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Cooperative
Education at USA
Cooperative
education is an optional educational program which allows USA students to
integrate periods of classroom study with periods of paid practical work
experience related to their academic major.
Students may work in business, industry, and government agencies.
While working, co-op students earn a competitive salary and may
receive benefit packages. Salaries
depend on many factors - the employer, students’ academic standing,
major field, work performance, etc.
Two Options:
Alternating and Parallel
USA’s
Co-op Program offers two options to accommodate the needs of employers and
students. The “alternating
option” allows students to alternate semesters of full-time study with
full-time periods of work. The
“parallel plan” allows students to work part-time while enrolled in
courses full-time at USA. The alternating option is highly
recommended for students in Engineering and other technical fields.
All co-op
students enroll in a non-credit course while working, and alternating
students retain their full-time status during work semesters.
Summer is considered a semester by the USA Co-op Program.
Cooperative Education Program
Requirements
1.
Twenty-four (24) hours of earned academic credit must appear on the
official USA transcript.
Credit may be earned at USA or transferred from another college or
university.
2.
A minimum overall GPA of 2.30 must be met and
maintained for the duration of participation in the program.
3.
All program participants must view the Employability Skills
Seminar and pay the materials fee. A
completed resume must be loaded to the Career Services database before
employment interviews may begin.
4.
Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours
each semester when in school.
5.
Graduate students must maintain a minimum of 6 credit hours each
semester when in school.
6.
All co-op students must register for the appropriate Cooperative
Education (COE) course each work term.
Course listings may be found in the USA Schedule of Classes under
the School of Continuing Education.
Although no credit hours are assigned to Cooperative Education courses, a
grade of Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) is assigned at the end of
each work term and will appear on the official University transcript.
Employment Commitment
·
Alternating students attend school one semester and work the
following semester on a rotating basis for a total of one full calendar
year of work.
·
Parallel students attend school full-time each semester
while working 15-20 hours each week.
·
A one-page report is required at the end of each work term.
·
Adherence to organizational and professional ethics,
policies and procedures at the work site is required.
Alternating
Co-op Employers
Career services also assists graduating seniors in
job placement.
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