Office of Cooperative Education

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I Hear.....and I Forget. I See.....and I Remember. I Do.....and I Understand.

Welcome to the TSU Cooperative Education Program Home Page!

What is Cooperative Education?

The program is called COOPERATIVE EDUCATION because it involves a cooperative effort between employers and the University in combining their resources to form an educational system for career preparation and training. The University teaches basic facts, theories, and principles; the employer provides the opportunity for students to apply these facts, theories, and principles to practical work situations and problems. The skills and experience acquired as a result of these activities enhance the value of their degree, clarifies career choices, and increases their employability after graduation.

The traditional Alternating plan requires two full-time Co-op work semesters with a school semester in between. The Parallel plan requires a maximum of 25 hours of work per week with a local employer and a maximum of 14 hours of academic course work at the University. Parallel plan students usually must complete two (2) consecutive school/work semesters.

Three to six hours of academic credit is awarded for the co-op experience. This credit can either be additive or substitutive. Check with your academic department office for further details. Students must enroll in and pay fees for the appropriate Co-op Course prior to beginning of any Co-op work assignment unless approval is otherwise granted. New Co-op classes will be added to the university catalog as they become available. Students enrolling in Co-op courses without prior contact with co-op office will not receive a grade for the course. (See Available Co-op Courses)

How The Program Works

Students are first screened for program eligibility. Transcript review and career counseling are done prior to interviewing with prospective Co-op employers. Student's transcript, resume and Co-op application are kept on file for one year. Every attempt is made to match the student's career aspirations with the appropriate employer. Potential Co-op employers select candidates during Co-op Interview Day activities held once each semester. Separate interview schedules are held for employers after Co-op Interview Day, if necessary. All students are encouraged to identify potential Co-op employers on their own. Housing for students away from campus on Co-op assignments is sometimes problematic. Out-of-state students are encouraged to identify prospective Co-op employers in their hometowns.

Generally, Co-op students are paid the prevailing rate for the work they perform. Learning objectives for the Co-op work assignment are formulated from various exercises in the course textbook "Learning From Working". Academic credit will be awarded for the Co-op experience based upon completion of text activities, Mid-term evaluation, end-of-term report, and Final employer and student evaluations (See attached course syllabus). Faculty advisors and Co-op office will be in contact with Co-op students periodically during the semester. All students returning to campus are debriefed by the Co-op office immediately following their work assignments. For additional information on cooperative education, please refer to the website of the National Commission on Cooperative Education, http://www.co-op.edu, or click name tag below.
 

National Commission for Cooperative Education

What can I do with this Major/Degree?

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Links to a sampleof Cooperative Education Employer web pages