Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education (Co-op) is an academic focused program which allows students to obtain professional work experience while taking courses at Salt Lake Community College. It is a unique opportunity for students to apply their academic preparation to "real world" settings and situations. Co-op programs provide students the opportunity to combine classroom study with periods of paid professional employment directly related to a student's major and career goals.

Why students should Register for Cooperative Education.

  • Gain valuable work experience related to major/area of study
  • Explore occupations
  • Receive mentorship from faculty and supervisors in desired field
  • Develop skills pertinent to chosen occupation
  • Get a foot in the door with a dream company
  • Expand industry contacts
  • Secure references and recommendations for future job opportunities
  • Increase competitive edge when applying for future employment
  • Recieve college credit for your current job, internship or volunteer role
  • Counts towards major or electives * varies by major

Students who complete Cooperative Education are more likely to:

  • Find full-time employment upon graduation
  • Increase opportunities for employment in chosen area of study, even prior to graduation
  • Indentify additional training and competencies to land that great job
  • Build relationships with potential employers
  • Feel motivated about college education
  • Boost overall GPA by taking a course related to desired industry

If your current employment, internship, or volunteer work is related to your academic major, you may be eligible to use it to fulfill elective credit requirements. To earn these credits, you must register for a Cooperative Education CO-OP/Internship course, which is a 2000 level class available in most majors. (This option is not available in Health Sciences)

Note: The course credit has the same tuition cost as any SLCC class. To receive course credit, you must pay tuition according to the number of credits for which you are registered.

Interested in pursuing this type of credit? Meet with a Career Coach or fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we’ll help you get started.

 

To register and schedule an orientation, please contact a Career Coach.

We will determine if you meet eligibility based on the following information:

  • You have completed the required prerequisite courses (prerequisites vary by major).
  • You have paid employment related to your academic major-related and you’re working 20+ hours per week, or you’re participating in an internship related to your major for 10 to 20 hours per week.
  • There are opportunities for you to participate in new learning activities at your current position or internship, and the new learning activities are directly related to your major.
  • Your job/internship supervisor agrees to support, supervise and evaluate your course objectives.
  • The course will be supervised and evaluated by an SLCC faculty member.
  • All participating individuals (you, your employment supervisor, and your supervising faculty member) sign the course agreement form.

(Program Information Based on 2015-2016 SLCC Course Catalog.)

Academic Major Course Available Credit
Accounting AAS ACCT 2000 1-3
Anthropology AA, AS *VOC 2000

AA 1-6 towards general electives
AS 1-3 toward general electives
Art/Visual Art & Design ART 2000 1-6 Dependent on program emphasis
Biology AS BIOL 2000 1-3
Biotechnology  BIOT 2000 3 (Student will need to contact the Biotechnology department)
Business AS, AA

MGT 2000

MKTG 2000

ACCT 2000

FIN 2000

CSIS 2000

1-3, CSIS 1-4

Course registration depends on type of employment
Business Management AAS MGT 2000

1-3
Civil Engineering AS CEEN 2000 1-2
Chemical Engineering AS CHE 2000 3
Chemistry AS CHEM 2000 1-3
Criminal Justice AS, AAS CJ 2000 2-4
Construction Management AA, AAS CMGT 2000 1-5
Communication AS COMM 2000 1-6
Computer Science AS, AAS CSIS 2000 1-4
Diesel Systems Technology AAS Course Substitution Depends on course substituted. Department's approval required
Economics AS FIN 2000 1-3, only toward program's general electives
Education AS EDU 2000 1-2
Electrical Engineering AS EE 2000 1-2
English AS ENGL 2000 1-3
Family & Human Studies AAS FHS 2000 1-2
Finance & Credit AAS FIN 2000 1-3
General Studies AS, AA *VOC 2000 1-6 - max 3 in one semester
Geo Sciences AAS GEOG 2000 1-3
Homeland Security AAS HSEM 2000 3
Humanities AS *VOC 2000 1-3 only toward program's general electives
Legal Studies AAS LS 2000 3-6
Mechanical Engineering APE MEEN 2000 1-2
Marketing Management AAS MKTG 2000 1-3
Materials Science Engineering APE MSE 2000 1-2
Microscopy Certificate MSE 2000 1-2
Nanotechnology Certificate MSE 2000 1-2
Psychology AS VOC 2000 1-6 only toward program's general electives
Sociology AS VOC 2000 1-6 only toward program's general electives
Theatre Arts AS THEA 2000 3 (Departmental approval is required)
Welding AAS Lab Substitution Depends on Lab substituted - Department' s approval required

Below are degree programs offering department-based internships or work-based experience course substitutions.

