The Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP) is a robust, hybrid educational and industry experience for university engineering students, including Oregon Tech.
By participating in the co-op, students in our various engineering majors are guided through their coursework, participate in seminars and engage in two six-month internships with our business partners. The program instills in students a deep understanding of the theoretical and technical aspects of engineering. It also gives them exposure to different engineering disciplines, diverse professional workplace experiences, and state-of-the-art technology.
Students in the following programs may apply: Mechanical Engineering - (Klamath Falls campus only), Mechanical Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Geomatics, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering Technology, Embedded Systems Engineering Technology, and Computer Engineering Technology.
Benefits of MECOP
- Real work experience
- Two six-month internships
- Opportunity to experience the real work environments, tryout different sectors of industries, management styles, etc.
- Learn early in your career what an engineer really is like
- Learn from experience your academic and personal strengths and weaknesses
- Make more informed course selections upon return to the university
- Have motivation or reasons to apply yourself
- Finance all or a major part of your education
- Develop the ability to understand and grasp course content upon return to the university
- Develop maturity and confidence
- Become highly marketable after graduating
- Make contacts in industry that last a lifetime
Here's what the co-op's timeline looks like for students:
First Year: Students begin lower-division coursework
Second year: Students complete lower-division coursework and, at the end of the year, apply and interview with the MECOP Advisory Board.
Third year: Accepted students attend a MECOP seminar and begin upper-division coursework. They also interview for their first internship, which they complete during the spring and summer.
Fourth year: Students attend another MECOP seminar and continue their coursework. They also interview for their second internship and work for a company during the summer and into the fall.
Fifth year: A third seminar is held, students complete their upper-division coursework and graduate with the Bachelor of Science degree for their respective programs.
MECOP/CECOP Stories
![Rhonda-Costin.jpg Rhonda-Costin.jpg](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Rhonda-Costin.jpg)
"I chose Oregon Tech because it has a strong Geomatics department and supports participation in the MECOP/CECOP internship program. Also, the small class sizes make classes a lot more enjoyable."
Rhonda Costin, Geomatics
![Chance Alford at Boeing's Everett Site](/sites/default/files/styles/inline_media_300w/public/2022-08/Chance%20Alford%20at%20Boeing%27s%20Everett%20Site_0.jpg.webp?itok=LUf7ZUz9)
"All MECOP internships are paid six-month internships. This is interesting when working at Boeing because the majority of interns that work here are only here for a 10 or 12-week summer internship. The 6-months gives me enough time to get trained up first then to start doing some actual work with the team."
Chance Alford, Mechanical Engineering
![Student using drill press](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_image/public/full-width/Drill-Press-MECOP-Full-Width.jpg.webp?itok=JIrb4NZ1)
Interested in applying or have questions? Contact Professor Brian Moravec, MECOP’s program coordinator.