What is Cooperative Work Experience?

Cooperative Work Experience is a Work-Integrated Learning Program that refers to a variety of instructional strategies such as cooperative education, internships, volunteer/service learning and clinical experiences that use a community site or workplace as a vehicle for learning and applying knowledge and skills required in a planned course of study.

Students participating in Co-op are pursuing degrees or certificates from Olympic College in over 20 different transfer and/or Professional-Technical program areas of study.

Students earn college credit for their work experience by setting and attaining specific learning objectives. College work-study and regular student employment positions can often be developed into valuable Co-op work experiences.

Co-op's three dimensional focus achieves several goals central to the community college mission:  

• Brings the workplace and curricula closer together.
• Helps students bridge the gap between work and learning by offering practical job opportunities.
• Provides direct services to Kitsap and Mason County businesses and builds communication channels leading to continued cooperation between Olympic College and local businesses.
• Contributes to local economic development by providing a steady flow of highly qualified appropriately skilled employees for employers.

Employers - Want to hire a Co-op or Intern?

Our office assists you with recruitment, screening, and interviewing.  To list your job announcement that is circulated to students and faculty go to:  https://www.myinterfase.com/olympic/employer

Teresa McDermott, Director
Rosanna Ramirez, Program Assistant
Career Center, Art Building, Room 122-C (Main Campus)
Phone:  360-475-7480 or 1-800-259-6718 ext. 7480
Fax:  360-475-7491
Cooped@olympic.edu