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Whether you are a student seeking the best in relevant education or whether you are an employer seeking well-educated, student talent, the co-op program can help you meet your long-term goals for work-integrated learning through a committed partnership.
For over 100 years, both students at Georgia Tech and employers from business, industry, and government have formed co-op partnerships to help develop the best-educated engineers, scientists, and managers. Co-op is the link between the classroom and the workplace. Knowledge is gained and transferred between students and employers in alternating semesters of school and work, typically with the same employer.
Multiple semesters are required because real learning takes time, commitment, and patience. Co-op at Georgia Tech is an optional, five-year program.
Program Eligibility
• GPA of 2.0 or above • Good academic standing • Co-op students must have three or more academic semesters remaining at the start of the first work term • Experiential Learning Application must be completed in CareerBuzz
Co-op students are required to complete registration to be enrolled in the CO-OP tuition-free, 12 audit hours (non-credit bearing) course. Between work terms, co-op students must take at least 12 hours of classes during fall or spring and at least 6 hours during a summer semester.
Benefits of Course Enrollment:
Look Below for some additional information about Co-ops:
Most co-ops do not take any classes during their work terms. If you choose to take a Georgia Tech course while working, get the permission of both your co-op advisor and supervisor before registering. Also, note that the class time must not interfere with your 40-hour workweek.
If you plan to take a class at another university while co-oping, make sure that your supervisor approves your taking the course and that the class time doesn’t interfere with your work schedule. Also, make sure your credit hours transfer to Georgia Tech through the following steps:
Georgia Institute of Technology Office of the Registrar Transfer Credit Atlanta GA, 30332-0315
Insurance companies often require proof of full-time student status. While co-oping, you will be registered for a tuition-free, 12-hour audit course that allows you to maintain your full-time status. Georgia Tech has contracted with the National Student Clearinghouse to take care of enrollment verifications. Please log on to your OSCAR account and print an enrollment verification certificate through the National Student Clearinghouse link under "Student Records - Verification Requests.” The enrollment verification certificate can be printed immediately and provided to the insurance carrier at your convenience. A box in the upper right corner of the certificate allows you to write in the Policy Holder name and ID#.
For detailed instructions, please see:
Office of the Registrar Enrollment Verification
If you are co-oping or interning in metro Atlanta, you may live in campus housing, if available. Students working outside the area will find that most employers offer some level of housing assistance. Such assistance ranges from providing students with a list of apartments in the area to arranging furnished housing and paying for a portion of the expenses. Your employer may give you the names of other co-ops working in the same location to help you find housing options and roommates.
If you are working outside the Atlanta area, your advisor will sign the housing cancelation docusign form which will allow you to cancel your housing contract without penalty and to get a refund for your housing deposit. If you plan to co-op or intern during a given semester but are not sure you will get a job, register for classes and sign up for housing as a backup plan. All can be easily reversed if you are hired.
Remember to have your mail forwarded if you move for your co-op job or internship. You can enter your forwarding address via the OSCAR website. Login and go to the Personal Information menu. If you currently have an off-campus address, enter your temporary forwarding address at the US Postal Service site:https://moversguide.usps.com/?referral=USPS
Housing Outside of Atlanta
Students need to submit three work forms during each co-op work term: a Work Term Goals & Objectives during the first three weeks, and a Work Report and Student Performance Evaluation (from their supervisors) during the last two weeks of their work term.
Please submit your Work Term Goals & Objectives and Work Report directly through CareerBuzz. After you’ve logged into CareerBuzz, click on the “Submit Your Work Term Goals & Objectives” or "Submit Your Work Report" link under the "Experiential Learning" section of your homepage. You will receive reminder emails concerning completing both your Work Term Goals & Objectives and your Work Report during your work term.
Your supervisor will receive an email at the end of your co-op/internship work term with a link to the Student Performance Evaluation. When you receive the reminder to complete your Work Report, check to be sure your supervisor received the link to complete your Student Performance Evaluation. You should schedule a time to meet with your supervisor to discuss the completed evaluation so that you receive feedback on your performance.
Students who complete the requirements for the co-op plan will receive the co-op designation on their diploma when they graduate from Georgia Tech.
In order to receive the co-op designation, students must satisfy the following requirements:
During the semester before the term of graduation, students should follow the procedures of their academic unit regarding their degree petition. Co-ops should check online to be sure the degree includes the co-op designation. If the co-op designation is missing, co-ops should contact the Career Center.
