Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op," provides academic credit for structured employment experience. Work experience must be directly related to the student’s declared major to be eligible. To register for this course, a student must have completed 50% of core coursework, maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 and a program specific GPA of 2.5
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Cooperative education helps students make the school-to-work transition, develop career and program-related learning objectives, and work on applicable skills for employment. Placements should provide students with the opportunity to apply and expand upon knowledge learned in the classroom, and develop the skills acquired in their coursework to align with the standards and expectations set by the worksite.
- Professional Dress and Demeanor (attitude, posture, courteousness)
- Workplace Communication
- Interviewing Skills
- Resume Building
- Networking and Social Media
- Seeking Employment
- Career Advancement
- 1-3 program specific learning objectives will be developed by the instructor for each individual offering.
- Students will create 1-3 learning objectives per credit to be approved by instructor for each individual offering.
- Build a resume that meets standards of Career Services Office.
- Explain the reasons for professional attire.
- Wear professional attire while on the worksite.
- Display appropriate professional attitude and demeanor while on the worksite.
- Interview effectively.
- Attend mock interview, give appropriate answers to five (5) questions.
- Complete a written job application in a prompt, professional manner with all information legible, error-free, and thorough.
- Use of Social Media sites (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) during Career Services workshop.
Assessment and Requirements
Term Paper Weekly Journal Creation of Learning Objectives Employer Evaluation Completion of 150 work hours
To be determined by the instructor. Detailed course syllabi will be standardized for all co-op courses and individual course requirements will be available to the School of BEPD and Curriculum Committee by request “For information only” for each term that the course is offered.
See Division for list of required texts
Outcomes
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Student will submit a formal request in writing to the faculty and Associate Dean for work experience to be considered for Credit for Prior College-Level Learning.
The student will complete an interview, a reflective paper, or a presentation to the faculty in which the student develops and describes the learning objectives supported by the work experience, how those learning objectives were achieved and how that learning was put into practice.
Finally, the student must also provide a portfolio (or something comparable) that shows the work completed, and provide some form of documentation confirming the work experience (a resume does not suffice) for which Credit for Prior College-Level Learning is requested.