The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of women engineering students through socialization processes during their cooperative education, co-op, experience., in which students gain work experience in their chose industries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female engineering students who have completed at least one co-op experience. A hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry was conducted to understand the participants' lived experiences. The main findings of this study relate to background, academic and non-academic university experiences, co-op, and future career directions. Findings from this study highlight the importance of support systems, creating inclusive classroom and co-op work environments for female students. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]