About Engineering Co-op
Co-op gives students the opportunity to work in their field while earning credit at the same time. Often, the credits can be applied to requirements in your major field of study; this varies by department.
The majority of students, while working full-time, do not register in classes, but do maintain their full-time student status at UW while registered in the Engineering Co-op & Internship Program.
Qualifying jobs are 50% or more engineering-related duties. If the job description qualifies, students can earn credit. Once a student accepts a job offer, their next step is to setup a pre-work meeting to register their experience.
How Co-op Works
Employers hire UW engineering students for one, two or three quarters. Most employers, as well as students, report greater satisfaction with their experience when they work six months or more.
As an engineering student, you can use your Engineering Co-op & Internship Program's account to find work in your field (or use other resources). Then, while you are working, you earn college credit through courses ENGR 321 and ENGR 322.
- Co-op work is usually full-time (more than 20 hours per week), but sometimes part-time (up to 20 hours per week).
- Credits earned depend on hours worked. Full-time work earns two credits in ENGR 321; part-time work earns one credit per quarter.
- Co-op jobs usually begin at the beginning of a quarter - summer, autumn, winter or spring.
- The Program comprises a two-part linked registration. While working on the job, students are registered in ENGR 321. The quarter after the work period ends, students are registered in ENGR 322. If a student is graduating at the end of their work period, they are registered in ENGR 321 & ENGR 322 concurrently. Credit is earned only after completion of both ENGR 321 & ENGR 322.
Advantages of Co-op
Co-op students gain hands-on work experience while earning credits towards a degree. Businesses gain the opportunity to recruit, evaluate, and train potential employees.
As a student, Co-op experience helps you fine tune your career goals and objectives. The relevant work experience also increases your job readiness and your marketability after graduation.
- All Co-op jobs are paid.
- All Co-op jobs comprise work that is 50% or more engineering-related.
- Students on full-time Co-op jobs are considered full-time students during the quarters they are working. This means you may be eligible for some financial aid, student housing, student insurance, etc.
Earning Credits
Students on Co-op jobs earn two credits each quarter they work full-time (21 or more hours per week) and one credit for part-time work (20 or fewer hours per week).
Credit Fees
Good news - students pay NO tuition for registering for Co-op (ENGR 321)! The credit fee for Co-op is substantially lower than for standard tuition credits. The quarterly credit fee is billed by the Student Accounts Office and will show up on your MyUW account. Many employers have a program that pays the Co-op fee, and we encourage students to ask if their employer has such a program.
| Credit Fees | Undergrads | Grad Students |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time work – 2 credits per quarter (more than 20 hrs/wk) |
$360 | $500 |
| Part-time work – 1 credit per quarter (20 or fewer hrs/wk) |
$180 | $250 |
See also
Contact Engineering Co-op
Ana Wieman,
Engineering Co-op & Internship Program
(206) 685-1789
330 Loew Hall
wieman@uw.edu
Roy Chan,
Engineering Co-op & Internship Program
(206) 685-0385
336 Loew Hall
engrcoop@uw.edu