Co-op Education/Learn While You Earn

You can build on the valuable skills and earn money if you elect a college cooperative education program. All Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Consortium college partners offer co-op opportunities.

Cooperative education blends paid work experience in a particular technology with classes. While programs vary according to college and technology, students generally work a term, and attend classes for a term. Co-op experience offers:

• Money to help finance education
• Valuable insights and relevant experience in your chosen field
• Competitive advantage in the job market
• Access and familiarity to prospective employers
• Credit hours
• Opportunity to use academic learning in real world situations
• Realistic idea of what working in chosen field is really like

Co-op experiences typically start in the sophomore year of college. Academic requirements and application procedures vary. At one college, for example, students must complete 12 credit hours with at least six hours in the co-op technical skill area and maintain a 2.2 grade point average. Professional development coursework is also recommended and registration with the placement office is required.

Top southwest Ohio co-op employers

• University of Cincinnati
• The Procter & Gamble Company
• Cinergy
• 5/3 Bank
• General Electric
• Market Decisions
• City of Cincinnati
• Health Alliance
• Messer Construction
• Mercy Hospital