|
 What
is Cooperative Education?
Cooperative Education is a working partnership between student, college,
and employer which enables students to earn college credit for learning
on the job via a tightly structured process. Career-related on-the-job
work experience strengthens the educational process through a practical
application of written learning objectives and evaluation.
Who
is eligible for Cooperative Education?
Any Skyline College student, day or evening, who has a job related
to their major or future career goals could be eligible to receive 1 to
4 units of Cooperative Education credit per semester. Students can elect to take up
to a maximum of 16 units of Cooperative Education over a two-year period.
Sixteen units of Cooperative Education units are transferable as electives
to the California State University System (CSU) and some private colleges
and universities.
Are there regularly scheduled classes to attend?
There are no classes to attend or research papers to complete..
Students meet with their Cooperative Education Instructor once at the
beginning of the semester and once at the end of the semester at mutually
convenient times slated for student appointments. Be sure to check your
instructor’s posted office hours outside the Cooperative Education
Office, Bldg. 1, Room 1208, 1209, 1210.
How does Cooperative Education work?
Students enrolled in Co-op Ed are required to identify three to four
learning objectives that are specific and measurable. These objectives
are developed by the student and approved by both the employer and the
college coordinator. The student’s credit is dependent upon several
factors: 1) the employer’s and cooordinator’s evaluation of
the progress made by the student in attaining the objectives, and 2) by
working a sufficient number of hours during the semester or summer intersession.
Students may earn one unit of credit for each 75 hours worked per semester.
Volunteer student--employees may earn one unit of credit for every 60
hours of work.
Who benefits from Cooperative Education?
 Both
the student and the employer gain significant benefits from participation
in Skyline College’s Cooperative Education Program. Listed below
are some of the ways Cooperative Education benefits the business community:
Fosters
interaction with educators and employers to develop and implement business
oriented goals which benefit the company or organization.
Improves
a student’s job performance, knowledge, and skills by implementing
written job objectives.
Helps
the student develop motivation and job satisfaction due to feelings
of achievement and a successful completion of goals.
Allows
students to improve communication with their supervisors which fosters
an improved working relationship.
Encourages
students to set time priorities on job responsibilities.
Bridges
the gap between classroom theory and practical on-the-job experience.
Allows
the student to attain visibility at the workplace as the supervisor’s
attention is focused toward the student and his or her work.
Improves
the student’s opportunities for job advancement.
Enables
the student to earn transferable credit which can be applied toward
an AA or AS degree or certificate program, Social Security, insurance
benefits, financial aid, and Veterans’ benefits.
About
learning objectives...what are they?
To earn credit for Cooperative Education, each student must develop
measurable learning objectives which precisely state goals to be accomplished
on the job during the semester. Basically, the learning objectives
should follow four general criteria: 1) Identifying critical tasks to
be accomplished, 2) development of three to four written learning objectives,
3) setting a plan of action, and 4) evaluating results. By establishing
these measurable learning objectives, the employee-student becomes motivated
towards better job proficiency and output, resulting in increased productivity
and profit for the employer.
Read more about learning objectives.
Student Information & Responsibilities |
