How do Drexel co-op programs work for undergraduate students?

Drexel’s co-op is built into the undergraduate schedule, so it is not just a summer internship. Students alternate between periods of full-time classes and periods of full-time, paid work experience related to their major.

Your academic calendar can feel different from a more traditional college experience because Drexel runs on quarters rather than semesters. That faster pace, combined with switching between school and work, makes the experience more structured and career-focused.

During co-op, you are not taking a normal full course load. Your main responsibility is your job, which can be in Philadelphia or sometimes elsewhere depending on the position. Drexel helps students through its Steinbright Career Development Center, which supports resume prep, applications, interview practice, and the co-op search process.

Co-ops are available across fields like engineering, business, computing, design, health, and media, though the exact options depend on your major and experience.

In practice, the biggest difference from a regular four-year college is that you graduate with substantial work experience. That can make students more competitive for jobs and sometimes helps them clarify what they do or do not want in a career.

The tradeoff is that your schedule is less flexible, the pace is intense, and the five-year path is longer than a traditional bachelor’s degree.