The College strongly encourages its students to enroll in cooperative education courses. Cooperative education is the combining of classroom theory with related, practical job experience. Students work as paid employees of a business, agency, or institution while enrolled at the college in classes related to their career. A coordinator works closely with students and employers to ensure that the work experience is a successful career education experience.
Most departments in the college have integrated Co-op into their curriculums. Those departments that offer four-year degrees also offer upper division Co-op courses for juniors and seniors. Please refer to specific departments in the catalog for detailed information. If a student's career decision does not match any of the College's majors, he or she may register for COOP 281R.
Co-op students may work either part-time or full-time. Some companies hire Co-op students on an alternating basis where the student works full-time for a semester, attends school the next semester, and works full-time the following semester. Academic credit for cooperative work experience is granted according to the number of hours a student works during the semester, and follows this formula:
| Credit Hours | Minimum Hours of Work |
| 1 | 75 |
| 2 | 150 |
| 3 | 225 |
| 4 | 300 |
| 5 | 375 |
| 6 | 450 |
| 7 | 525 |
| 8 | 600 |
The amount of effort required to complete learning objectives should be commensurate with the number of credit hours granted in the formula. A one-credit hour related class may also be required of students registered for Cooperative Work Experience. Grading for Co-op courses is CR (credit granted) or NC (credit not granted). The maximum number of Co-op credits that a student may register for is sixteen. Any exception to his policy requires the signature of the student's dean and the Director of Cooperative Education.
Co-op may substitute for part of the curriculum, most commonly as elective credit. The maximum number of Co-op credits that may be applied toward a certificate is 8; a diploma is 14; an associate or bachelor's degree is 16 credit hours. In departments where those substitutions are clearly defined, they will be listed in the catalog. In other departments, substitution decisions will be based on a student's particular work experience and will be negotiated among the student, the Co-op coordinator, and the department chairperson.
For more information contact your department Co-op Coordinator.
