DAAP Students Land Top Jobs at 13 Fortune 500 Companies

The University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) has an impressive track record when it comes to connecting students with top companies. The college's co-op program allows students to gain hands-on experience in professional environments, and the results are impressive.

Over the past three years, 13 Fortune 500 companies have hired DAAP co-op students, including Cincinnati-based giants Procter & Gamble and Kroger. Other notable employers include Apple, Disney, AECOM, Humana, and Intuitive Surgical. These partnerships demonstrate the breadth of opportunities available to DAAP students and the value placed on design, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Cummins, another major employer of DAAP students, has provided opportunities for students in fine arts and communication design, illustrating how creative expertise can contribute within a global manufacturing and technology company. The relationships between DAAP and these employers are not only beneficial to the companies but also to the students, who gain a clearer understanding of how their education can translate across industries and professional roles.

The co-op program is central to UC's experiential learning model, giving students opportunities to test their skills in real-world settings while continuing their education. For DAAP students, these experiences complement studio work, research, and interdisciplinary coursework with direct exposure to clients, teams, business processes, and the challenges of professional practice.