Hundreds of Bryant students work as interns each summer but, for some, an extended, full-time co-op program offers a deeper dive into the workplace while continuing their studies.
Bryant recently established a co-op with Fidelity Investments, the newest opportunity for undergraduates to work full-time for six months — either January to June or July to December. The university also offers co-op placements with global consumer health company Kenvue and a handful of other employers.
Co-ops are available to students in a variety of majors, including Data Science, Global Supply Chain Management, and Finance, says Todd Alessandri, Ph.D., dean of the Bryant College of Business.
“Since you're working for six months, companies give you a lot more responsibility because you're able to take on long-term projects,” says Alessandri. “With three-month internships, by the time you get up to speed, you're almost halfway through. You're doing meaningful work, but you're probably not taking leadership roles on projects.”
“Since you're working for six months, companies give you a lot more responsibility because you're able to take on long-term projects."
For companies, Alessandri notes that they are getting a good look at late-stage talent — juniors and seniors who are in the job market. Also, rather than bringing in two interns for three months each, they only have to train one person, he points out.
“You're getting a longer run time with someone who knows your culture and can develop stronger networks to get things done,” Alessandri says.
Co-op students earn six internship course credits. They usually work during the day and take two, three-credit classes at night for a total of 12 credits for the semester. Additionally, employers are typically flexible about scheduling work hours around school schedules if students need to take an early morning or late afternoon class, Alessandri notes.
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Taylar Hickey ’26, ’28MBA completed a co-op program with Kenvue in June of her senior year.
“I was applying for summer internships when my supply chain professor, Theresa McCarthy, Ph.D., suggested the co-op program,” says Hickey. “I didn’t think I’d have time to do it because I still had five courses to take before graduating, but I applied anyway.
“Kenvue let me pick my schedule, so I could work a lot remotely. Everyone at the company understands that we all have our own lives, so they're very much like, ‘If you have to leave, that’s fine; just like make sure you get your work done.'”
For Hickey, the co-op was a good fit in part because it allowed her to work during the school year and take the summer off to be home with her family.
“I also liked that I only had to take a couple of classes while I was doing it,” she adds.
Alessandri notes that the payoff can be significant for students who commit to a co-op.
“They are really good for students who have a strong idea of what they want to do after graduation, particularly if they are able to get a co-op with a company where they're interested in pursuing a full-time job,” he says.
“[Co-ops] are really good for students who have a strong idea of what they want to do after graduation, particularly if they are able to get a co-op with a company where they're interested in pursuing a full-time job."
Because Bryant allows students to earn up to nine internship credits toward graduation, they can use a standard, three-month summer internship to dip their toe into an industry, then pursue a co-op if they find a good fit, Alessandri says.
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“The co-op allows them to go deeper into that industry or company, fine-tune their soft skills, and apply the concepts that they're learning in class at a higher level. Essentially, they are coming out of school with nine months of experience, maybe more, at a company or an industry they’re interested in,” he says. “It’s taking career prep to the next level. They are day-one ready, because not only have they completed the academic side, but they’ve got strong experience in their chosen field.”