4.6 Cooperative Work Experience

Courses:  Cooperative Work Experience - Cooperative Work Experience offers an extension and application of classroom instruction through the college and an employer that supervises work experiences closely related to the student's educational and career plans.  The student's faculty advisor, Department Chair and the coordinator of cooperative education must approve job placement and credit allocation.

Cooperative Work Experience has special credit hours designations.  A minimum of 40 clock hours of work experience is required for each semester credit hour.

                        Minimum Clock Hours Worked                     Semester Credit Hours

                                                 480                                                                      16

                                                 240                                                                        6

                                                 200                                                                        5

                                                 160                                                                        4

                                                 120                                                                        3

                                                   80                                                                        2

                                                   40                                                                        1

Credit hours are computed on a 2.5:1 ratio of work contact hours (60 minutes) to credit hour assignment.

CWE 187 indicates freshman cooperative work experience enrollment and CWE 287 indicates sophomore enrollment.  The designation a, b, c, and d, indicates first, second, third, or fourth enrollment in cooperative work experience per year.

Cooperative Work Experience credit may be applied toward certificate or degree requirements with the following limitations:

1. A maximum of 8 semester credits may be applied toward graduation requirements.

2. Cooperative Work Experience credits are general electives and may not replace general education requirements or required courses for a major.

3. One-third of the credits earned after the first semester of full-time enrollment may be applied toward graduation requirements.

4. One-third of the credits earned during the first semester of enrollment may be applied toward certificate or degree requirements only with approval of the student's faculty advisor, Department Chair, and coordinator of cooperative education.  This approval must be granted prior to enrollment in cooperative work experience.

5. More than one-third of the credits earned during a semester may be applied to certificate or degree requirements only with approval of the student's faculty advisor, Department Chair, and coordinator of cooperative education.  This approval must be granted prior to enrollment in cooperative work experience.

Benefits to the student include:

1. Enhanced learning through practical work experience related to the individual's major area of study.

2. Work experience becomes a part of the student's permanent record (college transcript) and may be valuable when seeking future employment.

3. The grades earned are included in the student's cumulative grade point average.

4. A high school fast-track student may enroll in Cooperative Work Experience with the approval of the student's faculty advisor, the Department Chair, the coordinator of cooperative education.  This approval must be granted prior to enrollment in Cooperative Work Experience.

5. Wages earned.