Tufts University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) has launched a new cooperative education program in its biology department, enhancing opportunities for experiential learning among students. This marks the first co-op program within GSAS, building on similar offerings in the Tufts School of Engineering.
Dean Ayanna Thomas and Benny Belvin, the director of professional development and alumni engagement, have spearheaded efforts to promote practical learning experiences in various forms. The new program is designed for biology Master of Science (MS) and Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (BS/MS) students, allowing them to engage in full-time work at external companies for up to six months.
Co-ops will take place over two semesters, which includes a summer and either the preceding spring or fall semester. Interested students must apply and be accepted into the co-op program before seeking external positions. Frank David, a professor of the practice in biology, noted that there is no cap on the number of students who can be accepted into the program.
David emphasized that the application process is intended to support students, stating, “We want people to be successful when they do co-ops, which involves some amount of basic professionalism training.” Students will have access to resources to assist in preparing application materials, including cover letters and resumes.
The biology department aims to ensure that candidates represent the program well to potential employers through this application process. David mentioned, “Students who go out and do co-ops are, to a certain extent, ambassadors of our program.”
To further prepare for co-op positions, students are required to complete “Biology 197: Career Skills for Biologists.” This course, taught by David, covers essential career skills, such as building resumes and LinkedIn profiles, while exploring important soft skills.
Initially, the biology department focused on internships but found that companies preferred longer commitments. David explained that co-op programs allow students to become more productive members of their teams compared to shorter internships.
David drew inspiration for the program from the existing engineering co-op program, noting that “80% to 90% of our program is based on the engineering school’s program.” He pointed out that engineering graduate students also must apply to the co-op program prior to seeking individual jobs.
According to David, the co-op initiative is expected to enhance the career prospects of biology MS and BS/MS students, addressing previous challenges related to translating their degrees into professional opportunities. Many students lacked relevant work experience upon graduation, and the co-op program aims to provide hands-on experience to better prepare them for the job market.
David noted that Tufts students previously faced competition in the Boston area due to insufficient work experience. He hopes the new program will bridge this gap, allowing students to gain valuable experience alongside their academic training. “We can now have the best of both worlds,” he said.
Importantly, the co-op program requires that students’ positions be unrelated to academic research, grading, or teaching. David pointed out that real value lies in gaining experience in external, non-academic organizations to broaden students’ professional exposure.
Looking ahead, David expressed his hope that other GSAS departments will consider establishing their own co-op programs, inspired by both the biology and engineering models. “I kind of think that every arts and sciences Master’s program should have a co-op program,” he added.
Applications for the co-op program have been open since the past summer, with students set to apply for positions and start their co-ops in the upcoming year.
