Co-Op Policy

Co-operative Education Courses
(CS 2250, CS 4250, CS 6250)

The purpose of co-operative education is to give academic credit for legitimate learning acquired on the job. There is a University-wide co-operative education program which operates out of the Career Center.

Students receive the following benefits from taking a co-operative education class:

  • Credit as an elective for graduation, or to maintain the minimum registration necessary to qualify as a full-time student (say for a scholarship) while working part-time;
  • Eligibility to fill internships with those companies which require co-operative education enrollment of their interns;
  • A visible signal on their transcripts indicating that they had professional work experience during the time they were students.
  • For online submission of CPT form click here.
On October 12, 1999 the department decided on the following policy for the co-operative education courses:

  • A student may take a co-operative education course only if employed and with the agreement of the work supervisor.
  • A student may register for one credit per 5 hours weekly work that is educationally beneficial.
  • Graduate students registering for CPT must register for 3 credits of CS 6250 every semester they are on CPT, regardless of how many other credits they are taking.
  • Working with computers, but doing little or no software development merits only CS 2250 registration.
  • Doing software development at an undergraduate level merits only CS 4250 registration.
  • CS 6250 registration is restricted to those whose job description requires a B. S. in Computer Science or the equivalent. CS 6250 may not be used as part of a graduate student’s program of study.
  • No grade will be given in a co-operative education course until contact has been made with the work supervisor to determine the student’s professional competence, work skills, and relationship skills.
  • Students may take a co-operative education course with a P-D-F grading option. Those who want an A-B-C-D-F grading option must submit a written report outlining the work done and the educationally valuable information or skills gained on the job. This report should be 4-6 pages (single-spaced, 12 point type) in length. Examples of work products can be attached to it as an appendix, if the student desires.