Cooperative Education

Skip to navigation

This page gives an introduction to the program and answers the most frequently asked questions. To read about what the Cooperative Education Program offers, select the desired option below or just scroll down the screen.

What is co-op?

Co-op, or "cooperative education," allows students to combine classroom learning with PAID, supervised work experiences related to their majors. Virginia Commonwealth University's co-op program places students in Richmond and throughout the United States with governmental agencies, private industries, small businesses and non-profit organizations.

Why co-op?

Upon graduation, co-op students have both a degree and practical work experience that will help them succeed in the work place.

Co-op students have valuable opportunities to:

  • earn partial funds to support a college education
  • make professional contacts
  • develop professional work habits
  • test career interests

Who is eligible?

Co-op is open to all degree-seeking VCU students. Undergraduates must have completed at least 23 semester credits. Transfer students must complete one full semester at VCU before becoming eligible for the program.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • An overall grade point average of 2.5 is required for sophomores;
  • Juniors and seniors must have a 2.0 grade point average.
  • Graduate and certificate students must be in good academic standing with the university.

Employers may set their own eligibility requirements, and they have the final decision in the hiring process.

When do co-op students work?

Co-op offers two types of work schedules.

  1. The parallel schedule enables students to work 15 to 20 hours per week while attending classes. Parallel students must carry a minimum of six credits per semester (summer semester excluded).
  2. The alternating schedule allows students to rotate between semesters of full-time study and full-time work. In order to maximize the co-op experience, most students will work two or more semesters with co-op employers.

Once placed, co-op students register for the appropriate non-credit co-op course each semester they work (including summer semesters) and pay the co-op fee of $35 for part-time placements and $70 for full-time placements.

How can you become a co-op participant?

The first step in participating in Cooperative Education is to attend one of the orientation sessions called Career GPS (Get Professional Skills). (BOLD)

Find out from fellow students how they landed their internship, CO-OP and other professional experience. Get tips on how this experience has helped them as students and how they anticipate it will boost their chances of landing a job sooner, rather than later, after graduation.

Small group sessions are offered daily by Career Center Ambassadors (CCAs) in the University Career Center. Contact a CCA by phone at 804-828-1645 or visit the University Career Center to sign up for a session.

Here are some of the organizations that employ co-op students:

  • Afton Chemicals
  • Altria/Philip Morris USA
  • AMC Technologies
  • Carpenter Co.
  • Capital One
  • City of Richmond
  • Deloitte
  • Dominion VA Power
  • Dupont
  • Federal Reserve Bank
  • First Clearing Corp.
  • Honeywell International
  • Keiter, Stephens, Hurst, Gary and Shreaves
  • Luck Stone Corp.
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center (Dahlgren VA)
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Norfolk Southern Corp.
  • Philip Morris USA
  • RBC Dain Rauscher
  • Target Stores
  • US Geological Survey
  • US Naval Labs (Washington, D.C.)
  • US Defense General Supply Center
  • Numerous VA State Agencies