These courses are offered through individual academic departments and are not part of the CO-OP Intern Courses offered through the Career & Student Employment Services office.

Please contact departments or programs for course information.

Academic Program Departmental Offerings Work Based Learning / Internship Courses
Anthropology
Biomanufacturing
EDDT 
Fashion Design
Film Production
Fitness Technician
History
Interior Design
Music
Political Science
Social Work

ANTH 2950 (Archaeology Internship)
BMAN 2910 (STUDENTfacturED Internship)
EDDT 1010 -EDDT 1040 - May be waived, Dept. Approval Required  
FASH 2000 Contact Fashion Design Department for Course Information
FLM 2750 (Film Production Internship)
HLTH 2450 (Personal Trainer Internship)
HIST 2950 (Archival Internship)
INTD 2000 Contact Interior Design Department for Course Information
MUSC 2550 (Music Internship)
POLS 2000 Contact Political Science Department for Course Information
SWK 2940 (Second Year Internship)
  • To schedule an orientation, please contact a Career Coach.
  • Attendance is required at a CO-OP/Internship orientation.
  • Orientations can be held in person, telephone, Skype or WebEx. 
  • CO-OP/Internship course is considered an academic class for academic credit. You must pay registration fees and tuition just as you would for any other class.
  • Access to the course forms and handbook will be provided at your orientation.
  • Instructor contacts will be provided during your orientation.

You can expect your Employment Supervisor to:

  • Support you in using this experience as an educational tool.
  • Participate, supervise and evaluate the learning experience that justifies awarding your academic credit.
  • Complete the final course evaluation form with you.
  • The success of the CO-OP/Internship course depends on good communication and documentation by all individuals involved. You are the common link between your Employment and Faculty Supervisors, and you are required to maintain contact with both throughout the semester.

You can expect your Faculty to:

  • Take responsibility for the overall learning integrity of the course.
  • Provide students with instructions, assignments and course expectations at the beginning of the semester.
  • Approve all course learning objectives at the beginning of the semester.
  • Have contact with student over the semester.

Co-op forms and FAQs

Thank you for your willingness to work with students beyond the classroom and supporting these students in accessing occupational related training that will enhance their academic training.

Students are assigned to work with a CO-OP/Internship course faculty. They will have interim contact with faculty throughout the semester. Students will be given faculty information in the orientation.
Faculty supervisors are expected to:
  • Take responsibility for the overall learning integrity of the course.
  • Provide students with instructions, assignments and course expectations at the beginning of the semester.
  • Approve all course learning objectives at the beginning of the semester.
  • Have interim contact with the onsite supervisor throughout the semester.
Download the document below for more information:

Thank you for your willingness to support your employee or intern in participating in the Cooperative Education/Internship course. You are giving your employee/intern the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge relevant to their academic major and career goals.

If you are a for-profit organization offering unpaid internships, you are required to follow the Department of Labor requirements for unpaid internships. 

Employment/Internship Supervisors agree to:

  • Support the student in using this experience as an educational tool.
  • Take an active role in developing specific learning objectives with the student.
    • Learning objectives must be specific to the students’ area of study.
    • Once developed, the objectives are turned in to the faculty for final approval.
  • Participate, supervise and evaluate the learning experience that justifies awarding academic credit to this student.
  • Assess and grade how well the student has completed their objectives and how well they have performed in other basic work areas. Your evaluation will be used by the course faculty to determine the final grade for the student’s Cooperative Education Internship course.
  • Complete the final course evaluation form with the student.
  • Contact the faculty if there are any issues or concerns regarding the Cooperative Education/Internship student.

The success of the Cooperative Education / Internship course depends on good communication and documentation by all involved. The student is the common link between the Cooperative Education/Internship Supervisor and Faculty, and is required to maintain contact with both throughout the semester.

For more information, download the document below:

Request Information