Cooperative Work Experience (Co-Op) is an academic program in which students, employers, and the college cooperate to turn students' employment or volunteer experience into an "off-campus" classroom.
Students earn degree applicable college credit and employers gain better employees.
Through Co-Op the student can:
- learn or improve job skills under actual working conditions
- discover career goals by applying classroom theory to real life experiences
- test and demonstrate abilities at work
- provide an avenue for increased responsibility at workwhile contributing to the local economy
- develop academic and occupational skills.
Student Opportunities / Requirements: Details given at Orientation
Units are earned based on the average hours worked per week during the semester of enrollment as shown below:
Hours per week |
Earned units |
Paid Work |
Volunteer Work |
4 – 5 hrs. / wk. |
1 unit |
75 hrs. during 18 week semester |
60 hrs. during 18 week semester |
8 – 9 hrs. / wk. |
2 units |
150 hrs. during 18 week semester |
120 hrs. during 18 week semester |
12 – 13 hrs. / wk. |
3 units |
225 hrs. during 18 week semester |
180 hrs. during 18 week semester |
16 – 17 hrs. / wk. |
4 units |
300 hrs. during 18 week semester |
240 hrs. during 18 week semester |
Earn up to 6 units each semester (16 max at Hartnell – AA/Certificate applicable – CSU transferable)
- Complete a Cooperative Work Experience Appliation
- Meet a minimum of three times w/Co-Op Instructor
- Establish 3 Learning Objectives
- Complete required assignments
- Complete a Workplace Competencies Student Evaluation
Employer Agreements and Benefits
- Provide student with opportunity to document what they are learning at their work
- Provide feedback to student and instructor on student’s progress via mentoring interactions
- Provide student with consistent hours each week of the semester
- Enjoy consistent employee attendance
- Enjoy increases in your employee’s skills by providing opportunity for specific training
Students earn college credit toward a degree and employers gain self-directed employees.
