Drexel Co-op

Apply arts and sciences knowledge, earn hands-on experience

Student Victoria Wible, Sociology '22, presented energy policy research conducted during her co-op at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Conference.

Alumna Victoria Wible, Sociology ’22, presented energy policy research from her co-op at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Conference.

For more than 100 years, Drexel University has equipped students for the transition from school to work with its renowned cooperative education program. Since 1919, professional work experience and skill development has been central to Drexel’s academic model and curricula in the form of our cooperative education program, Drexel Co-op.

Co-op allows our College of Arts and Sciences students to explore career options and acquire skills while building an impressive résumé before graduation. Students can also explore specialized options such as research, entrepreneurship, or international co-ops. While co-op roles can be both paid and unpaid, students who participate in the program typically receive higher starting salaries post-graduation than graduates of other schools.

The Steinbright Career Development Center fully supports students throughout the co-op process as they apply to, prepare for, and interview for placements.

Meet College Co-ops Your Co-op Experience The Drexel Difference College Fact Sheet (PDF)

Co-op is NOT an internship

No summers of coffee runs or mindless filing here! Drexel students embark on six-month periods of full-time employment in practical, discipline-specific jobs aligned with their interests and abilities. Depending on their chosen program, students can participate in up to three different co-op positions —that’s 18 months of hands-on work experience— during their time at Drexel. Co-op students are entrusted with projects vital to the day-to-day functioning of the workplace and they get to see how the knowledge they've gained in the classroom is applied in the field.

96%

of CoAS students were employed on co-op in 2020-2021, while others engaged in co-op and community-based learning research opportunities.

29%

of Arts and Sciences co-op participants working full-time had received a job offer from a former co-op employer.

91%

of Arts and Sciences students working full-time were satisfied with their co-op position.

92%

of Arts and Sciences students working full-time co-ops said they were satisfied with the level of responsibility at their position.

Meet College Co-ops

Ryan Shaw teaches music to a group of students

Co-op Sets Communication Major on Path to Becoming a Music Therapist

A co-op with the nonprofit Keep Music Alive not only allowed Ryan Shaw to explore his lifelong passion for music, but inspired him to pursue a career in music therapy after he graduates from the MS-SDC program.

Writers Room co-op student Jeremy D'Amico

Finding Your Place in the Community with Writers Room

When Jeremy D’Amico, political science ’24, decided to come to Drexel, he didn’t think much about what living in a city like Philadelphia would involve. He quickly became absorbed in his studies and paid little attention to the community surrounding campus—until he started a co-op with Writers Room.

A Day in the Life at the Academy of Natural Sciences' Ornithology Department

A co-op in the Academy of Natural Sciences' ornithology department has allowed environmental science major Abigail Del Grosso to explore her interest in birds. She shares her more about her experience in this Q&A.

Finding Empowerment as a First-Generation Student

Guest blogger Kaylee Wilson, a third-year sociology and global public health double major, shares her experience as a first-generation college student at Drexel.

Confronting the Effects of Coastal Climate Change

Throughout their co-op this spring and summer, environmental science major Kris Freyland worked with Beth Watson, PhD, associate professor of biodiversity, earth and environmental science and senior scientist at the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Patrick Center for Environmental Research, to study the impact of saltwater intrusion into coastal forests.

Exploring the 'Wild' Politics of Free-Roaming Horse Management

Things are getting wild in the West. Free-roaming horse populations have existed in western states for centuries, but the conflict surrounding them is entirely human. This conflict sparked the interest of Jen Britton, director for communications and special projects in the Office of University & Community Partnerships, and Christian Hunold, PhD, professor of politics.

Emma Hirt at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Bringing History to New Audiences

Senior global studies major Emma Hirt spent the spring and summer as a Programs Assistant Co-op at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where she used social media to introduce the organization's work to a younger audience—and went viral in the process.

Biological Sciences Major Carlie Relyea Contributes to Vaccine Trials Through Co-op

During her co-op, Carlie Relyea assisted with the Pfizer pediatric and adolescent vaccination trial at the Pediatric Clinical Research Center in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The experience helped clarify her dream of being a pediatric doctor.

A Passion for Research: Meet History and Art History Major Jamie Clifford

From the small class sizes and personal attention from professors to the research opportunities, co-op and flexibility in course selection, studying history at Drexel has been a great experience for Jamie Clifford. Learn how these experiences have prepared Clifford for a future in graduate school and museum curation.

Biological Sciences Major Nick Sookhoo is on the Path to Medical School

From his research experience to co-op, biological sciences student Nick Sookhoo is gaining the skills he will need to be successful in medical school and achieve his longtime dream of becoming a doctor.