I'm currently a senior at a university within the United States. My school requires that students gain work experience in their field during their college education. Students are paid for their work at much higher rates than they would be at a typical on campus job. These jobs entail working full-time for periods of 3-6 months at a time. At the end of the experience, a student is recieves a pass/fail rating based upon employer evaluations, a student evaluation, and a report on the position and how it relates to the field of study. The number of times a student goes on a co-op during their time in college varies significantly by major.

These positions provide students with funds to help pay for their education. The amount of money made varies from major to major, but in most cases, the amount earned is enough to cover the costs of one term of the year. The work experience also helps the student when they look for a job at the end of their college career. Also, the cooperative education experience can help a student determine if they are in the right field of study before they graduate. The life experience that students gain in these positions can be invaluable when determining if you are going down a career path that will bring you happiness.

The cooperative education program provides college students with some base experience before graduation as well as provides money to these students.