Experiential education is a key component of a Johnson & Wales University education. The university has developed two main programs designed to give you the opportunity to develop skills and competencies in the workplace and to augment the professional knowledge gained in the classrooms and laboratories of the school.

Cooperative Education Program
Co-op is an academic program that integrates classroom study with career-related professional training; it allows you to gain practical, paid work experience while earning academic credit towards your degree. Co-op is an elective program for which you must apply and be accepted. Students from every college or school at JWU are eligible to apply for co-op if they have available credit. Selection or assignment to the co-op sites is competitive and only those students demonstrating the best fit are chosen by the co-op staff to represent the university.

Externship Program
Externship is a mandatory academic program for specified majors that integrates classroom study with career-related professional training. This program allows you to gain practical work experience while earning academic credit towards your degree. Externships are typically unpaid.

To pursue these opportunities, see Experiential Education & Career Services.