What is Co-op? 

Cooperative Education (Co-op) is an optional, academic program that enables students to gain degree-related experience prior to graduation. It is a planned, progressive educational strategy in which the student learns about his/her field of study through hands-on experience in the workplace. Click here to view the application.

Eligible students can receive up to three hours of upper level business elective credit per semester (fall, spring and/or summer) for up to six hours total of co-op credit towards their major or 3 hours towards their business minor. Students working at a job that pertains to their major or business minor can receive the following number of credit hours based on GPA and hours worked per week:

• 1 credit hour working at least 12 hours a week with a GPA of at least 2.5
• 2 credit hours working at least 20 hours a week with a GPA of at least 2.5
• 3 credit hours working at least 40 hours a week with a GPA of at least 2.75

Click here for more information on eligibility requirements. Co-op Course Assignments: Students enrolled in Co-op are required to complete four assignments each semester they receive credit. Click here to view the Co-op course assignments.  

Arkansas Cooperative Education Program in Business Scholarship

The Arkansas Cooperative Education Program in Business Scholarship is designed to offer qualified business majors the opportunity to receive college credit while gaining valuable on-the-job experience in fields related to their academic majors. Scholarship recipients will work at a full-time, Co-op eligible job in Arkansas during the summer between their junior and senior years. They will then receive scholarship payments totaling $2,000 during their senior year. Recipients also have the option to earn up to 3 credit hours of upper level business elective credit. The summer 2013 scholarships have been awarded. We will accept applications for summer 2014 in the fall 2013 semester.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must:

• be at least a junior in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the time of application,
• have completed all pre-business core requirements, and
• have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 at the time of application and at the time of the scholarship award.

Co-op Company Visits 

Sam M. Walton College of Business Career Development Center staff conduct Co-op Company Visits each semester. 2-3 Co-op students are selected at random and Career Center staff members meet with the students and their supervisors in order to better understand business students’ working environments.

Past visits include:

 

Want more information about Co-op?

Contact the Cooperative Education Coordinator:
         Sara Yell
         WJWH 226
         479.575.6415
         sayell@walton.uark.edu