Student Information
"I didn't just file and copy all day long. I had responsibilities and made a difference."
Kristina Shtoler
Accounting Major
Co-op at Comvault Systems
Cooperative Education is a form of Experiential Education in which students work and learn in paid career-related positions in business, industry, and government. Students enroll for at least one credit and work with a faculty member (sponsor) to integrate classroom learning with hands-on experience.
Advantages of Participating in a Co-op
- Through Co-op students have the opportunity to apply concepts, techniques, and methods learned in the classroom in the professional workplace.
- Students gain valuable experience which enhances their resumes.
- Students are often offered jobs after completion of their co-ops, as well as full-time positions with their co-op employers after graduation.
- Students are able to make realistic decisions about future career plans.
Co-op Basics
- Students must register for at least one credit to complete their co-op and satisfy their ExEd requirement.
- Students must work with a faculty member (sponsor) and meet with him or her on a regular basis to develop and strive to achieve a set of learning activities and goals during the co-op experience.
- Students are required to submit academic work—usually a paper relating their experience to their classroom knowledge.
Getting Started
- Meet with your departmental advisor or the Co-op Director to discuss your interests and explore options.
- Explore the ExEd database to find potential co-op jobs.
- Develop a resume.
- Select co-op job choices and give the list and your resume to the Co-op Director to review and send to potential employers.
- Interview with employers and accepted a desired offer.
- Find a faculty sponsor and complete registration paperwork.
