About Cooperative Education
Learn while you earn.
Students are encouraged to gain workplace experience through Cooperative Education. What is Cooperative Education? It is a unique class that gives you the opportunity to take classroom learning and weave it right into your workplace. This will likely give you the opportunity to peek into your future career and show your employer that you are ready to take on new challenges. Also, you can see the benefits of your hard work in the classroom. The following list shows just some of the benefits that you will gain from the Cooperative Education courses.
- Gain realistic work experience that is meaningfully related to your college study program.
- Acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for successful employment.
- Demonstrate an increase in confidence and positive self–image through a worthwhile on–the job experience.
- Develop a professional network and clarify career goals.
What does a typical Butler Co–op student look like? Here are some examples...
- A business administration student working at a local credit union
- A certified nurse assistant working at a nursing home and working toward a nursing degree
- A para–educator in a elementary school wanting to continue her education to become a classroom teacher
- An accounting assistant working towards his bachelor's degree in accounting
These are some typical students but there are a wide variety of students that enroll in co–op. The most important piece is that you are working in a position that relates to your major!
Cooperative Education definition: Earn elective college credit while working. The student works with the work supervisor to develop goals at the work site. Student must be working in an area related to their major.
Credit earned through Cooperative Education satisfies elective credit requirements in most Butler programs of study and is accepted by many area schools and colleges.
Cooperative Education students must:
- Be employed in their major field of study or their career field.
- Work 150 hours on your job for each three hour Cooperative Education course.
- Complete the academic assignments related to their job or career goals.
- Master competencies set out in a training plan developed by the student and the supervisor and approved by the instructor.