Cooperative Education & Internship Program
Get real-life job experience in your chosen field of study through Montgomery College's Cooperative Education & Internship Program. The Co-op Program allows students to blend classroom learning with on-the-job experience in a business, government, technical, or professional field.
This three-credit academic course places eligible MC students in full or part-time jobs directly related to their major, allowing students to test their career objectives and develop valuable professional networks.
Students in the Co-op Program have worked at National Institutes of Health, WRC-TV, US Congress, Marriott, Lockheed Martin, Voice of America, IBM, Euro Motorcars, NIST, Actera, Georgetown Law Center, Suburban Hospital, National Aquarium, Washington Post, Celera Genomics, American Red Cross, Department of Justice, and Montgomery County Police. Most positions are in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but some students have chosen work experiences in places like California, New York, West Virginia, and Florida.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in Co-op, students must:
- be currently enrolled at any campus of Montgomery College
- have completed 12 credits in college
- have completed two courses in their major
- have a minimum 2.0 GPA
- register and pay for the academic credit Co-op course
Students earn college credit for working on a job in your major.
To be eligible for Co-op you must:
- Be currently enrolled at MC
- Have 12 credits of college coursework completed (at least, 6 credits must be completed in your major)
- Have a 2.0 GPA or better
- All students in the Co-op and Internship Program must register and pay for the three credit Co-op course
Students receive a grade at the end of the semester which goes on their transcript. The Co-op courses may sometimes be substituted for an elective, but any course substitution must be approved by the student's academic department.
If you meet all of the eligibility requirements submit a Student Application Form.
Application Deadline: June 17, 2021 for Fall Semester 2021. After June 17, 2021 applications will no longer be accepted for Fall Semester 2021 UNLESS you already have an internship related to your major arranged for Fall.
Student Application Form
What is the Cooperative Education & Internship Program?
It is a college-wide academic partnership that places students with employers in full
and part-time jobs related to their major. The program is often called Co-op.
Where are Co-op students placed?
Students are placed in jobs with business, government, and industry throughout the
metropolitan area and, sometimes, nationwide.
What are students paid?
Co-op students earn between $10.00-$15.00 per hour
How many hours do students work?
Co-op students must complete a minimum of 15 hours per week (a total of 225 hours
should be completed during the Co-op semester)
What are the benefits to students participating in the Co-op Program?
- College credit for jobs in their major
- Money for tuition and expenses
- Hands-on professional experience
- Resume enhancement
What are the benefits to employers participating in the Co-op Program?
- Pre screened, high achieving students
- Cost-effective recruitment and training
- New academic knowledge for their business
- Potential employees without a long-term commitment
Who is eligible to participate in the Co-op Program?
-Students with, at least, 12 credits in college
- Two courses completed in the major, and a minimum 2.0 grade point average
- Employers with jobs who are willing to establish a semester long partnership between
their organization, the student, and the Montgomery College Cooperative Education
& Internship Program
Where have some students worked?
National Institutes of Health, WRC-TV, US Congress, Marriott, Lockheed Martin, Voice
of America, IBM, Euro Motorcars, NIST, Actera, Georgetown Law Center, Suburban Hospital,
National Aquarium, Washington Post, Celera Genomics, American Red Cross, Department
of Justice, Montgomery County Police
Where to obtain more information?
Dr. Angela Rice Beemer, Director | angela.beemer@montgomerycollege.edu
Rolf Barber, Job Placement Specialist | (240) 567-1650 (Barber) | rolf.barber@montgomerycollege.edu
Main Office | (240) 567-1360 |coop@montgomerycollege.edu
How Co-op Works
- Student submits application to Cooperative Education & Internship Program
- Student attends Co-op orientation session, registers for the academic credits, and pays for the Co-op course
- Job Developer refers qualified prescreened students to employers
- Student begins working after accepting an offer from an employer
- Student and employer develop a Learning Agreement with job objectives the student should accomplish during the semester
- Faculty adviser evaluates student homework assignments and on the job learning
- Faculty Advisor visits workplace for an on-site visit
The semester dates are as follows:
- Fall: September - December
- Spring: January - May
- Summer Session II: July - August
Employer's Role
- Informs College of a Co-op/Internship for a student worker
- Submits a job description
- Interviews and selects students
- Provides a career-related work experience that increases in responsibility and difficulty as the student progresses through the Co-op assignments and the academic program
- Supervises the student's work performance and ensures that job duties remain in accordance with job description and Learning Agreement
- Employer evaluates the student's performance on-the-job
- Retains the student through the scheduled work period
If you would like to list a job, please complete the Job Description Form.
Job Description FormStudents earn college credit for working in a job in your major.
To be eligible for the Cooperative Education & Internship Program you must:
Be currently enrolled at Montgomery College
- Have 12 credits of college coursework completed (at least, 6 credits must be completed in your major)
- Have a 2.0 GPA or better
All students in the Co-op and Internship Program must register and pay for the three credit Co-op course. Homework assignments and presentations are part of this course. Students receive a grade at the end of the semester that goes on the student's transcript. The course may sometimes be substituted for an elective in the student's major.
- Orientation Session
- Resume
- Learning Agreement
- Placement Information Form
- Working Agreement
- Initial Meeting
- Midterm Assignment
- Midterm Meeting (not required during summer session)
- In-class Presentation
- Final Meeting
- Final Paper
- On-site Meeting at the Workplace
- Final Resume, Cover Letter, Timesheet, Employer Evaluation
- Completion of 225 hours on the job
-
Collegewide Cooperative Education & Internship Program
“Through my major, I had the opportunity to serve two internships. They definitely prepared me for the work world and opened my eyes. I came out with a better idea of what to expect and what the experience would be like.”
