Cooperative Education Program

The Cooperative Education Program consists of a combination of work and study for undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior, and senior years of study. The Co-op Ed Program is designed to combine classroom learning with practical experience in an educationally beneficial way. Students may choose from a wide range of employment opportunities to enhance both their academic classroom experience and their professional career skills.

Cooperative Education Application

Cooperative Education Program Placement

To apply for admission to the Cooperative Education Program, students must have a minimum of 2.0 cumulative average, declared major, and approval from the department chairperson. Placed students may work in either full-time or part-time positions, and they may earn a maximum of 12 undergraduate degree credits. Students enrolled in the Cooperative Education Program are offered salaried, entry-level, professional positions in financial institutions, media facilities, service organizations, health agencies, retail stores, etc.

Interested students should complete an application form and submit a resume to the Office of Cooperative Education. Assistant Directors of the Office of Cooperative Education have designated areas for placement. Listings for each Assistant Director are posted in the academic departments and in the Office of Cooperative Education.

A cooperative education assignment is developed according to student interests, skills, and educational background. Assignments are chosen to match, as closely as possible, the long-range career goals of students. Hence, students have the opportunity of viewing a variety of options within industry.

Students who are hired for cooperative education internship function as employees at the place of employment, fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the internship. Additional responsibilities evolve from the academic component of the cooperative education experience and faculty supervision.

Students are supervised by faculty coordinators who are responsible for developing learning objectives, approving projects, and assigning final grades for the experience. Cooperative education employers offer students constructive and interesting work, and they communicate regularly with co-op staff and faculty coordinators.

This relationship helps to ensure a successful experience for students and employers. Each year, over 450 employers are involved in the University's Cooperative Education Program, Cooperative Education internship opportunities are available in small, medium, and large organizations within the public and private sector.

Cooperative Education Application

Cooperative Education Program Benefits

Benefits of Co-op Program cited by students and employers include:

• Students have the opportunity to test their skills and abilities.
• Practical work experience may be included in student resume.
• Academic credit is earned for a supervised field experience.
• Employers may provide references for future jobs or graduate school application.
• Money earned may be used to offset the cost of education.
• New and marketable skills are developed for the marketplace.
• Practical experience enhances the understanding of academic concepts.
• Opportunity for employment after graduation is increased.
• Career goals are clarified.
• Co-op experience is recorded on university transcript.