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HSI-STEM

Prospective Student and Information

What is a Co-op?

A Co-op is when a student works full-time for 6-7 months, 1-2 times during their undergraduate degree. Work-terms are separate from when you are taking courses, so you can focus on work and your studies separately and better succeed in each. A Co-op is different than internships in that they are longer, better paying, and provide deeper mentorship and training.

Why should students consider Co-op? 

Co-op students have: 

  • A similar/slightly shorter graduation time compared to the average CSUSM CSTEM student (5-6yrs) 
    • This is due to students being able to focus on school alone during study-terms, resulting in passing more classes to stay on track to graduation. 
    • Example, the five year-graduation rate at Purdue University is 86 percent for co-op students compared to 79 percent for the general undergraduates of the same majors and the six-year rates are 88 and 82 percent. 
  • Higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate than students who do not participate in co-ops (Blair et al. 2004; Ramirez et al. 2015).  
  • A better salary pay during work-terms compared to part-time jobs 
    • So, students can earn $24+ per hour (much higher for some jobs) or ~$26,000 / 6-months work-term to sustain them for the year until their next work-term. 
  • Greater academic performance, confirmation of career choices, and professional networking opportunities (Barry et al. 2016; Tran and Soejatminah 2016), which contribute to eased transition into the labor market – reducing and in some cases overcoming wage gaps due to bias toward race, gender, and immigration status (Wyonch 2020).  
  • Greater mentorship, socialization into the profession, and higher post-graduation starting salaries (about $4,300 higher) than students who do not participate in co-ops (Kovalchuk et al. 2017; Blair et al. 2004; Korte et al. 2008; Raelin et al. 2014). 
  • A higher likelihood that a graduate’s first job will be permanent and highly related to the graduate’s field of study. (Wyonch 2020)
    • Studies of co-op programs in US engineering showed that 40+% of co-op graduates accepted permanent employment offers from one of their co-op employers. (Barry et al. 2016; Friel 1995; Wessels and Pumphrey 1995) 
    • Three years after graduation, co-op participants were 42.2 percent more likely to be employed full time, and 13.4 percent more likely to have extended health benefits through work. (Wyonch 2020).   

What are the Co-op Program student eligibility criteria? 

Students must: 

  • be a CSTEM full-time student and is expected to continue to be a full-time student throughout the co-op program.
  • be in good standing with the university.
  • provide 2 letters of recommendation (one letter from faculty required).
  • be able to transport themselves to and from their place of work.
  • be eligible for employment in the U.S.
  • *There might be some Co-op Employer specific eligibly requirements in addition to the overall program criteria. 

What are course requirements? 

*Courses still in development

Students will take:

  • Pre-Co-op Professional Transition Seminar (2 units): recommended to take spring of 1st year 
  • COOP 295 (0 units): Asynchronous, resource heavy course taken during student’s 1st   co-op work term 
  • COOP 495 (0 units): Asynchronous, resource heavy course taken during student’s 2nd  co-op work term 

What do students earn in the Co-op Program? 

At the end of a student’s time in the CSTEM Co-op Education Program they will have: 

  • Completed these courses 
    • Pre-Co-op Professional Transition Seminar (2 units)
    • COOP 295 (0 units)
    • COOP 495 (0 units)
  • Completed 2 different 7-month co-op work terms 
    • Check roadmap recommendations (see above) – but these might be different based on employer partnership
  • Received 2 employer evaluations about performance during co-op
  • Completed 2 self-assessment evaluations about performance during co-op
  • Completed 1 overall Exit Interview from the program summarizing co-op impact during academic career.
  • Joined a CSTEM Co-op Employer & Alumni Network along with CSTEM Alumni Network (LinkedIn).
  • Received a transcript designation for Co-op once requirements are met.