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)
One Co-op Option
(Four Years)
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