FAQ

All students are required to complete SEAS 100 prior to starting the program.

Undergraduate students must possess a minimum 2.75 GPA overall.
Graduate students must possess a minimum 3.2 GPA overall.

F-1 International Students are eligible to participate if they meet all requirements to obtain authorization for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Students should contact the International Student Affairs office for more information about CPT. Other international students should make sure they can participate in the Co-op program based on their immigration status. Please consult the International Student Affairs office to discuss.

For MS-CS qualifications, please refer to the Co-op Student Handbook.

The Co-op position is a full-term employment role that lasts between six and eight months. Actual length of the employment and work hours vary by company.

There are no fees to participate in the program. Students are required, however, to pay a matriculation fee during the fall or spring semester when the student is not enrolled on campus, to maintain status as a continuing student.

Students must have completed the first half of their junior year curriculum to participate in the program. Check with your academic advisor and with the Co-op office, if you are unsure about meeting this requirement. International students should check with International Student Affairs to make sure they meet the eligibility requirements based on their immigration status.

For MS-CS qualifications, please refer to the Co-op Student Handbook.

No, during the fall or spring semester you will maintain matriculation at Hofstra University by paying the requisite fee per term, but you will not be taking any courses. You are expected to be a full-time employee during your assignment.

The Hofstra Co-op experience is designed for only one six-to-eight month working period per student. This allows students to be able to complete their education in four and a half years without having to take summer session classes to meet degree requirements. The one extended work period also gives adequate time for students to extract a maximum amount of experience in a company environment.

The exact salary depends on the employer. As a rule, salaries range from $18- $25 per hour.

Interested students must submit the following four documents:

• Application form
• Student Statement of Understanding
• Graduation Advisement Checklist
• Résumé and cover letter (approved by the Center for Career Design and Development)

The forms may be found in the Co-Op Student Handbook.

The company will contact you via letter, phone, or email to apprise you of their offer of a position. When that happens, please inform the Co-op office of your offer.

First, you should be very pleased that you have options. As with any other job seeker, go with the one you think is most in line with your interests. But remember that you have a limited time allotted by the company to make your decision, and be sure to notify the other companies whose offers you decline, also within the allotted time for a decision.

No, you are not obligated to accept an offer made to you, but you must notify the company of your declining it within the timeframe set for a response. Once you accept an offer, you should feel obligated to honor your commitment to the company. That is also why you should carefully research a company before interviewing with them.

Sometimes companies may let employees go for economic reasons. In those cases, you will return to school at your next scheduled semester.

No, when you begin your Co-op experience, you have completed most of your core courses in your degree program. Suitable technical electives and design courses are offered in sufficient frequency, as are remaining required courses, to complete your degree in four and a half years. When you have accepted a Co-op position for a given semester and summer, you can work with your faculty advisor to plan out the courses you will need to take when you return to academic life.

Yes, provided you follow the normal arrangements with the housing office at Hofstra University for reserving a room and making payments.

Most companies will offer you some assistance in relocating and finding suitable housing, but if they don't, you will have to find your own housing. This subject should be discussed during your interview. Obviously, you have to factor this added cost in time and money when choosing a position far from Hofstra or from your home.

Your financial aid and academic scholarships will be placed on temporary hold while you are on your Co-op assignment. However, when you return to the University as a full-time student your financial aid will resume. Students on athletic scholarship should meet with the Office of Athletic Compliance about NCAA scholarship guidelines.

No, you will not receive any academic credit or grade for the completion of the Co-op assignment. However, successful completion of the program will be noted on your transcript.

Normally, you need to return to full-time studies at the end of your term, so no continued association is expected. However, if a company expresses an interest in having you continue to work for them part-time while you return to full-time student status, it would be at your discretion to continue that association.

No, you are expected to devote your full professional attention to the company that hired you as a Co-op student.

You should not schedule any vacation during your Co-op assignment.