Cooperation (Co-Op) Education Program for Students
TURN CLASSROOM KNOWLEDGE INTO COMMUNITY IMPACT.
Gain Real-World Experience While Making an Impact
Through the Co-Op Education Program, students have the opportunity to work in short-term, part-time, paid positions that provide hands-on training in science and engineering fields. These roles are designed to complement your coursework, helping you build professional skills, grow your network, and gain the practical experience that employers value.
Co-Op Education Program
Obtaining short-term and part-time paid jobs with hands-on training/practice related to science and engineering majors while attending university can help students land good jobs after graduation. The Co-Op Education Program is one of the options for students to gain that worthwhile college experience.
Participation in this program is voluntary, and obtaining a cooperative (Co-Op) education assignment is competitive. The Co-Op Education Program is a long-term paid education program designed for current sophomores, juniors, and entering first-quarter/semester senior undergraduate students in science and engineering who want to obtain practical work experience while pursuing a degree. This program not only prepares students for the workforce by combining academic knowledge and on-the-job training specifically related to their majors and career goals, but also provides employers with opportunities to evaluate students as potential full-time employees while they complete meaningful projects.
- Co-Op Education Program job opportunities are generally located in California.
- Students interested in the Co-Op Education Program must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
- Co-Op Education Program students hired through the Program are classified as Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc., employees.
- Co-Op Education Program students are required to attend college at least part time and can work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year. In the summer, they can work 40 hours per week and are not required to enroll.
- Co-Op Education Program students are required to enroll in a Co-Op internship credit course within the first 4 months of the program and provide proof of passing the course.
- Work schedules are flexible and agreed upon by students and their industry partners’ managers.
Student Benefits
You can benefit from the Co-Op Program through networking opportunities with industry leaders, achieving a competitive edge with real industry experience, applying your classroom learning in the workplace, and earning academic credit for your work. In addition, you will have the opportunity to prepare yourself for national and global challenges.
"As a young Black woman in STEM, I have the opportunity to motivate and inspire others, like me, to also pursue careers in STEM … My advice to students thinking about applying to a job or an internship with the Co-Op Program, is to do it!”Leilani N. Scott Young Co-Op Student at Cal Fire
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Students interested in the Co-Op Education Program must:
- Complete the Co-Op Education Program Interest form by visiting the Cal State portal.
- Apply online for each available Co-Op Education Program job opening in the Sponsored Program link on the CPP Foundation portal.
- Follow ALL the instructions on each job flyer to submit all the required items.
The Co-Op Education Program is a long-term (6 months to less than 2 years) paid educational program. It is designed for students who want to obtain real-world experience related to their majors in reputable industries while pursuing a degree. Co-Op students must comply with the program requirements. Participation in this program is voluntary, and obtaining a Co-Op assignment is competitive.
An Academic Internship is a closely monitored, structured program that complements the academic/classroom experience. Internships are recognized as high-impact educational practices. Cal Poly Pomona encourages all students to gain hands-on learning experience as part of their undergraduate coursework:
- Related to their majors to receive academic credit
- Paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time.
- Fitting well with academic learning objectives
- Enhancing experiential learning in the workforce
A Non-Academic Internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.
- Does not have to be related to the major
- Must be paid
- No academic credit or learning objectives
- Not required to graduate
Visit the Career Center website.
Please consult with your university's faculty/academic advisors for a thorough answer.
- Engineering EGR 4410, 4420
- Computer Science CS 4410
- Chemistry CHM 4410
- Biological Sciences BIO 4410
For Co-Op students attending other universities, please consult with their institutions’ faculty/department advisors.
Please contact:
- Cal Poly Pomona Center for Community Engagement, Co-Op Education Program - co-op@cpp.edu, 909-869-3434 and/or
- Cal Poly Pomona Foundation Payroll Office — fdnpayroll@cpp.edu; 909-869-3276