• 8 weeks, or 320 hours
• Guidance from a supervisor
• Analysis and resolution of a problem or challenge
• Observation of organizational communication processes
• Receive ongoing feedback and an end-of-experience evaluation
• Interaction with a variety of people in an organization

EGRMGMT 550: Engineering Management Internship

A three-credit internship that requires participation with a cooperating organization, whether local or distant, involving a well-defined set of tasks. Full-time employment in an appropriate capacity may be utilized for this internship. This course must be completed prior to or simultaneously with EGRMGMT 551. 3 credits. (Offered in Spring, Summer, and Fall Semesters)

EGRMGMT 551: Engineering Management Internship Assessment

This course involves the assessment of a student’s internship experience via a report and oral presentation. The instructor will provide the questions and general format of the report and presentation. The instructor will evaluate the report and presentation, and both must be approved to obtain credit for this course. Students must have completed or had been simultaneously enrolled in EGRMGMT 550. EGRMGMT 551 must be taken in the student’s final semester. 3 credits. (Offered in Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters)

• Airbus
• Amazon
• AMD
• ArcelorMittal
• Bank of America
• Bechtel
• China Investment Corp.
• Cisco Systems
• Credit Agricole
• Cummins
• Duke University
• U.S. Department of Energy
• Embrex
• Ernst & Young
• Etisalat
• Fisher-Rosemount
• Ford Motor Company
• Genentech
• General Motors
• HeBei Telecom Company
• Hunt Oil Company
• Petróleos Mexicanos
• SAP
• Singapore Airlines
• Sonera SmartTrust
• Steria
• Stratum WLL
• Taisei Corporation
• USB Investment Bank
• Ventas y Proyectos, SA

While both co-ops and internships offer valuable work experience, they differ in a few key areas. One major benefit of a co-op is that it allows students to work full-time during the fall or spring semesters, whereas internships are typically part-time.

A typical co-op experience involves either:

• 1 full-time work experience during the academic semester (typically fall), or
• 2 work experiences (usually one in the summer and another in the fall).

In contrast, internships generally last 8-12 weeks and are not as integrated into the academic calendar as co-ops.

Co-op compensation is generally similar to that of internships but with a few differences. The duration of a co-op is usually around 6 months, compared to the 8-12 weeks typical of an internship. Compensation may be offered as a monthly salary rather than an hourly rate, but the overall pay is usually comparable to an internship. Compensation is the result of negotiation between the student and the company.

Co-op students have up to 3 years (33 months) to complete their degree, which provides flexibility in scheduling the co-op. However, some restrictions may apply, such as student visa regulations. For example, international students must complete 2 semesters of study before they can secure CPT work authorization and be eligible for co-op.

Typically, students complete a co-op during their second year and finish their degree requirements in the second or third year, if necessary. You can also take a co-op after completing an internship, as long as you have not yet taken MENG 551 or EGRMGMT 551. Once you complete MENG 551 or EGRMGMT 551, no further co-op opportunities are allowed. For MEM students, only 3 co-op units will count toward the 30-unit degree requirement.

Currently, students are responsible for finding their own co-op opportunities, which must then be presented to the Co-op Coordinator and Faculty Advisor for approval. There are several ways to find co-ops:

• Use Handshake, LinkedIn, Glassdoor.com, Indeed.com, etc. to search for co-op positions.
• Over time, Career Services & Professional Development will also promote the co-op program to companies, helping create a list of participating employers.

Students are encouraged to identify companies willing to sponsor a co-op experience.

To be eligible for the co-op program, students must:

• Be enrolled in the MEM or MENG program with co-op.
• Maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher and be in good academic and disciplinary standing when the co-op begins.
• Have the co-op opportunity approved by the Program Director and Co-op Coordinator.
• Ensure the co-op aligns with work authorization and student status requirements.

1. Co-op Opportunity Approval (Duke): The main criteria for approval to participate in the Pratt Co-op program is that the employment offer provides practical training relevant to your field of study and meets specific criteria. The co-op employment offer must include the following: a) a clear description of working hours, including regular hours, with at least 320 hrs of work (the min required for co-op); b) a start and end date within the academic semester (from the first day of class to the last day of finals); c) a job description that sufficiently details the work to allow us to assess its relevance to your field of study; d) an offer of adequate compensation and benefits, in compliance with applicable laws; and e) the name and contact information of your primary supervisor at the company.
2. Co-op Discussion with Co-op Company: The representative from the company will meet with us to discuss the agreement they will need to sign to become a co-op employer partner.
3. Application and Agreement: You will submit your application, and the co-op agreement will be signed by both Duke and the sponsoring company.
4. Co-op Academic Plan: Once the agreement is signed, we will update your academic plan to the co-op plan.
5. Visa Services: After the academic plan is updated, you can reach out to Visa Services (if necessary) to discuss any visa-related matters regarding the co-op.

The co-op experience involves collaboration among the student, faculty, and a company sponsor. This requires more involvement from Duke University than an internship. Specifically, co-op students are expected to:

• Have monthly check-ins with their faculty advisor.
• Participate in a performance assessment every 3 months with the sponsoring company, faculty advisor, and Co-op Coordinator.
• Complete an employer evaluation form at the end of the co-op.
• Receive a job performance evaluation from the company, which will be shared with the Co-op Coordinator and Faculty Advisor.

Co-op experiences must take place within the Duke academic calendar (fall semester, spring semester, or summer session), with a minimum of 320 hours (roughly 8 weeks). However, most co-ops last longer, allowing for adequate transition time between work and school.

During your Co-op term, there is no tuition charged for the EGRCOOP course, only a $300 co-op fee (plus any University fees/insurance). You will be charged regular tuition rates the term you return to campus to finish your courses. The MEM program does not charge tuition during the 3rd term so the “3rd term” for MEM students will be the term you return to campus to complete your courses.

The co-op program connects employers with motivated students who are eager to contribute to your business through full-time roles of at eight weeks. Co-op ensures students gain valuable and deep experience in industry, while providing companies with the opportunity for more in-depth engagement than a traditional internship provides.

Students are responsible for finding their co-op, but Duke MEM is actively looking for companies to partner with on this co-op initiative. For more information or to showcase your company’s co-op opportunities, please contact memprogram@duke.edu.