Cooperative Work Experience

Monterey Peninsula College

Cooperative Work Experience Education

The Cooperative Work Experience Program

This is an academic program which effectively uses industrial, governmental, educational and other business organizations as off-campus "classrooms."  It is an opportunity for students to use work experience for training, career planning and personal development, while they earn college credits.  One to four units are possible, depending on how many hours a student works a week. 

MPC offers the following two programs:  COOP 91 and COOP 92

• COOP 91:  Occupational Cooperative Work Experience (1-4 units)
  This is a planned, supervised work experience program for students working in a job related to his/her declared major or career goal.  This course may be taken for a total of sixteen units.
• COOP 92: Cooperative Work Experience (1-3 units)
  This is a planned, supervised work experience program for students working in a job not directly related to their declared college major or career goal.  This course may be taken for a total of six units.

These units may be applied to an associate degree at MPC and are transferable as electives to California State Universities.

See the Summer 2009 Class Schedule for the complete listing of 8 week COOP courses. See the Course Information Sheet for additional information. 

Contact Person: Kathleen Clark

Office Phone Number: (831) 646-4074
Office Location: Job Center in the College Center
Division: Business & Technology 

What Does A Student Need To Do In Order To Participate In The COOP Program?

A student must register for the appropriate course and attend an orientation meeting held on one of the following dates and times in the Library & Technology Center. 

A student must register for the COOP course and attend an Orientation or he/she will be dropped from the course.

During the Orientation Meeting, a student fills out an application and receives all of the necessary forms and information for the course.  A faculty advisor will be assigned to each student as soon as possible after the student attends orientation, but no later than the start date of the COOP class.

What Information Does a Student Need to Complete the COOP Application?

In addition to personal contact information (address, phone number, and email address, if any) the student should know his/her student ID number, COOP course & section number, employer name, address, phone number, work supervisor name, address, phone number, and email address, if applicable. 

 What are the requirements of the course?

A student must have paid or volunteer employment.  Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students collaborate with their supervisors to identify three measurable on-the-job learning objectives.  COOP can not give credit for performing your normal duties.  COOP students take steps to complete work-based learning objectives or projects involving problem solving and the application of academic theory, skills and knowledge while undertaking new or expanded workplace responsibilities.  These projects must be approved by your Work Supervisor and your assigned MPC Faculty Advisor. A student is required to meet in-person with his/her MPC Faculty Advisor, send 5 email journal entries and replies to faculty advisor responses, attend a minimum of 2 workshops (in-person or online) and write a 3-page Final Report.

See the Course Information Sheet (Syllabus) for more detailed information on the COOP course requirements.