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Cooperative education programs give you the opportunity to enhance your career skills and overall education with a combination of classroom studies and on-the-job training. Not only does this help pay for college, but you receive invaluable interaction with experts in your field of study!
The structure of cooperative education programs may vary from college to college. For example, at North Carolina State University, qualified students must enroll in one semester of full-time study, then one semester of full-time, paid employment. A minimum of 12 months of full-time employment and fulfilling additional program requirements, including degree completion, are necessary.
Here’s a handy list of a few cooperative education programs:
- National Commission for Cooperative Education: http://www.co-op.edu/. NCCE has 185 merit scholarships totaling more than $4 million. Participating colleges and universities include Drexel University, Kettering University, Northeastern University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Johnson & Wales University, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo and Pace University.
- United States Office of Personnel Management: http://www.studentjobs.gov/d_coop.asp. Opportunities include the Cooperative Grants Program; Global Change Education Program-Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science; Laboratory Research Cooperative Program; Naval Research Student Laboratory Volunteers; Short-Term Analytical Services; and the United States Secret Service Stay in School Program. The Cooperative Grants program involves studying abroad. The Laboratory Research program facilitates long-term exchange of information regarding broad scientific and technological issues between university professors and U.S. Army centers of research. The Naval Research Student Laboratory Volunteers positions are all unpaid volunteer positions. The Short-Term Analytical Services provides speedy analyses of specific scientific or technological issues for the Department of Defense and civilian agency sponsors. And the United States Secret Service Stay in School program is for high-school, vocational school or baccalaureate student age 16 or older.
- International Cooperative Education: http://www.icemenlo.com/index.shtml. ICE has placed more than 15,000 students in cooperative education positions throughout Europe, Asia and South America since 1971. Students have also traveled to Germany, China and Japan. You can choose from paid jobs or internships, which are tailored according to your interests, language ability and goals. You can search their job listings by type, language or country.
And don’t forget to research your prospective university’s admissions department web pages or call them to ask about available cooperative education programs. And compare the availability of different programs amongst your list of favorite colleges and universities.
Job skills that you reap while taking advantage of a cooperative education program will look great on your resume when it’s time to graduate college. You’ll be a step ahead of your peers!
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