Nuclear Engineering Co-Op Program

Each year approximately 14% of the School of Nuclear Engineering’s undergraduate population participates in the highly competitive Co-Op program. These students are employed by companies such as Dominion, First Energy Corp. and Westinghouse. The School of Nuclear Engineering is always looking to partner with additional companies to provide more opportunities to its students.

Students may complete the 5-Session or 3-Session Co-Op program, but 3 sessions is most common. Both programs rotate students on a semester basis between formal coursework and employment. These rotations are structured to accommodate courses that are strictly offered in Fall or Spring semesters. Regardless of the rotation, Co-Op students’ time-to-degree will increase to a 5 year commitment. It is important for Co-Op students to meet with their faculty coordinator and Student Services advisor early in the process to ensure any scheduling conflicts are promptly addressed.

The Office of Professional Practice (OPP) provides a formal plan of education in which students alternate sessions of full-time work with sessions of full-time study.

 

Sample schedules for Co-Op students are shown below.

ON CAMPUS = OC (gold)
OFF CAMPUS = OFF (black)
OPTIONAL ON CAMPUS = OPT (grey)

5 Session

	1st Year			2nd Year			3rd Year			4th Year			5th Year
	F	S	SS	F	S	SS	F	S	SS	F	S	SS	F	S	SS
Plan A	ON	ON	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	ON	OPT
Plan B	ON	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	ON	ON	OPT

3 Session

	1st Year			2nd Year			3rd Year			4th Year			5th Year
	F	S	SS	F	S	SS	F	S	SS	F	S	SS	F	S	SS
Plan A	ON	ON	OPT	ON	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	OPT	OFF	ON	OPT	ON	ON	OPT
Plan B	ON	ON	OPT	ON	ON	OPT	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	OPT	ON	ON	OPT
Plan B	ON	ON	OPT	ON	ON	OPT	ON	OFF	OPT	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	ON	OPT
Plan B	OPT	ON	OPT	ON	ON	OPT	ON	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	OPT	OFF	ON	OPT