<p>I will be attending Tech in the fall and will most likely major in AE. However, I would like to know what the academic schedule for students that co-op would be like. </p>
<p>As for GPA, you generally do not take any classes while co-oping so you don’t have to worry about juggling school and work at the same time. Some students find that they are more motivated to study once they see how their schooling can be applied in the workplace.</p>
<p>I am actually writing this response while at work on my co-op term. I am currently a 2nd year ME student. I came into Tech with 16 credits and took 9 credits during my summer between freshman/sophomore year. With those 25 extra credits, I am on track to graduating in 4 years with a Co-op designation. I have been averaging 15 credits/semester and that’s what I need to keep taking to graduate on time. Although I may not have any summer breaks during my college years, I think co-oping is a worthwhile experience.
Co-op is a minimum of three work semesters which is alternated with classes. So for me with Spring 2011 being my first work term, my future schedule looks like this until graduation:</p>
<p>Co-op Spr 11/Classes Sum 11/Co-op Fall 11/Classes Spr 12/Co-op Summer 12/Classes Fall 12/Classes Spr 13</p>
<p>Co-op has no effect to GPA really since most of the times you arn’t taking classes since Co-op is like a full time job for the duration of the semester. There is the option to take possibly one or two classes but that’s only if your employer is willing to let you take classes and your Co-op is located near GT or a college where transfer credits are available. The only way GPA may be affected is if you forget your schoolwork with the gaps in between semesters, but that’s negligible.</p>
<p>I think it’s easier than that. In 4 years, you have 11 semesters (assuming you start in August and end in May). A typical 4 year schedule (like the one listed in the first post) is 8 semesters of academic work. So 8 semesters of academic work + 3 semesters of co-op = 11 semesters.</p>
<p>The downside is that co-ops will take classes twice during the summer. Summer semesters are shorter than Fall/Spring, so you take less classes (12 instead of 15 hours). So the 4 year Co-op schedule is effectively short 6 credits or so of a full degree. So as long as you come to Tech with more than that in transfer credits, and you plan your classes accordingly, you should be fine to graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>Historically GT’s Co-op program was considered a 5 year program because it required 4 to 5 semesters of work. They recently reduced that to 3 to 4 semesters of work so students could graduate in 4 years instead of a mandatory 5 years.</p>
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<p>One thing to mention is that companies are often flexible with scheduling. You can start the summer after your freshman year, then ask to come back the next Summer instead of Spring. Some will approve that depending on their needs and intern/co-op program.</p>
<p>The GT Co-op program really dislikes when you do that and will basically convert you to an intern instead of a co-op. As long as your company has already agreed to bring you back, there’s no difference between an intern and co-op other than the designation on the diploma. The “Co-op designation” on your diploma has 0 value; all that matters is that you have 3 semesters of work experience at graduation.</p>
<p>Hey, I’m a freshman/sophomore (long story) AE at Tech and you must keep in mind that the schedule is much more oppresive than the ME schedule is. This is because a lot of the courses are only offered at certain times.<br>
Sure you can take summer classes but certain AE classes are offered:
AE 2020
AE 2220
AE 3310
AE 3521
all of which have a list of pre-requisites that must be satisfied before taking. But of course you can take electives and basic maths/sciences over the summer as well.</p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind is Senior Design. This is what makes most AE students have to stay 5 years because Senior Design 1 is only offered in the Fall and Senior Design 2.
Most importantly (and quite easily messed up) is the pre-req and co-reqs for senior design (based on whether you want to do aircraft, spacecraft or rotorcraft) these have to be timed perfectly. </p>
<p>I am coming in with 40 credits and looking at co-op I will be graduating in 4 years. It has to be timed very carefully and if you have no incoming credits I’m not sure it’s possible to finish in 4 years (which isn’t really a big deal since you’ll be getting career experience anyways).</p>