Professional Co-op Program

The UMass Lowell (UML) Undergraduate Professional Cooperative Education program is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with work experience. Commonly known as “co-op”, this valuable experience is an academic program designed to complement a student’s formal education with paid practical work related to the student’s academic major.

What is Co-op at UML?

A full-time, paid work experience with an industry partner, usually for 6 months.
A program for undergraduates that alternates a semester of on-campus academic study with a work experience in industry.
A three-phase sequenced series of courses incorporating a pre-co-op preparation course, the co-op work experience, and a post-co-op reflection seminar.
A structured, selective, voluntary program for full-time undergraduate students in the Francis College of Engineering, Kennedy College of Sciences, Manning School of Business, Department of Economics, and Pharmaceutical Sciences major, and Applied Biomedical Sciences major – Clinical Science option

How Co-op Works

Who Can Enroll

Why Participate

Co-op Advising

How to Apply

Hire a Co-op

Featured Articles

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Starting a New Co-op Job? Do These 7 Things to Make a Strong First Impression

Published on December 19, 2024

You finished your co-op search, accepted a job offer, and have an official start date. You are eager to dive into the professional world, but are probably experiencing some first day jitters too. Whether it’s your first job or you …

By Catherine McLean

Provost Perspective: The Power of a Co-op

Published on October 16, 2024

Undertaking a Co-op is a wonderful opportunity provided here at UMass Lowell. Here at the Career & Co-op Center, we actively work with academic departments to share the benefits of this experience, but we aren’t the only ones.
Joe Hartman, …

By Rae Perry

5 Financial Benefits of Pursuing a Professional Cooperative Education Experience in College

Published on October 7, 2024

Engaging in a cooperative education (co-op) program during college is a valuable opportunity for students to gain practical, hands-on experience within their chosen field. Not only does it provide a solid foundation for building a professional network, but it also …

By Amanda Teixeira

5 Reasons Why Internships and Co-ops Are Essential!

Published on September 19, 2024

Intern organizing shelves in supermarket under supervision of store manager. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

If you’re a student, you might be looking into part-time jobs to make some money during the school year, or maybe a full-time job for the …

By College Recruiter

What’s Better Than One Co-op? Two.

Published on February 9, 2024

Uyen completed her first co-op in 2022 at MFS Investment Management, focusing on her MIS concentration. Then, she completed a second co-op the following year at Bose Corporation, concentrating on the Analytics & Operations Management field.

Read what Uyen had to say about the benefits of completing multiple co-ops during her time here at UML.

By Uyen Mai

Amanda Teixeira
Assistant Director, Cooperative Education Meet Amanda

Catherine McLean
Coordinator, Cooperative Education Meet Catherine

Fartun Abdulle
Coordinator, Cooperative Education Meet Fartun

Kathy Vaillancourt
Coordinator, Cooperative Education Meet Kathy

Melissa Welch
Associate Director, Cooperative Educaton Meet Melissa

Rae Perry
Director, Cooperative Education and Experiential Learning Meet Rae

Tiffany Medeiros
Assistant Director, Cooperative Education Meet Tiffany

978-934-2355

career_services@uml.edu

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Lowell, MA 01854-5148

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