Will co-op be suspended during the transition?
Will employers get year-round coverage with the semester calendar?
Will students be spending less time in the field with the semester calendar?
What will the undergraduate co-op cycles look like under semesters?
What are the advantages of semester-based co-op for employers?
SEE MORE EMPLOYER FAQs RELATED TO CONVERSION ON THE CO-OP SITE.
No. Under the current quarter system, co-op students typically work 6 quarters, which equals about 18 months of work experience. Under semesters, students will typically work 5 semesters, which equals about 20 months. Students who begin co-op after semester conversion will experience an extra two months in the field due to semester conversion.
See the Undergraduate Co-op Cycles page for cycles for different programs and colleges.
When employers hire co-op students, they invest time and money into the students’ training. With longer terms and fewer interruptions, employers get a greater return on their investments. Students will spend more time working each term – which allows employers to assign students projects of greater longevity and complexity.
For employers who hire co-op students from multiple schools, scheduling will be easier. Other co-op institutions function on the semester system, including Northeastern University, the University of Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech University and the University of Tennessee.
Certain industries, such as construction and accounting, have busy seasons, as well as low-activity periods. With a semester calendar, students will experience all the seasonal activities of their industry. By experiencing each season in the field, co-op students receive a well-rounded experience that increases their value as potential future workers for employers. (Currently, on the quarter system, a co-op student generally works a fall/spring quarter rotation or a winter/summer quarter rotation throughout his/her college years.)
