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Cooperative
Education
$$ The only course you will ever be paid to take $$
Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a USF course administered by the Career Center that integrates hands-on, paid, career-related work experience with your academic program and provides you with valuable training in your chosen career field. It is offered part-time or full-time. Access to the course is by permit only.
Why Co-op?
- Gain valuable, paid career-related experience in your chosen field.
- Access to an exclusive pool of pre-screened employers and positions.
- Work alongside industry professionals committed to mentoring and developing young professionals.
- Experience will be documented on your official academic transcripts (for "0" credits, graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory).
CO-OP APPLICATION TIMELINE
Due to the Co-op interviewing and selection process, it is important that you adhere to the following application time line. To maximize your opportunities it is best to apply at the beginning of the application period. |
Semester to be
out on Co-op |
Applications Open |
Deadline to apply |
Fall 2013 |
May 28, 2013 |
July 24, 2013 |
Spring 2014 |
September 3, 2013 |
November 13, 2013 |
Summer 2013 |
January 2, 2013 |
April 10, 2013 |
How to Apply:
- Review the eligibility criteria listed below to ensure you are eligible.
- Have an ACTIVE Career Connections account. All Co-op training positions are pre-approved and listed in Career Connections for only approved Co-op students to view and apply for.
- International Students Only: you must complete an Eligibility Clearance Form which must be taken to the international services office to be signed for approval to participate in Co-op.
(You must have the signed form before calling to schedule an appointment with the Co-op Coordinator, and bring it with you to the appointment.)
- Call the Career Center, 813-974-2171, to schedule a meeting with the Co-op Coordinator.
If you are not sure you want to apply but are looking for more information about Co-op, please attend a Co-op Information session. These sessions are held at the Job Shop, located in the Library entrance:
Wednesdays, 3:30 – 4:00 PM
Eligibility Requirements
ALL Students |
Must be officially admitted to USF on a degree-seeking basis AND currently enrolled in classes at USF. |
Must have a declared major in Banner, or officially accepted into a limited access program/academic dept. and a career goal for which you want to obtain career-related experience |
Must be in good academic standing. |
Your first semester of Co-op CAN NOT be the semester in which you graduate. |
Must maintain academic progress toward graduation. |
Undergraduate Students |
Graduate Students |
Must have completed at least 45 credit hours (60 recommended) |
Minimum GPA of 3.0 |
Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 |
Be enrolled in at least one NON-thesis or dissertation class required for your degree and still have coursework remaining to complete your degree requirements. |
Transfer students must also have completed at least one semester of coursework (6 hrs) at USF. |
International Students who have only thesis hours remaining should speak to the International Services office to discuss alternative options for CPT. |
If you enroll in the Co-op course you must plan on completing 24 credit hrs. per academic year. |
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International Students, in addition to meeting all the above requirements, must complete an Eligibility Clearance Form which must be taken to the International Services Office to be signed for approval to participate in the Co-op Program.
NOTE: New Co-op training positions not already in Career Connections may be submitted for consideration by Co-op applicants, but only after their application has been approved and they have completed the course prerequisites.
If submitting a training position for consideration, you must provide the company name, a contact person, and their phone number or e-mail address. The Career Center will contact the employer for possible acceptance into the Co-op program. This process takes time and we cannot guarantee new employers and/or positions will be approved by a specific date.
If the employer is approved by the Career Center, their position(s) will appear in Career Connections with the other approved positions, for the semester for which they are approved.
The Career Center definition* of a full-time Co-op student participating in Alternating or Parallel Co-op options is as follows:
Parallel |
Alternating |
Work a minimum of 15, preferably 20, on-site hours at an approved Co-op site that results in a minimum of 240 on-site training hours for the semester.
*Must be enrolled and complete 6 credit hours of coursework.
International Students: Must be enrolled and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours (Graduate Students: minimum of 9 credit hours) and must work no more and no less than 20 hrs. per week. |
Work a minimum of 35 on-site hours at an approved Co-op site that results in a minimum of 480 on-site training hrs. for the semester.
No coursework is required; however, it is recommended that one course (on-line or evening) be taken to avoid paying a Co-op fee and maintaining academic progress toward graduation. |
*Other University offices may define a full-time student differently. In addition, other benefit programs may use different criteria to define a full-time student. These may include, but are not limited to: the Veterans Administration, Bright Futures and other scholarships programs, other federal, state or civic programs or scholarships.
Additional Co-op Links:
Sample Co-op resume
Co-op forms for current Co-op students
Frequently asked questions
Sample of Co-op employers
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