Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a more formalized work program where students generally complete two or more work semesters with the same employer, usually with an increased level of responsibility and compensation each semester. Students can choose between an alternating co-op, where students alternate full-time work and study semesters or they can choose to work a parallel co-op, where students work part-time and study part-time simultaneously. Co-ops generally have the following characteristics:

• Paid
• Offered year round (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
• May require commitment of multiple semesters
• 20-40 hours per week
• May receive academic credit (varies on major)

• U.S. Federal Government
• Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Walt Disney World College Program
• IBM