Co-op Registration and Credit

In advance of a scheduled co-op cycle, the University registers students for COOP 201 or 501 for each term they are on co-op. As a result, students are considered full-time and are eligible for continued federal and state financial aid and University services during co-op terms. To be eligible to earn co-op credit, students must register their co-op employment with Steinbright by the end of the drop/add period of their assigned co-op cycle.

Adjustment of Co-op Credit Requirements for Degree Fulfillment

Drexel’s colleges, schools, and academic units prescribe the required number of co-op terms and co-op credits that a student must complete to earn their degree. Academic Departments also determine what co-op concentrations (5COP, 4COP, NCOP) are available to students. In rare and exceptional circumstances students may require some portion of their required Drexel Co-op Units (DCU) to be waived by their Academic Unit.

Distinguishing ‘earning’ vs. ‘waiving’ Co-op Credit.

Students earn co-op credit by successfully completing their co-op work experience and successfully completing the corresponding Employment Summary and Planner (ES&P). Co-op credit can only be earned during assigned co-op terms.

It is the purview of Steinbright to determine if a student earns co-op credit (16DCUs) for a given term. Steinbright utilizes internal metrics and policies to make this determination. If a student fails to earn co-op credit for a given term or cycle, that must be made-up as the student still requires the DCUs to meet the graduation requirement.

It is the purview of an Academic Unit to determine if co-op graduation requirements should or can be reduced or waived. Students who do not meet or are not on schedule to earn the requisite amount of co-op credits (DCUs) to fulfill their co-op concentration (5COP, 4COP, NCOP) should work with their academic advisor to determine what options are available to them. Should it be determined that waiving a portion of the required DCUs to meet graduation requirements is warranted, the academic unit can notify Steinbright and then make this adjustment in DegreeWorks.

Example: A 5COP student who has 1 term of co-op waived would only require 16X5= 80 DCUs (5 quarters) to graduate, rather than 16X6=96 DCUs (6 quarters) to graduate.