It is increasingly clear that students having career-related work experience prior to graduation have a distinct advantage when entering the job market. This is found from talking with companies who recruit at the Texas A&M Career Center and from national reports and surveys. In addition to having a distinct recruiting advantage at graduation, co-op offers students other distinct benefits, such as the following:
- Get a wonderful opportunity to confirm your choice of major.
- Gain professional work experience prior to graduation and thereby enhance your marketability.
- Increase your understanding of classroom theory.
- Earn academic credit.
- Retain your full-time student status while working.
- Earn money to help pay college expenses.
- Gain useful employment contacts.
- Develop confidence and professional skills.
Cooperative Education is a minimum of two work terms (not summers only). These terms may be alternating, or back-to-back (spring-summer, or summer-fall). Students are not allowed to co-op during their last term at Texas A&M.
