Cooperative Work Experience

COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE

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

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

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 limitation:

1. A maximum of 8 credit hours (per semester) of cooperative work experience 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(s).

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 student may enroll in Cooperative Work Experience with the approval of the student's faculty advisor, department chairperson, and cooperative education coordinator. This approval must be granted prior to enrollment in Cooperative Work Experience.
5. Wages earned.