How to co-op

Your step-by-step guide

 

What is cooperative education?  Cooperative Education (or co-op) is paid work experience in your field of study.  Students participating in co-op must work in a position related to the declared major or minor.  The co-op positions are approved by a Faculty Coordinator in each academic department.

 

So you’re ready to get some hands-on experience in your career field while earning academic credit and getting paid.  Follow these steps to complete your co-op!

 

  1. Are you eligible?  In order to co-op, you must have a declared major, at least a 2.2 GPA, and at least 30 credit hours.  If you are a transfer student, you must also have completed 1 semester at NKU.  Students seeking Associate Degrees need to have completed at least 15 credits. 

 

  1. Find a job in your major or minor.  If you are already working in your field of study, you may be able to turn your current job into a co-op.  If this is the case, skip to #4.  If you will be searching for a job in your field, move to #3.

 

  1. Get help with your job search.  To find a co-op job, start with the following:
    1. Create (or update) your résumé.  There are samples available in the Career Development Center to help you get started.  Once you are ready, bring your résumé to the CDC to have someone proofread it and provide feedback.  Walk-in hours are from 10 am to 1 pm, Monday to Friday, or call 859-572-5680 to make an appointment.
    2. Pick up a Job Search Guide at the Career Development Center or visit access.nku.edu/cdc for information and tools to help you with your job search.
    3. Talk with family, friends, and even your current employer, if applicable, to discuss your co-op goals.  You may be able to move into a position related to your field without leaving your current company.

 

  1. Talk with your employer about turning it into a co-op, once you have found a job in your field of study.  Talk to your academic advisor about how much credit should be earned.  Keep in mind that co-op credit, for most majors, is the course CEP 300, which is upper-level, elective credit.  The grading is pass/fail and students do pay tuition for this credit, similar to any other course credit.

 

  1. Complete the Student Agreement / Job Approval Form (attached).  Be sure to attach your job description to it.  This form is essentially a chance for you, your employer, and your Faculty Coordinator to all agree to make this job into a co-op.  This must be signed by you, your employer, and your Faculty Coordinator.  You must return the white copy (or the copy with original signatures) to the CDC to get enrolled for academic credit.

 

  1. Complete the Learning Objectives Form.  This allows you to specify 3 things you would like to learn from your co-op since it is an academic experience, as well as a work experience.  You, the student, should write the learning objectives, though you should be sure to discuss these objectives with your employer and faculty coordinator.  This must also be signed by you, your employer, and your Faculty Coordinator.  See attached form “Setting Learning Objectives” for assistance.  You must return the white copy (or the copy with original signatures) to the CDC to get enrolled for academic credit.

 

  1. Enroll for CEP 300.  Return your Student Agreement/Job Approval Form, Learning Objectives Form, and job description to the Career Development Center (UC 230).  Your co-op coordinator will enroll you for CEP 300 or give you other instructions.  The following table shows how many academic credits may be earned, based on the number of hours being worked.

 

Academic credit hours

Hours worked per week

Hours worked per semester

1

8

120

2

15

225

3

20

300

6

40

600

 

  1. Check Norse Express to ensure you are in the correct section of CEP 300.  Check Blackboard to find the CEP 300 course online.  There are several documents online for download including a Co-op Syllabus which contains all course requirements and deadlines, though both are subject to change by your individual Faculty Coordinator.

 

  1. Continue to communicate with your Faculty Coordinator throughout the semester.  This is your professor for the course so communication is essential.  If there are any additional assignments, be sure to work on them as needed and complete them on time.

 

  1. Keep a journal of activities you’re doing at work.  Jot down a few sentences describing the projects you’re doing, successes and failures, and opportunities you’ve had to apply your classroom knowledge to your position.  Talk with your faculty coordinator about how often this journal should be turned in.  Some faculty coordinators collect the journal once per month, some once per semester.

 

  1. Write a final paper to discuss your co-op experience.  There is an outline that is attached and is also available on Blackboard.  The paper should refer to your journal entries and is typically due the last day of classes, as determined by your Faculty Coordinator.

 

  1. Complete the Student Evaluation, available on Blackboard, and return it to your Faculty Coordinator.

 

  1. Ask your employer to complete the Co-op Performance Appraisal, available on Blackboard, and return it to your Faculty Coordinator.

 

Glossary of terms:

 

Co-op coordinator – a Career Development Center staff person who specializes in your major and can assist you with the co-op paperwork and finding a position.

 

Faculty Coordinator – a faculty or staff member in your academic department who will approve (or deny) your co-op, collect your journal, grade your final paper, and assign you a final grade.

 

Internship – a curricular work experience for academic credit which may or may not be paid.

 

Co-op – a paid work experience related to a student’s area of study for academic credit.

 

Northern Kentucky University

Career Development Center

University Center Room 230

Phone: 859-572-5680      ●      Fax: 859-572-6996

access.nku.edu/cdc       ●      access.nku.edu/co-op

Walk-in Hours: 10 am to 1 pm, Monday-Friday