 15-week semesters of full-time work. A variation of the traditional program, especially for civil engineering students, takes into account the seasonal nature of the work and involves two semesters (for example, summer and fall) worked back to back, followed by a spring semester of collegiate studies, then a final semester of summer work experience.

Parallel Co-op Program

A program that allows students to work at least 20 hours per week while simultaneously attending classes and maintaining a full-time academic schedule. During the summer semester, students work full-time and attend classes part-time (six credit hours).

Requirements for Co-op Eligibility

• A minimum 2.25 GPA maintained throughout the program
• Transfer students must have completed at least one semester at Lawrence Tech
• International students must have visas approved by Lawrence Tech's international admissions advisor.
• Students who wish to choose the alternate program must be taking 12 credit hours.
• Those who apply for the parallel program will be considered part-time status.

All undergraduates in the following majors are welcome to apply:
• Chemistry (Parallel only)
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science (Parallel only)
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Technology (BSET program only)
• Industrial Management
• Mathematics (Parallel only)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics (Parallel only)
• Technology Management

The Co-Op Office works with various companies, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Lear Corporation, Visteon Automotive, DENSO International, Nissan Research and Detroit Edison. International co-op opportunities are being developed.

Informally and apart from the formal co-op programs, many students in all disciplines work full or part-time while attending classes. Lawrence Tech's day and evening course offerings provide considerable flexibility for students who wish to work while attending classes. While students may learn of particular job opportunities through such sources as the Career Services Office, students are individually responsible for working out an acceptable attendance schedule with their employer.

For more information on the co-op program, call the Career Services Office at 248.204.3145.