Cooperative Education

Maryville students are eligible to earn elective credit toward their major in a work/learn experience called Cooperative Education. The Career Education office serves as the liaison between the students, their faculty advisor and the work supervisor. Students must work with a full-time faculty member to design a learning plan and objectives to be accomplished during a 12-15 week experience.

Students may earn up to 5 credit hours per semester for a maximum of 18 Cooperative Education credits. The benefits for students are three-fold: earning wages, earning credit and earning practical experience related to their career/academic choice.

Objective

• The objective of the Cooperative Education Program is to provide experiential learning opportunities for students and assist employers with staffing needs.  
• The Cooperative Education Program encourages students to work in positions that are related to and integrated with their academic majors and/or their career area of interest.
   

Student Requirements and Responsibilities

• Must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.  
• Must be at the sophomore level with a minimum of 6 credit hours of coursework
  completed at Maryville University.  
• It is the student's responsibility to gain approval from their faculty advisor
  for the co-op experience.  
• Students are responsible for completing all the academic requirements set forth
  in cooperation with their faculty advisor.  
• Once hired, students will be expected to follow company guidelines.  
• Students agree to fulfill the terms of the co-op contract as long as employed by the company. Failure to fulfill the terms of this contract will result in expulsion from the co-op program.
     

  Download:

  Co-Op Registration Packet (PDF Document)

Length of Employment

• The Cooperative Education Program is designed to provide students with at least one full semester of employment. Whenever possible the employer should employ the student
  throughout a minimum work period of 12 - 15 weeks.  
• The student is expected to be employed for the full term of a given work period.

Employer Responsibilities

• The employer agrees to coordinate and supervise the student's assigned duties so that work tasks will be closely related to the academic degree program and career objectives of the student.  
• The employer also agrees to support Maryville University's co-op policies during all work periods, and to complete an evaluation for the student.

Cooperative Education Employers

Scheduling and Coordination

 Work periods are scheduled to meet the student's academic needs and the employer's
personnel requirements.  

• Commensurate with employer needs, the student will be given work assignments that relate
  to his/her educational field, interests and abilities. 
• The employer will provide for ascending levels of responsibility and training throughout
  the co-op experience.
   

Quality of Work and Study

• The quality of work performed by the co-op student must meet the standards
  set by the employer.  
• Students must continue to meet the academic standards set forth by the Cooperative Education Program.  
• By mutual agreement, students who do not perform satisfactorily either in their work
  or their studies will be dropped from the program.
   

Remuneration

• The employer determines the rate of pay, keeping in mind the work assignments,
  the background and educational level of the student, the work quality, and the established
  policies of the employer.

Internship Opportunities are Available Through:

• Career Connections
• Faculty - Academic Departments