Internships & Co-ops

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

Professional Practice is the name given by the University of Cincinnati to its model for cooperative education, a program that enriches the student's education by integrating professionally-related work experience with academic study.

Co-op, as the program is broadly known, exposes the student to the real world of work and to career options. It not only promotes a sense of independence and professional maturity but also increases opportunities for career positions following graduation. And these are just some of the advantages of the co-op program.

Cooperative education originated at the University of Cincinnati in 1906 and now, more than 1,000 other colleges and universities offer some form of co-op.

Currently, UC has 4,100 co-op students in 40 disciplines with over 1400 employers in 36 states and 11 foreign countries cooperating in the program.

Professional Practice offices administer the program for six of the University's colleges:

  • OMI College of Applied Science
  • McMicken College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business Administration
  • College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
  • College of Engineering
  • University College

The Computer Programming Technology program at Raymond Walters College and the Medical Technology program in the College of Medicine are administered by departmental coordinators.

The University of Cincinnati operates on a quarter system. Students enrolled in Professional Practice participate on a year-round schedule that results in the prescribed number of professionally-related work experiences prior to graduation. And, the schedule is arranged so that co-op students have about five weeks of vacation each year.

The schedule is comprised of two alternating sections—Section 1 for Summer and Winter work quarters, and Section II for Autumn and Spring work quarters. Two students are assigned to alternate on each co-op job so that one or the other is always on the work assignment while the other is in school.

Each student admitted into Professional Practice is assigned to a co-op faculty member who helps the student identify career objectives and suggests work assignments. This faculty member also functions as liaison between the student and the co-op employer.

All prospective co-op students are required to complete the course, "Professional Development I," which is designed to teach the concepts of career planning and to prepare students for participation in the program.

Program Requirements

Although exact requirements may differ slightly from college to college within the University of Cincinnati, the following are common and basic requirements for admission into Professional Practice:

  • Be in good academic standing
  • Be willing to accept a work assignment in any geographic location (Preferences are taken into consideration, but cannot be guaranteed.)
  • Be willing to accept a work assignment to either of the two work sections
  • Complete the course, "Professional Development I," prior to being placed on a work assignment.
  • Freshmen are not eligible to co-op in any college.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will co-op work assignments pay my tuition and school expenses?
The purpose of Professional Practice is educational. The program, therefore, is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to gain practical discipline-related experience to complement classroom instruction. The program is not intended to provide financial aid; although many students are able to pay part of their education expenses from their co-op earnings.

Your co-op employer determines the amount of your salary. Wages are influenced by the major, college year, grades, market demand, and the geographic area of employment. UC co-op students are currently earning between $879 and $1,825 monthly.

Does the employer normally pay for transportation, housing, and medical insurance?
It is generally the responsibility of the student to pay transportation and living expenses while on work assignment. Some employers do provide medical and other benefits.

Am I guaranteed a co-op job?
Your co-op adviser can only refer you to co-op employers. Whether you are hired by a co-op employer is determined by your qualifications; however, the UC program has a remarkable record for co-op job placement.

Can I get my own co-op job?
Yes, but this is not expected and guidelines apply. A student is required to have a discussion with a co-op adviser before initiating a personal co-op job search. For a co-op job to be approved, the position must meet quality standards and the employer must agree to comply with University practices for cooperating organizations.

Can I have a co-op job wherever I want?
Sometimes it works out that way; however, it is important to recognize that the quality of the work experience is the primary consideration, even though other factors may seem more advantageous from the student's financial or geographic perspective.

Where are these co-op jobs and who are the employers?
The locations of co-op employers vary considerably from year to year. Also, a student's major may be an important factor in determining the appropriate location of job assignments. UC's co-op employers are located from coast to coast and include many of the Fortune 500 corporations. Small professional offices and government agencies are also quite active with the program and provide excellent learning opportunities for students.

Will co-op interfere with my athletic scholarship or my ROTC program?
No, because the various departments involved will make every effort to eliminate any conflict among their programs.

How will participation in co-op affect my graduation date?
It will take two full years plus an additional quarter to complete the typical two-year associate degree program, five years to complete the typical four-year baccalaureate program, and six years to complete the architecture major.

Will co-op improve my chances for employment after graduation?
Yes. Over 50% of all co-op students who complete our program receive full-time job offers from their co-op employers before they graduate; and in some disciplines, over 70% of the students receive such offers. For many, a unique benefit of the co-op program is the advantage of having a career job offer before initiating the search for post-graduation positions.

What steps must be taken to enroll in the Co-op program?
As an incoming freshman you need not take any action prior to enrollment in the University. At the proper time in your academic program, detailed information is made available to you regarding co-op participation. Transfer students should visit the appropriate office, as listed below, early in their enrollment in the college. Students interested in co-oping should review the college Bulletin for program scheduling information.

Contact Information

For more information about the Department of Professional Practice, please visit online at http://www.uc.edu/propractice/ or contact:

Division of Professional Practice
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210115
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0115