Cooperative Education (Co-op)

Program Requirements

To find out more about the GW student profile, click here.

The co-op experience can be either part-time (parallel) or full-time (alternating), and it is evaluated each semester by the student participants and their employers. For each semester of participation, the experience is documented on the student's transcript. 

In order to be classified and advertised as a co-op, positions must possess all of the following characteristics: 

   The position must sign the Employer Agreement form.
   The employer must complete a written evaluation of the student at the end of each semester (see bottom of page for evaluation format options).
   The student must work a minimum of 15 hours per week.
   The experience must last a minimum of ten (10) weeks.
   The position must offer an hourly wage (co-op jobs cannot be unpaid).
   The employer must provide a detailed job description on GWork.
   The nature of the work must directly relate to the student’s academic course of study.
   The nature of the work must be substantive and approximate that of an entry-level employee.
   Undergraduate students must complete two semesters of work.  Graduate students must complete one semester.

The Co-op staff members at GW collaborate with employers to develop job opportunities, pre-screen candidates for referral and monitor the progress of co-op students. By employing co-op students, organizations receive the following benefits:

   Source of highly motivated, skilled workers.
   Proven, cost-effective method to meet both immediate and long-range human resource needs.
   Efficient means to recruit, evaluate and train new employees.
   Enriched relationships with the University community.
   Quality candidates for temporary, contract or seasonal positions.

EMPLOYER AGREEMENT FORM: Click to download this required form which GW asks all Co-op employers to sign.

SPECIAL NOTE TO FEDERAL AGENCIES:  SCEP programs meet GW’s Co-op requirements! If you are a federal employer with SCEP opportunities to offer, please contact Christine Roy at 202.994.6452 or chrisroy@gwu.edu.

*IF YOU ARE OFFERING A CO-OP POSITION TO A STUDENT, please instruct that student to contact Brian Rowe (202.994.8638 or browe@gwu.edu) to ensure that he or she is registered for the Co-op Program at the GW Career Center.

Contact our staff at 202.994.8046 or at gwcoop@gwu.edu to learn more about co-op and becoming a co-op employer!