Lehigh University - Engineering Co-op Program


		Gain Experience "Co-Op has been one of the most profound experiences of my Lehigh career. In addition to showing me how classroom knowledge applies to real problems, it introduced me to corporate culture and helped me to form friendships with a number of people." -Jeffrey Bretz, chemical engineering major "The Co-Op serves as a useful means of networking. Through interactions with various people within the company, I learned the employment opportunities that are avilable for chemical engineering graduates." -Kacie Fisher, chemical engineering major "Lehigh Co-Op students have proven themselves time and again to be effective contributors to our organization. They consistently bring fresh ideas and energy to our engineering teams." -Lutron Electronics Inc., Lehigh Co-Op Employer

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Engineering Co-op Program

Cooperative Education (Co-Op) is a selective program for sophomore year students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, that combines academic study with approximately eight months of paid, career-related professional experience.

Co-Op Eligibility and Application Process

Because of the rigorous academic schedule, only students with a GPA of 3.0 or better in the sophomore class are invited to participate. The official letters of invitation are sent home over the Winter Break. If you decide to participate, you enter the next phase of the process.

During the spring semester, sophomore year, Co-Op candidates interview with companies offering the Co-Op experience. Once you have received and accepted a Co-Op position, you attend Lehigh during the summer sessions to complete the first semester, junior year of course work. The first work rotation begins after summer classes conclude in mid-August and ends in the December/January timeframe. The Co-Op experience is completed with the second work rotation that begins the following May and lasts through August.

Co-Op Work Schedule

	Fall	Spring	Summer
Sophomore	Lehigh	Lehigh	Lehigh
Junior	1st Work Rotation	Lehigh	2nd Work Rotation
Senior	Lehigh	Lehigh

Students who are majoring in the following engineering areas are elligible to participate in Co-Op:

Bio Engineering

Civil Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Computer Science

Computer Science and Business

Electrical Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Information & Systems Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Benefits of a Co-Op Experience

You explore career opportunities and goals in a supportive, real-world environment.
You work as a professional in your major field, blending theory with application.
You clarify your career interests and begin to establish a professional network, increasing your chances of employment after graduation.
You finish your degree in four years while completing 7-9 months of full-time work experience.
You offset your school costs by earning prevailing wages.
You earn six free-elective credits for the experience, three credits per rotation.
During the fall work experience, you maintain full-time student status at Lehigh.

List of current and past Co-Op Employers

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
Sanofi Pasteur
Crayola
ExxonMobil
Florida Power & Light
Hensel Phelps
Hershey Foods
Honeywell
Ingersoll Rand

Intel
KCI Technologies
Lutron Electronics
Merck & Co., Inc.
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Picatinny Arsenal

PPL
Remington & Vernick Engineering
Rohm & Haas
United Parcel Service
Voith Siemens Hydro Power
Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

For more information, contact Cheryl Doll in Career Services at (610) 758-6846 or cad307@lehigh.edu