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Opportunities
for Undergraduate Students
Program
Requirements
Frequently
Asked Questions
Contact
Information
Opportunities
for Undergraduate Students
Professional
Practice is the name given by the University of Cincinnati
to its model for cooperative education, a program that
enriches the student's education by integrating professionally-related
work experience with academic study.
Co-op,
as the program is broadly known, exposes the student
to the real world of work and to career options. It
not only promotes a sense of independence and professional
maturity but also increases opportunities for career
positions following graduation. And these are just some
of the advantages of the co-op program.
Cooperative
education originated at the University of Cincinnati
in 1906 and now, more than 1,000 other colleges and
universities offer some form of co-op.
Currently,
UC has 4,100 co-op students in 40 disciplines with over
1400 employers in 36 states and 11 foreign countries
cooperating in the program.
Professional Practice offices administer the program
for six of the University's colleges: OMI College of
Applied Science; McMicken College of Arts and Sciences;
College of Business Administration; College of Design,
Architecture, Art, and Planning; College of Engineering;
and University College. The Computer Programming Technology
program at Raymond Walters College and the Medical Technology
program in the College of Medicine are administered
by departmental coordinators.
The University of Cincinnati operates on a quarter system.
Students enrolled in Professional Practice participate
on a year-round schedule that results in the prescribed
number of professionally-related work experiences prior
to graduation. And, the schedule is arranged so that
co-op students have about five weeks of vacation each
year.
The schedule is comprised of two alternating sections—Section
1 for Summer and Winter work quarters, and Section II
for Autumn and Spring work quarters. Two students are
assigned to alternate on each co-op job so that one
or the other is always on the work assignment while
the other is in school.
Each student admitted into Professional Practice is
assigned to a co-op faculty member who helps the student
identify career objectives and suggests work assignments.
This faculty member also functions as liaison between
the student and the co-op employer.
All prospective co-op students are required to complete
the course, "Professional Development I,"
which is designed to teach the concepts of career planning
and to prepare students for participation in the program.
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Program
Requirements
Although exact requirements may differ slightly from
college to college within the University of Cincinnati,
the following are common and basic requirements for
admission into Professional Practice:
- Be in good academic standing
- Be willing to accept a work assignment in any geographic
location (Preferences are taken into consideration,
but cannot be guaranteed.)
- Be willing to accept a work assignment to either of
the two work sections
- Complete the course, "Professional Development
I," prior to being placed on a work assignment.
- Freshmen are not eligible to co-op in any college.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
Will
co-op work assignments pay my tuition and school expenses?
The
purpose of Professional Practice is educational. The
program, therefore, is designed to provide the student
with an opportunity to gain practical discipline-related
experience to complement classroom instruction. The
program is not intended to provide financial aid; although
many students are able to pay part of their education
expenses from their co-op earnings.
Your
co-op employer determines the amount of your salary.
Wages are influenced by the major, college year, grades,
market demand, and the geographic area of employment.
UC co-op students are currently earning between $879
and $1,825 monthly.
Does
the employer normally pay for transportation, housing,
and medical insurance?
It
is generally the responsibility of the student to pay
transportation and living expenses while on work assignment.
Some employers do provide medical and other benefits.
Am
I guaranteed a co-op job?
Your
co-op adviser can only refer you to co-op employers.
Whether you are hired by a co-op employer is determined
by your qualifications; however, the UC program has
a remarkable record for co-op job placement.
Can
I get my own co-op job?
Yes,
but this is not expected and guidelines apply. A student
is required to have a discussion with a co-op adviser
before initiating a personal co-op job search. For a
co-op job to be approved, the position must meet quality
standards and the employer must agree to comply with
University practices for cooperating organizations.
Can
I have a co-op job wherever I want?
Sometimes
it works out that way; however, it is important to recognize
that the quality of the work experience is the primary
consideration, even though other factors may seem more
advantageous from the student's financial or geographic
perspective.
Where
are these co-op jobs and who are the employers?
The
locations of co-op employers vary considerably from
year to year. Also, a student's major may be an important
factor in determining the appropriate location of job
assignments. UC's co-op employers are located from coast
to coast and include many of the Fortune 500 corporations.
Small professional offices and government agencies are
also quite active with the program and provide excellent
learning opportunities for students.
Will
co-op interfere with my athletic scholarship or my ROTC
program?
No,
because the various departments involved will make every
effort to eliminate any conflict among their programs.
How
will participation in co-op affect my graduation date?
It
will take two full years plus an additional quarter
to complete the typical two-year associate degree program,
five years to complete the typical four-year baccalaureate
program, and six years to complete the architecture
major.
Will
co-op improve my chances for employment after graduation?
Yes.
Over 50% of all co-op students who complete our program
receive full-time job offers from their co-op employers
before they graduate; and in some disciplines, over
70% of the students receive such offers. For many, a
unique benefit of the co-op program is the advantage
of having a career job offer before initiating the search
for post-graduation positions.
What
steps must be taken to enroll in the Co-op program?
As
an incoming freshman you need not take any action prior
to enrollment in the University. At the proper time
in your academic program, detailed information is made
available to you regarding co-op participation. Transfer
students should visit the appropriate office, as listed
below, early in their enrollment in the college. Students
interested in co-oping should review the college Bulletin
for program scheduling information.
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Contact
Info
For
more information about the Department of Professional
Practice, please visit online at http://www.uc.edu/propractice/
or contact:
Division of Professional Practice
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210115
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0115
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