Undergraduate Co-ops
Nebraska Engineer's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program offers engineering students the opportunity to gain extended, real-world work experience as part of their undergraduate education. Co-op students typically engage in 7-8 months of full-time, paid employment with industry partners or government agencies.
Engineering Career Services facilitates connections between students seeking co-op experiences and employers looking for dedicated engineering talent. Our flexible co-op program allows students and employers to determine the best fit while providing access to academic support and structured professional development.
Through this work-integrated learning experience, students apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, develop technical and professional skills, and build valuable industry connections - maximizing the student's work experience and assisting with career readiness and future employment opportunities.
Hear from Past Co-op Participants:
"I had the chance to work on various projects and collaborate with individuals across the organization towards common goals. Through this, I was able to sharpen my problem-solving and interpersonal skills, as well as improve my proficiency in both AutoCAD and Excel. I am grateful for the opportunities LES has provided me, and I look forward to seeing where my career will take me in the future."
- Co-op @ Lincoln Electric Systems (LES)
"Working on co-op was a beneficial experience for me and has helped me realize even more what it means to be an engineer and has helped me to gain more experience in the
realm of full-time employment. I was able to use the skills I learned in some of my engineering courses, and it also showed me the areas that I can improve in."
- Co-op @ Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
"CLAAS was a great company to work for, I felt that I had somewhere to go if I needed help and the culture within the company felt as if everyone was family. You know you are making a difference on a machine that will impact many farmers’ lives after the machine is released"
- Co-op @ CLAAS
Recent Co-op Employers
| Altec |
| ARCO |
| BGIN USA |
| Cargill |
| CLAAS |
| Collins Aerospace |
| Continental |
| Copeland |
| Doosan Bobcat |
| Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. |
| Lincoln Electric System |
| NASA |
| Nebraska Public Power District |
| Omaha Public Power District |
| Syngenta |
| Vermeer Corporation |
Expectations of Engineering Co-ops
For Undergraduate Students
- Students who wish to pursue co-op employment must meet with Engineering Career Services to complete the UNL Co-op Memorandum of Understanding, review eligibility to go on co-op, and enroll in the co-op course: UGEP 350 for City/East Campus, and ENGR 3500 for Scott Campus. This course is 0-credits, Pass/No-Pass, does not carry tuition or fees, and does not count toward degree completion. Students on co-op must be enrolled in one of these courses during co-op employment. Enrolling in this course will maintain your student status, which prevents any student loan grace period from beginning while you're not on campus, and may allow you to maintain other benefits received by being enrolled full-time.
- Students should meet with their advisor prior to accepting a co-op to verify good academic standing and anticipate whether or not a co-op will delay a student's graduation (due to course sequencing, a co-op often delays graduation, but the trade-off for students who choose to co-op is excellent experience).
- College of Engineering students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be approved for a co-op, and the student's cumulative GPA must remain at or above 2.5 the term immediately prior to co-op enrollment.
- Students pursuing a co-op should not take other courses at the same time. Unlike a regular semester, the expectation is that your employment and gaining experience are your top priorities while you're on co-op.
- Academic credit is not automatic nor guaranteed for students pursuing a co-op.
- Students should meet with the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid to verify what aid and scholarships could be impacted by (1) your term on co-op, and/or (2) delayed graduation.
For Employers
- Employers are expected to set clear learning objectives for this educationally-related work experience; provide comprehensive training/orientation; and support the student taking on educationally relevant job responsibilities through direct supervision by an engineer or construction manager.
- Employers must complete a Memorandum of Understanding with their selected co-op candidate(s) to help set clear expectations about start and end dates, job responsibilities, relocation (if applicable), wages, benefits, and more.
Frequently Asked Co-op Questions
I'm an international student. Can I participate in a co-op?
Yes, international students with an F-1 visa may participate in co-ops, and employers do not need to sponsor international students hired through these programs. Instead, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain CPT authorization through the University's ISSO office by completing paperwork with Engineering Career Services and completing a CPT application. International students working beyond 364 days of full-time employer will lose Optional Practical Training benefits.
International students are not able to begin employment until their CPT authorization is in hand. It is crucial to allow sufficient time to complete this process, and we are unable to rush applications.
Where can I work?
Most industry partners and government agencies are qualifying employers, as long as they meet the Engineering Career Services' employer expectations. While Engineering Career Services can support students in the search process, students are responsible for applying to and, ultimately, being selected for co-op opportunities.
Can I work for a family-owned business?
Students are not eligible for co-op credit if they are working in a family-owned and/or managed organization. Additionally, students may not report to or be supervised directly or indirectly by a family member. Please contact ECS with any questions.
Can I take additional classes while on co-op?
Typically, students are unable to take additional courses while on co-op since it is a full-time, professional work experience. Unusual circumstances must be approved by your academic advisor and Engineering Career Services, and may impact your eligibility for financial aid. Additionally, your employer would also need to approve you taking additional courses, as this may impact your ability to work your scheduled shifts.
How does participating in co-op impact my financial aid and scholarship?
Generally, students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits to be eligible for aid administered by the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid. Therefore, students are not eligible for new student loans or grants while on co-op. Some scholarships may be deferred until your return to campus. Please contact your scholarship official for more details on how awards will be affected.
Students appropriately enrolled in our zero-credit hour co-op course will remain recognized as a full-time student. By doing so, student loans will remain deferred and you will also be able to maintain parental or university health insurance. Every student accepting a co-op must register for the zero-credit co-op course in order to maintain this status.