What is it?
Cooperative Education (Co-op) provides students the opportunity to work at a sponsoring organization while remaining enrolled in their degree programs.
Co-ops are similar to internships in that they are temporary positions within an organization. However, they differ from internships in the following way:
- Co-op positions must be related to a student’s program of study and be at a level appropriate to their degree.
- Co-op is a formal program that requires an agreement between the sponsoring organization and George Mason University.
- Co-op positions are always paid and the salary must be a competitive wage.
- Students can work at an organization part time or full time but they must meet certain hours, criteria, and deadlines. For detailed information on George Mason University's cooperative education policies, click here.
Why Co-op?
Earn a competitive wage while attending school. Learn about an organization and the type of work it does as well as what type of work you may be interested in for the future. Get an experiential advantage for when you pursue full-time employment after graduation.
How do I get a Co-op?
Students of the School of Public Policy should register for and check both SPP JobNet and HireMason regularly. Sometimes Co-op positions are listed on online databases such as the Washington Post.com and USA Jobs.gov, as well as on organization or agency websites. Frequently, Co-op positions are given to students who have already been interns within the same organization. Human resource managers are the people to discuss the option of turning an internship into a Co-op position when appropriate.
How do I begin the process of signing up for a Co-op?
The Co-op program at George Mason University is managed by the University Career Services office on the Fairfax campus. However, to determine your eligibility and to receive the required paperwork to be completed by you and your employer, SPP students must contact Heather Wright, Assistant Director for Career Development, SPP Career Services, at hwright5@gmu.edu or (703) 993-8559. There is also a $25.00 registration fee.
What then?
SPP Career Services will be your liaison from George Mason University. Any problems that you may encounter at your Co-op site should be addressed immediately with Heather Wright (hwright5@gmu.edu), Assistant Director for Career Development, SPP Career Services. Co-op must be renewed each semester. You will receive a reminder email from University Career Services to renew your Co-op if you are continuing.