Co-Op Program
Introduction
Through the assistance of the School of Engineering's Cooperative Education Office, formal arrangements are established with industry that permit students to rotate four-month terms between the workplace and the classroom. At the University of Pittsburgh, this rotation begins after the completion of the sophomore year, and extends into the senior year, with the co-op student completing at least three four-month work periods. These sessions, which are typically with the same employer, allow job duties to increase as the knowledge and skills of the student progress.
During co-op sessions, students earn competitive salaries. As of the 1999-2000 academic year, the average salary for a CS co-op student was approximately $2000 per month.
View descriptions of past students co-op experiences.
The co-op credit does not count toward the 37 CS credits needed for completion of the CS program. It does, however, count as CAS elective credit.
Prior to completing the co-op, the student must write a short paper describing the experience.
In order to register for the Computer Science Co-op Program, the student must submit the following materials to the Cooperative Education Office in B-80 Benedum Hall:
- Evidence that the student has completed three computer science core courses with a grade of C or better and evidence that the student has declared his or her major as computer science
- An unofficial transcript
- A resumé (30 copies)
Prior to the start of a work rotation, the student must submit a plan of studies to the co-op office. This plan must be approved by the CS undergraduate office (not the CS co-op advisor).
During the terms while students are out on co-op assignment, they are still primarily responsible for getting themselves registered for classes during the following term. Some assistance may be provided by the engineering co-op office. The computer science department does not have the personnel to register students.
For more information, see the Cooperative Education Home Page. If you are interested in the co-op program, you first point of contact should be with the program, not the CS co-op advisor.
CS Co-op Coordinator/Advisor:
John Ramirez
(412) 624-8441
ramirez@cs.pitt.edu