University of Arkansas at Little Rock

*** Former Co-op student Mike Tobias from the Arkansas Supreme Court tells his story about how the Cooperative Education Program affected his career outlook!

Click to listen to Mike’s Difference.

Cooperative Education is an academic program that allows qualified students the opportunity to participate in work-integrated learning.

Students gain relevant work experience, academic credit and great pay!

Employers gain valuable employees who are enthusiastic about contributing their skills.

Important Attributes of Co-op:

• A partnership among students, employers and UALR.
• An HR tool for employers who want to recruit bright and highly motivated student employees.
• A structured academic program that allows qualified students the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom.
• A win-win partnership for all who participate!

Significant Advantages of Co-op:

• Financial
  Earn competitive wages on top of gaining relevant work experience in your field of study.  All Co-op positions and internships are paid jobs.
• Academic
  Earn academic credit hours toward your degree.  We have partnered with faculty so that Co-op students may earn academic credit in their major.  Currently there are 58 Co-op courses at UALR.
• Learning
  Expand your learning potential beyond the classroom setting.  The learning cycle works both ways because you can then use what you learned at the worksite to improve your understanding of your academic material in the classroom.
• Career
  Many students do not have the opportunity to gain “real world” experience in their field of interest before graduation.  Upon graduation, you will have relevant work experience, and will have established a valuable network of employer relationships.  Many of UALR’s Co-op graduates are offered full-time positions with their Co-op employer.

Visit the National Commission for Cooperative Education to see more beneficial outcomes!