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Your Co-op Experience

Drexel’s innovative model of learning combines world-class academics with real-world experience, providing our Dragons the opportunity to see first-hand how the knowledge they gain in the classroom is being used every day in the field. Our renowned cooperative education program — also known as co-op — allows students to take this even further by integrating up to three six-month, full-time professional work experiences into their academic schedule. Each co-op included in your schedule provides new opportunities to not only explore potential career paths and build a larger professional network, but to also gain additional experience and build a more impressive résumé before you graduate.

For over 100 years, our co-op program has been preparing students to excel, and we offer a variety of academic calendars that allow students to participate in up to three different co-op experiences:

Three Co-op Option (Five Years)

Available to most majors and programs, this option includes three individual six-month co-op experiences beginning in the start of a student’s sophomore year, providing an additional 12 months of professional work experience.

One Co-op Option (Four Years)

Students who choose the One Co-op Option will begin a single six-month employment experience in their junior year over the fall/winter or spring/summer terms.

Three Co-op Option
(Five Years)

Chart depicting quarter schedule for five-year, three co-op option.

One Co-op Option
(Four Years)

Chart depicting quarter schedule for four-year, one co-op option.

Co-op Cycle Key

  • On-campus study
  • Co-op experience
  • Vacation

We encourage our Dragons to include as many co-ops as possible within their academic plan. By maximizing the number of your co-op opportunities, you will further expand the scope of your education and become a more valuable asset to potential employers. If you elect our 5-Year Program, you can integrate two additional co-op experiences into your academic calendar — for the exact same tuition price as our 4-Year Program. Even better, as the majority of co-ops are paid and carry a median six-month salary of more than $18,000, you’ll have the chance to graduate with more money in your pocket when you officially enter the professional world!

Drexel also offers a No Co-op Option that is available to limited programs and majors.

Select Co-op Employers

Drexel students co-op at some of the world's most prestigious organizations. Take a look at a selection of Drexel's co-op employers:

  • Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
  • Amazon
  • The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Comcast Corporation
  • Drexel University
  • Estee Lauder/Northtec
  • Exelon Corporation
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Google
  • Independence Blue Cross
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Lockheed Martin
  • PJM Interconnection LLC
  • SAP America
  • Susquehanna Int'l Group LLP
  • Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
  • The TJX Companies, Inc.
  • University of Pennsylvania