Co-Op Policy

Co-operative Education Courses (CS 2250, CS 4250, CS 6250)

 

The purpose of co-operative education is to give academic credit for legitimate learning acquired on the job. There is a University-wide co-operative education program which operates out of the Career Center.

Students receive the following benefits from taking a co-operative education class:

  • Credit as an elective for graduation, or to maintain the minimum registration necessary to qualify as a full-time student (say for a scholarship) while working part-time;
  • Eligibility to fill internships with those companies which require co-operative education enrollment of their interns;
  • A visible signal on their transcripts indicating that they had professional work experience during the time they were students.
On October 12, 1999 the department decided on the following policy for the co-operative education courses:

  • A student may take a co-operative education course only if employed and with the agreement of the work supervisor.
  • A student may register for one credit per 5 hours weekly work that is educationally beneficial.
  • Graduate students registering for CPT must register for 3 credits of CS 6250 every semester they are on CPT, regardless of how many other credits they are taking.
  • Working with computers, but doing little or no software development merits only CS 2250 registration.
  • Doing software development at an undergraduate level merits only CS 4250 registration.
  • CS 6250 registration is restricted to those whose job description requires a B. S. in Computer Science or the equivalent. CS 6250 may not be used as part of a graduate student’s program of study.
  • No grade will be given in a co-operative education course until contact has been made with the work supervisor to determine the student’s professional competence, work skills, and relationship skills.
  • Students may take a co-operative education course with a P-D-F grading option. Those who want an A-B-C-D-F grading option must submit a written report outlining the work done and the educationally valuable information or skills gained on the job. This report should be 4-6 pages (single-spaced, 12 point type) in length. Examples of work products can be attached to it as an appendix, if the student desires.