Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning Credit Courses

Cooperative education is an academic program for undergraduate and graduate students who wish to combine classroom studies with academically related employment by being placed locally and nationally in paid work experiences closely related to their academic majors.

Enrollment in cooperative education courses for graduate credit can be made only through those programs that have an approved graduate-level course (numbered 700 and above) titled Cooperative Education. No other course titles such as independent study, special topics and so forth can be used for cooperative education enrollment. Co-op courses are graded Cr/NCr.

Graduate students in good academic standing desiring to participate in cooperative education classes should first consult with their program and the Graduate School. Some programs do not allow cooperative education credits to be used toward graduate degree completion.

The Career Development Center is located in Brennan Hall III, at the corner of 17th Street and Yale Avenue. The telephone number is 316-978-3688.

Independent and Directed Study Courses

A primary goal of the Graduate School is to encourage independent scholarship. Thus, graduate students have many opportunities to engage in self-initiated independent study under the supervision of an individual member of the graduate faculty.

In addition to traditional titles, such as thesis, research project, internship and practicum, various departments use various titles to identify opportunities for individual study (e.g., independent study, special problems, directed readings, individual projects and directed study). The following requirements govern enrollment in independent study offerings:

1. Consent of the instructor must be obtained before enrollment;
2. The content of the study should not be the same as that covered in a regular course (exceptions to this requirement must have the approval of the graduate dean before enrollment);
3. Although scheduled on an arranged basis, there must be a sufficient number of contact hours between the student and supervising instructor during the duration of the independent study to ensure consistency with the amount of graduate credit earned in regular course offerings; and
4. No more than 6 credit hours of independent study coursework (excluding dissertation, thesis and other independent study activities that are terminal requirements for a degree) can be used in a degree program.

Some programs have additional program requirements that must be met before enrolling in independent study courses. Students should consult the appropriate program personnel before enrolling.

Workshop, Extension and Credit by Exam

Workshop and extension graduate credit courses may be accepted for graduate credit as a part of a graduate degree program under the following conditions:

1. The work is approved by the major department;
2. The work is approved by the dean of the Graduate School; and
3. The work is an integral part of a program planned by the candidate and the advisor, and listed on an approved plan of study.

Graduate credit cannot be earned under a credit by examination program, and correspondence courses cannot be accepted for graduate credit.

Students should be aware that some graduate programs do not allow co-op enrollment to be used to satisfy degree requirements. If the student wishes to use co-op hours towards degree completion, verification that the hours can be used to satisfy degree requirements should be made with the department before enrollment.