Mar 19, 2024  
2013-14 Gaston College Catalog 
    
2013-14 Gaston College Catalog [THIS CATALOG IS OUT-OF-DATE. USE THE CURRENT CATALOG TO FIND CURRENT PROGRAMS.]

Cooperative Education


Cooperative Education (co-op) is an academic program that integrates classroom study with practical work experience in industry, business, and public agencies. The work experience constitutes a regular and essential element in the educational process by allowing students to apply their studies in a real work environment.

The co-op work experience is concurrent or alternates with academic studies. It is a paid or non-paid work experience and students receive academic credit toward degree, diploma, or certificate requirements. Students work either part-time or full-time jobs with employers selected and/or approved by the college. Students are contacted and evaluated periodically by a faculty coordinator and receive on-the-job supervision by the employers.

Co-Op Eligibility

Students must meet the following criteria to be accepted into the program:

  • Be enrolled in an approved co-op curriculum.
  • Have a minimum 2.00 GPA depending on program.
  • Be recommended by a faculty member.
  • Be approved by the Cooperative Education office.

(Note: Enrollment in the co-op program does not guarantee placement for every student.)

Application Procedure

Interested students must complete a Cooperative Education application, submit a copy of their college transcript, and speak with a member of the cooperative education staff.

Presently Employed Students

Students may qualify to receive academic credit if they are already employed in an area directly related to their academic major. The following general criteria will be used to determine eligibility:

  1. The student must be acquiring new skills or knowledge related to their academic major
    AND/OR
  2. The student must be developing a recently learned skill or applying recently-learned knowledge related to their academic major
    AND/OR
  3. The student must be receiving increased levels of responsibility related to their academic major
    AND
  4. The employer agrees to assist with an evaluation of the student’s progress and to permit on-the-job visits by co-op staff member.

Student Employment Services 

Student Employment Services assists students and graduates who are seeking employment by making them aware of the range of career opportunities available, helping them present themselves effectively as candidates, and aiding them in finding part-time, full-time, temporary, or summer employment.

Some of the specific services and activities offered are Career Day; employer campus visits; resume writing information/workshops; interview techniques information/workshops; and posting of part-time, full-time, and temporary job openings on the bulletin board outside the Myers Center cafeteria and in the Student Employment Office.