At Bridgewater State University, we are launching a pilot program for students to participate in co-op starting Summer/Fall 2026. The goal of the program is to enable BSU students to earn up to 12 credits through co-op experiences. In return, we expect students to complete a minimum of 540 hours (at least 35 hours per week over a 3-month period). Keep in mind that some employers may ask you to work more than this requirement or for a longer duration of time (for example: 6 months versus 3 months co-op). Regardless of the additional hours, you will still earn a maximum of 12 credits.  

While you are immersing yourself in the co-op program, there are no expectations for you to take any additional classes, allowing you to fully integrate into the co-op.  

• Co-op must be related to the student’s major or career interests.  

• Students are expected to work in an organization for 30+ hours per week for the duration of the co-op term, with a minimum of 540 total work hours. 

• Students must be supervised by a content matter expert. 

• Students must receive approval from their academic department, enroll in the co-op courses outlined by their majors, and complete all of the required assignments in order to receive academic credits.  

While they are similar, an internship during the academic semester is typically not full-time and does not expect students to complete the same number of hours as what is expected from BSU’s co-op program. Also, students who participate in the co-op program are not expected to take classes simultaneously but instead are fully immersed in the co-op experience.  

It is expected that you will complete the co-op prep course administered by the Career Services & Internships office to begin the co-op. The co-op prep course is designed to help you prepare for the entire search process and succeed in your co-op experiences. It is our goal that you secure a co-op position with the support of the Career Services & Internships office and your academic department. Once you secure a co-op position that meets BSU’s co-op requirements, you will need to prepare for the following: 

• A complete job description outlining your role and responsibilities, an official offer letter signed by the organization, the duration of your employment, the total number of hours per week for this position, name, phone number, and email contact information regarding your primary supervisor, and a brief description on how this position connects to your academic studies or your career goals. (Ideally, this should be a form) 

• Before you begin the co-op term, make sure you submit this paperwork to your academic department (your major) and the Career Services & Internships office for approval. 

• Once it is approved, register for the appropriate co-op class. Your academic department will provide you with this information. 

• Prepare your learning agreement, which outlines your goals and expectations for this co-op experience. 

• Be prepared to complete any additional requirements from your academic department, some of which can include mid-semester/end-of-the-term student evaluations, employer evaluations, reflection papers, timesheets, etc. Your academic department will provide you with additional information regarding this at the beginning of the term.  

• Have regular communications with your assigned faculty supervisor and the Career Services & Internships office throughout your program. 

• Students must be juniors or seniors with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or higher (based on your major’s requirement for internships), must meet the major’s requirements for courses completed toward the degree (i.e., in good standing towards their academic progress), and must have received approval from their academic department for their eligibility to participate in this co-op pilot program.  

• Students must complete the co-op preparation course, delivered by the Career Services & Internships office, prior to the co-op term and secure a co-op experience prior to the beginning of the semester.  

• Students must receive their academic department approval prior to the beginning of their co-op experience to ensure the experience aligns with their academic studies or career interests.   

Typically, co-op opportunities are paid experiences using standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Students are advised to consider the financial impact of an unpaid co-op, but we recognize some exceptions, specifically for non-profit organizations. If you are pursuing an unpaid co-op, you may be eligible to apply for BSU’s unpaid internship funding.  

• Please Note: The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that co-op students cannot be employed as consultants or independent contractors because they lack the necessary experience and skill to be considered experts in their fields. In addition, a co-op is to be a supervised position. This also means that the work cannot be properly termed as a consultancy or independent contractor relationship. Therefore, we cannot approve any positions in which the employer classifies you as a consultant or independent contractor. Please check with your employer at the beginning of your co-op to make sure that you will receive a W2 form (not a 1099) at the end of the year. 

Students are expected to search, apply for, and secure co-op experiences. The Career Services & Internships office, along with your academic departments, is here to guide you through this process and support you throughout the co-op search. However, we do not “place” students in co-op positions or guarantee a co-op experience.  

