The Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) program promotes an optional co-op plan for interested students. Employers with longer-term needs often provide opoortunities for students in the form of co-op employment that overlaps with the traditional school calendar. Co-op job leads are passed to students through the Penn State Behrend Career Services and Nittany Lion Careers and are often found at the College Career Fairs each year.

In order for the co-op plan to work without extending the students' stay in college by more than the time they spend away at the co-op position, the candidate should have complete the MET Program, JUNIOR year courses.

A typical co-op plan would look like the following:

Plan 1: Co-op Starts Immediately After Semester 6

Semester 7: Summer & Fall

  • MET 495: Co-op + summer internship for credit; Approximately June 1 - December 15 (3 credits)

Total Credits: 3

Semester 8: Spring

  • Technical Elective: Select from school Approved List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List
  • BB H/KINES: Select from University List

Total Credits: 13.5

Semester 9: Fall

  • MET 425: Finite Element Analysis, Applications II (3 credits)
  • MET 432: Fluid Power (3 credits)
  • MET 470: Materials Engineering (3 credits)
  • MET 480: Senior Capstone (1 credit)
  • Technical Elective: Select from School Approved List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List

Total Credits: 16

Plan 2: Co-op Starts Immediately After Semester 7

Semester 7: Fall

  • MET 425: Finite Element Analysis, Applications II (3 credits)
  • MET 432: Fluid Power (3 credits)
  • MET 470: Materials Engineering (3 credits)
  • Technical Elective: Select from School Approved List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List

Total Credits: 15

Semester 8: Spring & Summer

  • MET 495: Co-op + summer internship for credit; Approximately January 1-August 15 (3 credits)

Total Credits: 3

Semester 9: Fall

  • MET 480: Senior Capstone (1 credit)
  • Technical Elective: Select from School Approved List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List
  • S/H/A Elective: Select from Gen Ed List
  • BB H/KINES: Select from University List

Total Credits: 14.5 credits