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Cooperative Education is the integration of classroom theory with practical experience by means of alternating
specific periods of attendance at the university with specific periods of employment.
The following factors are used to adhere to this definition: (1) The student's work should be related to his/her
field of study and individual interests within the field. (2) The employment must be considered to be regular,
continuing, and an essential element in the educational process. (3) The working experience will ideally increase
in difficulty and responsibility as the student progresses through the academic curriculum.
Any UT Martin instructional unit that develops an academic program which permits students to rotate the semesters
at the university and the periods of employment may participate.
Academic Credit
Cooperative Education students enroll in (Academic Major) 201C-202C-203C-204C-205C-206C (1,1,1,1,1,1) Cooperative
Education Experience and receive one semester hour credit per work period. Academic qualifications and career
training positions, as available, are determined by the Coordinator of Employment Information Services or the academic
advisor from the participating instructional unit who assigns a Pass (P) or Fail (F) grade for the courses. Normally,
failing grades will not be given except in cases where students have been dismissed by their employers for unsatisfactory
performance or students leave their jobs prior to completion of a work period without proper approval from their
academic advisor or the Coordinator of Employment Information Services. In order to receive credit, the students
must submit a work report, and the employers are requested to submit an Employer's Rating Form for each work period.
Students majoring in programs which require, or accept, internship credit for professional experience may elect
to enroll in (Academic Major) 301C-302C (2-6, 2-6) Cooperative Education and Internship Experience and receive
two to six semester hours credit per work period. To receive this experience, approval of the academic advisor
and the Coordinator of Employment Information Services is required. To enroll, students must have, at least, junior
status. An academic advisor from the participating instructional unit is assigned to help coordinate the internship
experience and assign letter grades. The students are required to maintain all work reports necessary to satisfy
the cooperative education requirements plus any additional assignments.
No more than 12 total credit hours for the entire Cooperative Education Experience and/or Cooperative
Education and Internship Experience may be earned. Internship credit hours count toward the requirements of
the baccalaureate degree and are not additive. The specific instructional units under which the students participate
in the program determine the degree requirements for which the work experience substitutes.
Student Status
To be eligible for the Cooperative Education program, students must have completed the freshman year and have
a 2.3 GPA. Students in a co-op work assignment are considered full-time students of the University of Tennessee
at Martin and have the same general status as students in attendance at the university.
Student fees are assessed according to the current per semester hour rate as shown under Financial Information.
Information about the program and how to apply can be obtained in the Office of Counseling and Career Services
(731-881-7740).