For students who are completing a 6-month co-op, you will begin your co-op term from July to December 2026.  

For students who are completing a 3-month co-op, you will begin your co-op term from September to December 2026.  

Regardless of the length of your co-op, you must complete all paperwork, receive approval, and register for the co-op course prior to starting your co-op experience.  

Please consult with the internship faculty coordinator in your major regarding program lengths and availability, and the duration of the co-op.

At BSU, our goal is to provide you with a credit-bearing co-op program, allowing you to gain meaningful experience while working towards your academic progress. It is important that you connect with your academic and faculty advisors as soon as possible to determine and ensure that you have the capacity and feasibility in your degree map to fit the co-op term.  

Please contact the International Student and Scholar Services throughout the process to verify and confirm your eligibility to participate in the co-op program.

The goal of the co-op is to provide you with meaningful experiences and to immerse you in an environment that connects academic studies to real-world applications. Doing multiple positions simultaneously may not provide you with substantial time to fully engage in the learning opportunities. Therefore, we prefer that you participate in a co-op at an organization that meets the co-op requirement. If you have a specific circumstance, please consult with your academic department and the Career Services & Internships office before you accept any positions or arrangements.  

As long as you maintain your student status (i.e. receiving credits), you are eligible to stay on campus for university housing. Please be sure to follow the guidelines outlined by the Office of Residence Life regarding eligibility and criteria for the housing proces.

As long as you complete the FAFSA, you are eligible to apply for financial aid for the co-op term.

If your internship meets the co-op requirements, you can still count it as a co-op. Keep in mind that some employers will advertise opportunities as internships or even jobs. It is important to review the position carefully to ensure it meets BSU’s requirements. Before you accept any positions, please consult with the Career Services & Internships office and your academic department.  

While we strongly encourage you to explore meaningful opportunities off campus, some positions may be available on campus. If you believe an on-campus position you secured meets all requirements for the co-op program, you can certainly submit the information to your academic department for approval.  

As long as your research experiences meet the co-op requirement and you receive approval from your internship faculty coordinator, you can conduct research or pursue research experiences during the co-op term.

Since this is a new program, we do not have a previous list of co-op employers. However, the Career Services & Internships office and your academic department have an active list of available positions on our website and on Handshake. You should proactively seek opportunities from all sources to increase your chances of getting a co-op position.  

As long as the available opportunity meets BSU’s co-op requirements, you can submit the opportunity for approval.  If employers have any questions regarding the co-op program, feel free to refer them to the Career Services & Internships office. 

If your current position meets BSU’s co-op requirements, receives an appropriate level of supervision, and your employers are willing to fill out the necessary paperwork, you may submit the opportunity to your academic department for approval.  

Unfortunately, BSU does not retroactively grant credit for past internships, jobs, or any work-related experiences.  

We highly encourage you to work closely with your academic department and the Career Services & Internships office throughout this process. However, if you are unable to secure a co-op before the deadline, students are expected to take classes and make progress towards their degrees.  

While we understand the value of working for your family members or supporting your family businesses, we strongly encourage you to pursue other experiences that will provide valuable learning. Ideally, you should not be supervised by a family member for your own personal and professional growth.   

If you are terminated for cause, you will not receive academic credits. If you are being laid off or terminated for reasons other than performance, please contact the Career Services & Internships office and your faculty supervisor immediately so we can develop an alternative co-op plan with you.  

The Career Services & Internships office has been tracking a list of co-op opportunities for Fall 2026 term. Note that this is not a comprehensive list. We encourage students to search for opportunities through different sources such as Handshake, professional organizations, LinkedIn, Indeed.com or other sites.

This live tracker serves as a reference: Co-Op Companies.xlsx 

Undergraduate students enroll in the following majors would be eligible for the Fall 2026 Co-op Pilot Program at BSU

• Aviation
• Communications Studies
• Criminal Justice
• Geography
• Health Studies
• Management
• Marketing
• Physics
• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Public Relations
• Theatre