Benefits of Co-op

• Earn while you learn – earn money and college credit while employed in a field related to your career goals.
  
• Clarify and define career goals
  
• Gain a better understanding of classroom theory by observing it in practice
  
• Accumulate professional experience in your field of study while developing self-confidence, communication skills, and maturity
  
• Improve prospects for employment at a higher starting salary upon graduation
• Earn money to help defray educational expenses
  
  

How to Begin

• A student working toward an associate degree or a certificate in the Business Management area and having prior coordinator approval is eligible for co-op.
• To meet employers’ needs, two co-op schedules are available:
  • Parallel Plan – study combined with part-time work
  • Extended Day Plan – full-time work combined with night classes
• The employer selects the students—they are not assigned by the college. However, if you already have a job, talk with the coordinator about the possibility of getting credit.
• The employer sets the pay, which is generally competitive pay for comparable work.
• Once you are selected by the employer, you must enroll for the co-op class. You can receive up to 9 credits toward your degree or certificate. Below is a list of our three co-op classes:
  

What Co-op Involves

• Secure an approved position through an interview process or use a job that you currently have.
• Work a minimum of 15 hours per week. (No maximum number of hours has been established.)
• Enroll for the co-op program.
• Attend a seminar once a week that is conducted by your co-op coordinator. Be willing to do your best work on your job. A majority of the co-op grade is based on the co-op employer’s evaluation of your work.