Co-op Options
Under the Drexel Co-op plan, you'll attend classes full-time
for your entire freshman year. Then, depending on your academic program,
you will alternate periods of full-time classroom studies with full-time employment
at University-approved employers.
Co-op Cycles
Drexel's academic calendar is based on a quarter system, and
a student's co-op cycle determines which quarters he or she will participate
in the co-op experience. For example, students with a fall/winter co-op cycle
will work full-time during the fall and winter quarters, while a student
with a spring/summer co-op cycle will work full-time during the spring and
summer quarters. Co-op cycles are typically assigned during freshman year. The graph on the right shows when a student with a fall/winter
co-op cycle is in class, on a co-op experience, or on
vacation.
The number of co-op experiences required for graduation is
determined by the chosen academic course of study.
Three Co-op Option (Five Years) – This
option includes three six-month periods of full-time employment. At the
start of the sophomore year, students study or work through all terms, including
summers.
One Co-op Option (Four Years) – This option includes just one six-month period of full-time employment during
the junior year. At the start of the sophomore year, students study or
work through all terms, including summers.
No Co-op Option (Four Years) – Some
programs can be completed in four years without co-op employment. Students
are not required to pursue studies during any of the summer terms.
Drexel Co-op Options
Review Drexel's undergraduate majors to see which co-op options are
available for your major:
Co-op Employers and Locations
Geographic Distribution of Co-op Students Employed
Co-op employers are located in 41 states and 17 international locations. Many corporations eagerly
embrace and nurture the fresh perspectives, drive, and dedication that are typical of a Drexel student.
This chart illustrates the location distribution of last year's students.
| Geographic Distribution of Co-op Employment |
Number of Students |
| Pennsylvania |
2,977 |
| New Jersey |
442 |
| Delaware |
121 |
| New York |
118 |
| Maryland |
48 |
| California |
22 |
| Other states |
100 |
| Other countries |
36 |
| Total co-op students employed |
3,864 |
Drexel Co-op Abroad
Drexel's Co-op Abroad program provides opportunities for you to live and work in a foreign country.
Students who have participated in Co-op Abroad have come from a variety of majors and worked on nearly
every continent. Through Co-op Abroad, students:
- Gain meaningful experience in international commerce and industry
- Improve foreign language skills
- Develop greater understanding of foreign cultures
- Develop significant insights into their own characters
Drexel Co-op Nearby
The greater Philadelphia area is a nexus of businesses virtually unmatched in scope, scale, and specialty.
Some of the nation's top biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, hospitals and health care centers, Fortune
500 companies, and individually owned start-ups call Philadelphia home.
Co-op Employers
Drexel students co-op at some of the world's most prestigious organizations. Take a look at Drexel's top co-op employers:
| Top Co-op Employers |
|
| Ace USA |
|
| Arkema Inc. |
|
| BlackRock |
|
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia |
|
| Comcast Corporation |
|
| Drexel University (Drexel hires mostly research-related co-op students) |
|
| E.I. du Pont de Nemours |
|
| GlaxoSmithKline |
|
| Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania |
|
| Johnson & Johnson |
|
| Lockheed Martin |
|
| Merck |
|
| Microsoft Corporation |
|
| PECO Energy |
|
| Pennoni Associates, Inc. |
|
| Philadelphia Housing Authority |
|
| Philadelphia School District |
|
| PJM Interconnection LLC |
|
| Rohm and Haas |
|
| SAP America |
|
| Siemens |
|
| Sunoco, Inc. |
|
| Susquehanna International Group LLP |
|
| Synthes |
|
| Thomas Jefferson University Hospital |
|
| Traffic Planning & Design, Inc. |
|
| Unisys Corporation |
|
| University of Pennsylvania |
|