Purdue University Office of Professional Practice

Purdue University Office of Professional Practice Experience your future & receive a salary! Stop by POTR 114 to learn more about our co-op programs a

The Office of Professional Practice (OPP) at Purdue University focuses more on providing distinctive learning and discovery opportunities to our students that cannot be found at other institutions and thus, clearly separate our graduates from those of other institutions. OPP offers cooperative education programs that are truly unique. Our Co-Op employers inform us that we are still the only univer

sity in the country that offers a 5-session Co-Op program that starts right after the first year. Within this program, students can participate in approximately 18-months of work-integrated learning (WIL) sessions before they graduate in five years. In addition, our award-winning GEARE (Global Alliance for Research and Education) program is the only program in the country that combines three main aspects of global engineering education into one overall student experience: (1) two work-integrated learning sessions, one domestic and one international, each approximately three months in length; (2) one semester of study abroad with fully transferrable credits and (3) participation in a team- oriented global design team project with students from multi-cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, we launched our new G-PAL (Global Partners in Apprenticeship Learning) program, which was specifically designed to provide professional opportunities to our growing international undergraduate student body, which sometimes has difficulties finding US domestic opportunities. This is another one-of-a-kind program that partners an international student with a domestic student in both a cultural and a work-integrated learning session. Finally, we just approved a new masters- level cooperative education program. Students who graduate from this program will not only meet all M.Sc. degree requirements, but in addition have significant graduate-level industrial experience within a profession of their choice. The availability of the MS-level cooperative education program will uniquely position Purdue University since no such program currently exists at our peer institutions. The program will significantly enhance the recruitment of new graduate students and the retention of Purdue undergraduates for graduate studies.

07/30/2026

Every internship is more than work experience, it’s an opportunity to learn, grow and make an impact.

This summer, Purdue Engineering students have been applying their knowledge in the workplace, tackling real-world challenges and gaining experiences that will shape their futures.

At the Office of Professional Practice, we’re proud to support students as they take the next step toward becoming tomorrow’s industry leaders.

This National Intern Day, we’re celebrating the students, employer partners and mentors who make these experiences possible.

Want to help create more opportunities for students? Visit the link in our bio to support experiential learning and help students take the next step towards their careers.

07/17/2026

Wondering where the Office of Professional Practice is located?

Follow along as we make our way from the Purdue Memorial Union to our West Lafayette office in Lambertus Hall (LMBS). Along the route from the Purdue Memorial Union, you’ll pass Academy Park, Wetherill Hall of Chemistry, the Wilmeth Active Learning Center and other familiar campus landmarks before arriving at our office on the second floor.

Whether you have questions about co-ops, internships, career readiness or experiential learning opportunities, our team is here to help.

Stop by and say hello this semester! We look forward to seeing you. 🚂

06/24/2026

For Megan Earp, engineering became more than just a degree, it became an opportunity to explore the world.

As a senior studying electrical engineering, Megan has taken her Purdue experience far beyond campus. As a member of the GEARE program, she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, gaining both technical and cultural experiences along the way.

From interning at NASA’s Glenn Research Center to working in the Center for Automation and Robotics at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Megan has discovered how engineering can connect people, ideas, and innovation across the globe.

Through each experience, Megan has built the skills, confidence, and global perspective that will guide her future career.

This is Megan’s

05/06/2026

For Jacob Retek, co-op was more than gaining experience, it was learning how to think, communicate, and problem solve like an engineer in industry.

As a junior studying mechanical engineering, Jacob completed two co-op rotations with GE Appliances on the dishwasher product improvement team. He quickly realized that problem solving in industry is much different than what’s taught in the classroom. Through collaboration with teammates and senior leadership, he developed stronger communication skills and gained confidence navigating real engineering challenges.

By the end of his rotations, Jacob walked away feeling like a stronger engineer and a stronger professional.

His advice? Attend the OPP Co-op Fair. That’s where he made the connection that led to his opportunity with GE Appliances.

Watch to hear how helped shape Jacob’s journey.

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