Co-Ops

Georgia Tech believes that obtaining relevant, academically related experience is an integral part of the educational process. In order to achieve that, the Division of Professional Practice offers two methods to attain such experience: the Cooperative Education program and the Undergraduate Professional Internship program.

The Cooperative Plan has been offered at Georgia Tech since 1912. It is a five-year program for students who wish to integrate practical experience with theory learned in the classroom. More than 3,000 students currently participate, working full time on alternate semesters at more than 650 employers throughout the United States (as well as numerous international assignments). Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education, it is one of the largest totally optional programs in the country and the highest ranked program among public universities.

The Co-op Plan is available for all engineering majors as well those studying biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, computer science, management, economics, earth and atmospheric sciences, international affairs, industrial design, building construction, and science, technology, and culture. The academic curricula are identical to those offered to regular four-year students, and co-ops remain on the school rolls while on work periods by registering for the appropriate co-op courses.

Co-op offers the student practical experience and insight into human relations, as well as financial assistance. The work experience co-ops receive is a valuable asset to graduates starting out in their chosen professions. Neither college laboratory experience nor employment during vacations can take the place of organized co-op training. The plan provides, to a substantial degree, the experience most companies require of their employees before promoting them to positions of higher responsibility. Work experience may also assist students who are undecided about their future plans in determining early in their college careers whether they wish to continue in a particular field.

Moreover, daily contact with diverse groups among their fellow employees offers students practical insight into sociology, psychology, economics, and ethics that no textbook can supply. Finally, students receive compensation for their services from the employer. Typically, co-op students can save enough from their earnings to pay for more than half of their school expenses.

Undergraduate professional internships provide practical experience for students who choose not to follow the Co-op Plan. Although internships normally do not provide the depth provided by the Co-op Plan experience, they are an extremely viable way to obtain out-of-classroom experience. Similar to cooperative education, the jobs and the students' performance are monitored by the Division of Professional Practice to ensure maximum benefit by all parties.

Students in all majors may participate in the internship program and may work any term during the school year. Numerous international internships are also available.

For more information please visit their web site at www.profpractice.gatech.edu.