Co-ops and Internships

Industrial engineering (IE) students are strongly encouraged to gain relevant, career-related work experience before graduation. These paid experiences can aid in molding future career goals and paths.

IE students can earn credit for work experiences, whether they be through a co-op or an internship. For each work experience/rotation, a student can earn one credit. If a student accumulates a total of three credits from these experiences, the credits can substitute in place of one engineering elective (listed in the Semester 4 of the academic plan).

A co-op typically involves taking a fall or spring semester off from course work in order to work full time at a company. Although this may delay a student’s graduation date, graduates find the work experience to be well worth the extra time. Participants of the co-op program find that working for a longer period of time, at the same company, allows them to delve deeper into their assigned projects and many times, see them to completion and directly witness the impact the project has on the company. Graduates of the co-op program are also often offered a higher starting salary.

An internship is a short-term work experience for a company, typically lasting twelve to fifteen weeks over the summer (although internships can also occur during the fall or spring semester).

To find co-op or internship opportunities, read the Weekly Blast newsletter sent to IE students. Students are also encouraged to visit the Engineering Career Resources website for more information on opportunities, resume assistance, and interview preparation.