A&S Optional Co-op Program

Students at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences can participate in optional co-op — paid, career-focused work experiences that complement your degree.

Key Benefits:

• Earn competitive pay while gaining hands-on experience
• Integrate academic studies with real-world professional roles
• Build transferable skills and a strong professional network
• Receive personalized support through dedicated co-op courses and advising
• Graduate with a competitive edge in the Cincinnati job market and nationally

UC invented cooperative education and remains a national leader — ranked among the top co-op programs in the U.S.

Most majors in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati offer optional co-op.
Full list of undergraduate A&S majors → (Note: Programs with an optional co-op track are denoted with an*).

Requirements vary by major. Check your major map or run a “what-if” report in Catalyst. Consult with your academic advisor before declaring the co-op track.

A&S students must be actively enrolled in, or have completed, their mid-collegiate career touchpoint class before adding the co-op track to their major.

It’s a flexible, non-mandatory co-op opportunity that allows A&S students to gain paid professional experience while earning academic credit.

In most cases, no. You’ll work with your academic advisor to make progress toward your undergraduate degree while also completing your co-op requirements. To stay on track for graduation, you may need to complete a co-op or take classes during the summer, and you can also choose between full- and part-time co-op options. For planning help, review your major map and run a "what-if" report in Catalyst.

Yes — co-op may incur a fee.

Students who register for a full-time co-op (35 or more hours per week) will pay a co-op fee in lieu of semester tuition.

Students who register for a part-time co-op (less than 35 hours per week) will pay tuition per credit hour. You are encouraged to enroll in a total of 12 to 18 credit hours for the semester to avoid additional tuition charges. If you enroll in more than 18 credit hours, you will be charged the standard per-credit-hour tuition rate for each credit hour over 18.

Your academic advisor can help you determine the appropriate number of credit hours and explain how these costs apply to your specific situation.

Any semester—fall, spring, or summer. Be sure to discuss your plans with your academic advisor so you can fulfill all co-op requirements while maintaining steady progress toward completing your undergraduate degree.

During your mid-collegiate career touchpoint course, you will build a professional resume, tailored cover letters, an online profile, and core skills in interviewing, networking, and job searching to support your co-op and internship search. You will also learn how to use Handshake and your personal networks to identify co-op and paid internship opportunities.

Once your co-op track is declared, you will be enrolled in a dedicated Canvas site with comprehensive job search resources. Each week, you will receive a curated list of opportunities through Handshake to support your search. You can schedule appointments with a co-op advisor via Handshake for individualized job search guidance and are strongly encouraged to attend UC-sponsored career fairs and networking events.

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to take the lead, stay engaged, and conduct a robust job search to secure a co-op position.

Once you have accepted a position, you will report your co-op through Handshake:

1. Log in to Handshake.
2. On the left side, select “Career Center” (last option).
3. Click “Experiences”, then select “Submit an Experience.”
4. Under Experience Template, select “A&S Experience Reporting Form.”
5. For Term, choose the term in which your experience will occur (not the current term).
6. Complete the form with as much detail as possible, including:

• Approximate start and end date
• Hours per week or total working hours

This information determines the number of credit hours you are eligible to earn. If you do not yet have these details, wait to submit until they are confirmed.

     7. After submitting the form, you may attach supporting documents, such as:

• Your offer letter
• A screenshot of an email from your supervisor

These attachments are helpful but not required.

Once your experience is approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to enroll in the appropriate co-op course. 

Your co-op credits are tied directly to your hours on the job. After you submit your experience form, the co-op program director will work with you to determine the right class and number of hours.

As an A&S student, you can earn anywhere from 0 to 12 credits. However, if you're looking to earn more than 3 hours, you’ll need the green light from your academic advisor and the program director. Make sure to check how many electives you actually need and review the financial commitment (Are there costs associated with UC co-op?) in this FAQ section.

For A&S international students on an F-1 visa who have declared a co-op track in their major, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may be approved. The total amount of CPT you can receive is based on the number of required co-op experiences in your major’s co-op track. Because requirements vary by major, review your major map and contact your academic advisor for specific details.

Students may also be approved for CPT for one additional co-op experience to help fulfill the Experiential Learning degree requirement, if it has not already been met through another experience. Speak with your academic advisor for guidance.

After you declare the co-op track and obtain a paid position, you must submit the experience through Handshake. Once the position is approved in Handshake, the Program Director will email you instructions for registering for the appropriate course and will copy your academic advisor. After you receive these instructions, you can submit your CPT request.

A&S students who are not on a co-op track may use CPT one time only to complete an internship or co-op to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please consult your academic advisor before proceeding.

Once you declare the co-op track, you’ll receive ongoing support through co-op courses, individualized advising, and job search resources designed to help University of Cincinnati students succeed in the Cincinnati region and beyond.