Career Guide - Michelin Career Center - Clemson University

Be: Engaged
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) is an engagedlearning
program that provides students with an opportunity to
alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of paid,
discipline-specific work and learning experience under a mentor
in their field of study. A basic goal of the program is to help
bridge the gap between academic study and its application in
professional practice.
Co-op assignments add a textual dimension to the curriculum
and challenge students to think critically and creatively as they
engage in problem-solving within a work setting. The essence
of the program can be captured in an old proverb:
Tell me and I forget
Show me and I remember
Involve me and I understand
Cooperative Education, as the term implies, represents an
educational partnership between the University, the student,
and participating industry and organizations. To ensure that
students have experiences that are educationally meaningful,
members of the co-op faculty/academic staff monitor each
student’s co-op assignment throughout his/her participation in
the program.
Students may qualify for the program after completing 30 credit
hours of academic coursework. Transfer students may qualify
after completing one semester at Clemson. Students normally
enter the program as sophomores or juniors and complete
two to five rotations in a co-op assignment depending upon
their major. Completion of the co-op program is a curricular
requirement for some majors such as Packaging Science.
Packaging Science majors normally complete the program in
two back-to-back rotations during a six-month period.
Students enrolled in the program register for the appropriate coop
course number (e.g., CO-OP 101, 102, etc.) for each rotation
and receive a grade of Pass or Fail. Students receive academic
recognition on their transcript, although no credit hours are
awarded. Students pay a program participation fee each
semester or summer session they are on a co-op rotation. In
responding to questions about student status related to health
insurance, scholarships, loans, etc., the University classifies a
student on a co-op rotation as a full-time continuing student.
Visit www.clemson.edu/career/students/cooperative_education
for more information.
Center for Career and Professional Development
www.clemson.edu/career
19
Benefits of Cooperative Education
Having the opportunity to apply what you have
learned in class and to learn new material not yet
covered may enhance your academic performance
and give you a competitive edge when seeking fulltime
employment upon graduation. Participation
in the Cooperative Education Program gives you the
chance to:
+ work and learn under a mentor in your field of
study
+ apply classroom learning in a work setting
+ enhance your academic performance through
increased understanding and motivation
+ develop critical thinking and problem-solving
skills
+ graduate with substantial and in-depth
experience in your field
+ realistically confirm your choice of major and
career
+ strengthen your level of maturity, confidence,
and sense of responsibility
+ increase your understanding of business/
industry operations
+ earn a substantial income as a student
Nick Loder, Civil Engineering, Black & Veatch, Greenville, SC