Our students graduate with more than 1.5 years of work experience — and a competitive advantage — in their field through our world-renowned Cooperative Education Program.
Because co-op is required and integrated into all our undergraduate programs, students alternate between semesters in the classroom and paid full-time work. Co-op is what we are known for — we invented it in 1906 — and UC is ranked top 5 for co-op in the nation among U.S. public and private universities (U.S. News & World Report).
CEAS co-op is one of the largest programs in the country. We support 4,500 co-op experiences annually. Students are guided by co-op advisors, who help coach students through the job search process. When they graduate, students have the professional skills and confidence to enter their chosen career.
More than an internship, our co-op students are trusted by their employers to make meaningful contributions. Students work with companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 businesses, as well as research institutions and government agencies. Students have five semester-long co-op positions to gain clarity on what they like — and don’t like — about various positions and employers before they even graduate.