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School of Engineering and Computer Science

Co-operative Education Program

Engineering students at Pacific are required to complete seven months (32 units) of paid practical experience before graduation.  Many students complete a seven-month paid internship, followed by a five-month additional paid internship a year later. Faculty advisors work with each student to develop a curriculum plan that best suits their educational aspirations.

Bioengineering majors - Bioengineering majors who are following the biomedical path are not required to complete an internship; instead they can opt to complete the four remaining courses necessary to perform well on the MCAT/DAT exams in preparation for applying to medical or dental school.

Computer Science majors - Experiential education is an option for Computer Science majors, but most take advantage of the program by at least participating in a summer placement.

International students - Experiential education is also optional for non-U.S. citizens, but they are encouraged to take advantage of the program as well, perhaps by working in their home countries.

Pacific’s School of Engineering and Computer Science places our students with over 300 co-op employers worldwide.  Here is just a small sample:

  • Alcatel-Lucent
  • American Dental Association
  • Caltrans
  • Carollo
  • CDM
  • CH2M Hill
  • Cisco Systems
  • City of San Francisco
  • Department of Water Resources
  • Diamond of California
  • E & J Gallo
  • Frito Lay
  • GE Healthcare
  • Genentech
  • Greenheck Fan Corporation
  • HP
  • Intel
  • Johnson Controls
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Lawrence Livermore Nat’l Lab
  • New United Motor Company
  • Nvidia
  • Pathway Medical Technologies
  • PB World
  • Sandia National Laboratory
  • Verizon Wireless
  • General Mills
  • Granite Construction

Did You Know...  Historically, fewer than 50% of U.S undergraduate students entering college in science and engineering major complete a degree in the field. At Pacific, over 96% of students who complete one or more co-op through our program graduate from our School of Engineering and Computer Science!

Additional benefits of Co-op include:

  • Increases personal self-confidence and professional maturity
  • Helps to determine best major and concentration within your major before you get to upper-division courseware
  • Defrays educational costs
  • Strengthens education by helping to see how theories learned in the classroom are applied in real-life settings
  • Virtually guarantees a job upon graduation

 
91% of our graduating class of 2007 reported that they could go to work upon graduation for at least one of their prior Co-op employers if they wanted to; and of course many do.  Further, the knowledge and skills gained on these jobs give Pacific graduates a significant advantage in the classroom and then the work place upon graduation.