Welcome to the Cooperative Education Program.

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?
• Why co-op?
• Who is eligible?
• When do co-op students work?
• How can you become a co-op participant?
• Special Programs
• Co-op employers
• Contact information

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?

Attending an orientation is the first step in the process. All orientation sessions take place in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Avenue, Virginia Room A from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Click here for a listing of Summer 2007 Co-op Orientations.

If you have any questions please contact our office at 828-1645, Commons Room 143 (the Career Center).

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

• Afton Chemicals
• AMC Technologies
• Carpenter Co.
• Circuit City
• Capital One
• City of Richmond
• Deloitte
• Dominion VA Power
• Dupont
• Federal Reserve Bank
• First Clearing Corp.
• Honeywell International
• Infineon
• 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

For more information, contact:

Sue Story, Director
University Career Center
Division of Student Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
907 Floyd Ave., Student Commons Room 143
P.O. Box 842508
Richmond, VA 23284-2508

Telephone: (804) 828-1645
Fax: (804) 828-2060


Career Consultants and their assigned majors:

Alicia Aroche

• School of Mass Communications

Beth Chancy

• College of Humanities and Sciences: Criminal Justice, Economics, English, History, Homeland Security, International Studies, Non-Profit Management, Political Science, Pre-Law, Public Administration and Urban Studies
• School of Education

Erin Lowery

• College of Humanities and Sciences: Pre-Health Science Majors
• School of Business: Accounting and Information Systems (Undergraduate and Graduate Students)
• VCU Medical Center: Professional Programs

Joseph Lyons

• College of Humanities and Sciences: Mathematics, Physics and Statistics
• School of Engineering

Haley Sims

• College of Humanities and Sciences: Biology except Pre-Health, Chemistry except Pre-Health, Environmental Science and Forensic Science
• Undeclared majors

Darlene Ward Thompson

• School of Business: All majors, except Accounting and Information Systems.

Jeanette Waterman

• College of Humanities and Sciences: African-American Studies, Anthropology, Foreign Languages, Geography, Judaic Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology and Women's Studies
• School of the Arts: All Majors
• School of Social Work: All Majors

Interdisciplinary Studies majors will be assigned according to their area of concentration.

In addition to cooperative education orientations, the Career Center offers career development programs throughout the semester. See the events page for further details.