Academic Information
Earning Credit Outside the Classroom
Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education combines classroom learning and work-based learning related to the student’s field of study. Students enroll in classes, work at their Co-op jobs at least 15 hours per week, and earn 3 credits for their work. Students may also participate in Co-op in the summer. To enroll in Co-op, students must be at the sophomore level and participate in a weekly Co-op seminar.
The Cooperative Education office will help students find appropriate positions. Those currently working in a job related to their program of study may apply to convert that job to a Co-op work experience. Each Co-op student and his/her faculty advisor and employer will develop a learning agreement with specific objectives to assess the student’s performance on Co-op. This agreement will relate classroom theory and personal career goals to the Co-op experience.
For students who want to investigate personal academic interests or pursue more experimental methods of learning, the College offers a flexible credit format where students can create part of their own study program. Advisors work with the student to determine plans, identify appropriate resource people, and write a learning contract. The contract includes the student’s goals, how and when s/he intends to accomplish them, and how that work will be evaluated. The credits earned are determined by the work proposed and may not total more than one-eighth of total credit hours required for graduation.
Students register for CTL 99 with the Enrollment Center. Tuition is based on the number of credits determined through the learning contract. Proposals must be signed by the student, the advisor, the appropriate divisional dean, and the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. Credit will be awarded only if approval is granted before the student starts the project.
Directed study
A directed study is an independent study course, under the sponsorship of a faculty member, that meets the objectives of a regular course offering. Directed study permits a matriculated student to enroll in a required course needed to graduate provided neither the regular course nor its equivalent is available. A directed study course requires the approval of the instructor, the appropriate divisional dean, and the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. Credit for a directed study course is equivalent to credit for a regular course offering. Approval forms are available in the Enrollment Center. Students with approved directed study forms must register through the Enrollment Center. Tuition based on the number of credits approved will be charged at that time.