Cooperative education is an optional plan of full-time, on-campus study alternating with terms of full-time, off-campus paid work experience in industry, business or government. Among the expected benefits to the student are on-the-job experience, career identification, financial assistance and professional development. The work terms average seventeen weeks. Three full work terms are considered minimum for the program. Students are encouraged to begin their first co-op work experience after their third or fourth semester of academic study. Placement in a job is not guaranteed since it depends on the student's qualifications and on the availability of jobs.

College of Arts and Sciences & School of Business Administration

Cooperative Education is open to all students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business Administration. These students may start the application process by making an appointment with a career services professional. Further information on the cooperative education program for arts, science and business students may be obtained by contacting Career Services, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469-2711; phone 937-229-2045; website.

School of Engineering

Qualifications for entering and remaining in cooperative education are (1) to be admitted to the University as a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3; (2) to have a declared major in one of the academic departments in Engineering or Engineering Technology; (3) to maintain good academic standing as specified by the particular academic department; (4) to engage in full-time study and make progress toward the degree during each study term following each full-time work training term.

Incoming sophomore level, junior level or transfer students interested in cooperative education should enroll in the Introduction to Engineering Cooperative Education course which provides complete information regarding co-op registration and work term requirements.  Those who start as first-year students at the University are eligible for placement after completing three terms of full-time study on campus. Transfer students, whether from two-year or four-year institutions, must spend one full-time study term on campus after transferring before becoming eligible for the first work term.

Further information on the engineering cooperative education program may be obtained by contacting Cooperative Education, School of Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469-0223; phone 937-229-2335; website.