Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a USF course administered by the Career Center that integrates hands-on, paid, career-related work experience with your academic program and provides you with valuable training in your chosen career field. It is offered part-time or full-time. Access to the course is by permit only.

Co-op is a great way to check out your tentative career before you graduate, get a foot in the door of a company you might like to work for permanently, and give you the training and experience employers are looking for. Co-op is the only course at USF you'll be paid to take!

The Career Center definition* of a full-time Co-op student participating in Alternating or Parallel Co-op options is as follows:

*Other University offices may define a full-time student differently. In addition, other benefit programs may use different criteria to define a full-time student. These may include, but are not limited to: the Veterans Administration, Bright Futures and other scholarships programs, other federal, state or civic programs or scholarships.

Eligibility Requirements

International Students, in addition to meeting all the above requirements, must complete an Eligibility Clearance Form (located in Application PowerPoint) which must be taken to the International Services Office to be signed for approval to participate in the Co-op Program.

How to Apply

The first step in applying for Co-op is to carefully read the Co-op Application Power Point. At the end of the Power Point is an application to submit. All communication from the Career Center during the application process will be done through your USF email. Expect to receive your first email within 2-3 business days from the time you submit your application.

CO-OP APPLICATIONS for Summer 2012 are no longer being accepted. Applications for Fall 2012 will be accepted beginning May 25th.

Important to know: There are two prerequisites required for Co-op that you can start before the application period opens. They are:

• Having a Career Connections Account
• Having a resume that meets the standards for the Co-op program. (More details about this are provided in the Application PowerPoint.)

The application and course prerequisites could take approximately 1-2 weeks to complete and all steps must be completed by the deadline date listed in the following timeline:

NOTE: New Co-op training positions not already in Career Connections may be submitted for consideration by Co-op applicants, but only after their application has been approved and they have completed the course prerequisites.

If submitting a training position for consideration, you must provide the company name, a contact person, and their phone number or e-mail address. The Career Center will contact the employer for possible acceptance into the Co-op program. This process takes time and we cannot guarantee new employers and/or positions will be approved by a specific date.

If the employer is approved by the Career Center, their position(s) will appear in Career Connections with the other approved positions, for the semester for which they are approved.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? If you still have questions about the Co-op Course or prerequisites after viewing this web page, FAQ’s, and the application PowerPoint, please submit an application and then register to attend one of our weekly Co-op/Internship Meetings held in the Career Center, SVC 2088: 
  
Tuesdays - 9:00am
Wednesdays - 3:30pm
or Thursdays – 1:00pm
(There will be no meetings during spring break)

 Space is limited. Please call the Career Center at 813-974-2171 to reserve a seat.

Due to the high number of applicants for this course, please do not call or e-mail with questions about your application or status. Questions will only be answered during the Co-op/Internship meetings listed above.

Additional Co-op Links:

Sample Co-op resume

Co-op forms for current Co-op students

Frequently asked questions

Sample of Co-op employers

Office Hours: M-F: 8am-5pm
Fax. (813) 974-5332