Engineering Co-op and Engineering Internship

The McKelvey School of Engineering offers two options for completing academically relevant work experience while remaining enrolled as a student. The Engineering Co-op and the Engineering Internship each allow McKelvey students to gain in-depth engineering experience while working alongside practicing engineers.

Engineering Co-op and the Engineering Internship are available to students enrolled in degree-seeking programs housed in McKelvey. Students pursuing degrees outside of McKelvey, even those seeking second majors or minors within McKelvey, are not eligible to participate. Each experience has additional eligibility criteria as outlined below. An application and departmental approval is required. 

PAGE CONTENTS: Engineering Co-op | Engineering Internship | Additional Information for International Students | Experience Comparison

Engineering Co-op

McKelvey's Engineering Cooperative Education (Co-op) experience is full-time employment completed over the course of a fall or spring semester. Students may also choose to include an adjoining summer semester or extend the co-op for a full year. Summer-only experiences are not eligible for co-op.

Engineering Co-op is McKelvey's longest standing co-curricular enrollment. This in-depth experience gives students a chance to preview a career path and employment options, gain career clarification, improve communication and team project skills, and enhance marketability with future employers. Because students completing a co-op are employed full-time and not enrolled in full-time coursework, they may need to delay graduation. International students should review the page section regarding I-20 duration below before beginning a co-op application.  

ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT STATUS

During a co-op semester you will be enrolled in the “Engineering Cooperative Education” course.  The course appears on your transcript and is a zero-credit audit course. You will not accrue credit nor pay tuition for the course. Because Engineering Co-op is a full-time experience, full-time student status is granted during the semester(s) enrolled. Full-time student fees will be assessed.  

Tuition and fees related to additional, credit-bearing coursework may be assessed. 

ELIGIBILITY

Before applying to co-op positions, first verify the following: 

• Enrolled in a McKelvey degree-seeking program
• Enrolled as a WashU student for at least two semesters
• In good academic standing with a recommended GPA of 2.7 or higher
• Have confirmed with your academic advisor your ability to participate as it relates to your degree progress

• Full-time employment, 32-40 hours per week
• Extends at least 16 weeks and spans at least one fall or one spring semester
• Paid at a rate commensurate with experience, typically $19-25/hr
• Is relevant to your program of study with McKelvey

APPLICATION PROCESS

Co-ops are obtained in the same way other internships or post grad jobs are obtained. This includes career fairs and other events as well as connections and networking. For support in securing an eligible position, please schedule an appointment with the WashU Center for Career Engagement. 

Once you have secured a position:

1. Complete an Application for Engineering Co-op. This application will require the upload of your employment offer letter. Please review our Sample Engineering Co-op Offer Letter. At a minimum, the offer letter must include the following.   
   • Job title and job description (must be relevant to your program of study)
   • Company information (including address) and supervisor name/contact information (email address)
   • Hours per week and rate of pay (must be a full-time, paid position)
   • Employment start date and end date (16 week minimum and must coincide with the start and end dates of each semester to be enrolled)
2. If you are an international student, you should make contact with your OISS Advisor to ensure you are eligible for practical training authorization. Once approved for Engineering Co-op, OISS will be notified and the CPT authorization process will be initiated. F-1 students are required to receive CPT authorization from OISS prior to their co-op start date.
3. At the end of the experience, there will be an evaluation that must be completed by your supervisor.  

Engineering Internship

At this time, the Engineering Internship option is only available to international students (F-1 visa holders).

For students who secure academically relevant employment that does not fit the co-op criteria, McKelvey offers the Engineering Internship experience. In this case, the employment offer may be part-time or may not extend a full fall or spring semester. Summer-only experiences are eligible for internship.

ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT STATUS

During an internship semester you will be enrolled in a course titled “Engineering Internship.” The course will appear on your transcript and is a zero-credit audit course. You will not accrue credit or pay tuition for the course. Tuition and fees related to other credit-bearing or status-granting coursework may be assessed. 

Engineering Internship does not grant full-time student status. In the fall and spring semester, this may have serious implications in areas such as health insurance coverage, student loans and loan deferrals, student employment, F-1 and J-1 visa statuses, rental of University properties, and University funding. Full-time student status will need to be maintained through additional course enrollment.  

ELIGIBILITY

Before applying to internship positions, first verify the following:

Are you qualified to participate in Engineering Internship?

• Enrolled in a McKelvey degree-seeking program
• Enrolled as a WashU student for at least two semesters
• In good academic standing with a recommended GPA of 2.7 or higher
• Have confirmed with your academic advisor your ability to participate as it relates to your degree progress

Does your planned employment qualify as an Engineering Internship?

• Paid at a rate commensurate with experience, typically $19-25/hr
• Is relevant to your program of study with McKelvey

APPLICATION PROCESS

Engineering Internships are obtained in the same way post grad jobs are obtained. This includes career fairs and other events as well as connections and networking. For support in securing an eligible position, please schedule an appointment with the WashU Center for Career Engagement. 

Once you have secured a position:

1. Complete an Application for Engineering Internship. This application will require the upload of your employment offer letter. Please review this Sample Engineering Internship Offer Letter. At a minimum, the offer letter must include the following: 
   • Job title and job description (must be relevant to your program of study)
   • Company information (including address) and supervisor name/contact information (email address)
   • Hours per week and rate of pay (must be a paid position)
   • Start date and end date
2. You should make contact with your OISS Advisor to ensure you are eligible for practical training authorization. Once approved for Engineering Internship, OISS will be notified and the CPT authorization process will be initiated. F-1 students are required to receive CPT authorization from OISS prior to their internship start date.
3. At the end of the experience, there will be an evaluation that must be completed by your supervisor.  

Additional Information for International Students

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)

Because Engineering Co-op and Engineering Internship are both courses, or part of the curriculum, students on a F-1 visa can utilize their CPT (Curricular Practical Training) benefit when participating in these experiences. Either before or alongside completing an application, international students should make contact with their OISS Advisor to ensure they are eligible for practical training authorization. Upon the approval of a co-op or internship application by McKelvey, it is the student's responsibility to initiate the CPT authorization process with OISS. F-1 students are required to receive CPT authorization from OISS prior to their co-op start date. International students with questions about CPT as it relates to Engineering Co-op and Engineering Internship should reach out to their OISS Advisor.  

I-20 EXTENSION

Participating in Engineering Co-op or Engineering Internship does not allow for an extension of your I-20. It is imperative that you ensure your degree requirements can be met in the time allotted by your I-20 regardless of your decision to engage in CPT. For this reason, a co-op may not be advisable for international students, because this experience requires a full-time work commitment.