Cooperative Education and Women in Engineering Careers

This study was conducted for the purpose of evaluating the impact of cooperative education on the career development of women in engineering. Recent alumnae of Northeastern University and junior and senior undergraduate women in engineering were randomly sampled and interviewed. Our respondents expressed a generally high level of job satisfaction and were confident of future career advancement. They expected equitable treatment with respect to salary and status, although there were some reports of sex discrimination in work settings. The pattern of ratings suggested that working conditions for women in engineering have gotten somewhat better over time and that the last undergraduate co-op placement is similar to a first professional job. These findings underscore the importance of practical experience in "real-world" settings for women entering engineering.