The cooperative education experience takes place after successful completion of the freshman year. Although attaining a degree will take more than eight semesters, cooperative education students graduate at a rate substantially higher than students without this experience. A grade point average of 2.25 is required for students entering this program. However, some employers set higher standards. Engineering students must have been accepted into a degree program, and transfer students must complete one semester at NCSU before applying for the program. To remain in the program, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, arrange for a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience or its equivalent, and be registered in the appropriate non-credit cooperative education course (i.e., COP 100) during each work period. Students are expected to persist in their academic programs by continuing to register for classes or cooperative education each semester and summer until graduation or official withdrawal from the University.
Graduate students must have completed one semester of course work before applying for the cooperative education program. International students currently qualify for cooperative education participation under visa regulations on curricular practical training.
FULL-TIME STATUS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION STUDENTS
Students in the Cooperative Education Program who are enrolled in a cooperative education course during the semester or summer period in which they are on a work assignment are certified by the Registrar to be full-time students even though academic credit is not granted for the cooperative education experience. This full-time status applies but is not limited to campus housing, campus parking, campus activities, Social Security, student loan deferment, and insurance.
Þ Additional information: Cooperative Education Office, 300 Clark Hall, 515-4427; an orientation schedule is available.