About This Program
Looking for a way to gain professional work experience while earning your degree? Look no further than Kent State University's Cooperative Education Program. Our co-op program provides students with the opportunity to alternate between full-time semesters of classroom instruction and full-time semesters of paid, professional work experience in their field of study. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- Location:
- Ashtabula
- East Liverpool
- Geauga
- Kent
- Salem
- Stark
- Trumbull
- Tuscarawas
- Twinsburg Academic Center
Admission Requirements
- Students must have one semester as a degree-seeking student at Kent State prior to their first co-op rotation.
- Students must be enrolled as a half- or full-time student (minimum 6 credit hours) in the semester prior to enrollment in the co-op education program.
- Students must have earned a minimum 2.000 overall GPA at the time of their co-op application.
- Students must have no holds on their student’s record from any source (financial, academic, conduct).
- Cooperative position must be approved and relevant to students’ career direction.
- Students must have received a completed grade and have resolved any outstanding non-completed grades for previous co-op rotations.
- International students must receive work authorization prior to enrolling in each co-op rotation.
The University College will work with the student’s college to assess all applicants holistically, considering their academic progress, related experience, academic and extracurricular activities, among others, to evaluate the student’s likelihood of success in the program.
Full Description
Students in Kent State University's Cooperative Education Program (co-op) enhance their degree program by relating theory to practice and applying what they have learned in the classroom to real-life workplace scenarios. This process of “learning by doing” increases student motivation and employability after graduation and maximizes student growth and development. Through a co-op experience, students explore career and academic options, test career choices, increase professional skills and earn money to contribute to educational expenses. Cooperative education experiences are highly desired, selective and in the student’s chosen field.
All students participating in a co-op experience must register for COOP 20092 (non-credit, offered through University College) and pay the co-op fee. Enrollment in the course is restricted by special approval, and students may only register after submission and approval of all application forms. Enrollment in the course will ensure the student is designated and reported as a full-time student and permit the student to have access to all student services and resources during the co-op semester. Students participating in a cooperative education course do not earn credit hours the semester away. As a result, students are not eligible to receive federal or state grants, student loans or institutional scholarships. However, students will be reported to their federal loan services as enrolled full-time, allowing for student loans to remain in the in-school deferment status and therefore not enter repayment.
