Occupational Cooperative Work Experience

Work experience education credit can be earned in each of the occupational disciplines. (See appropriate program area under course number 098 or 198 for specific information.)

Cooperative Work Experience

The concept of issuing college credit for work experience is based on the premise that a student with well-defined job-oriented objectives will find his/her work an educational experience. To be effective it must be approached cooperatively and with enthusiasm by the student, the employer, and the college coordinator. The student will gain college credit, a new appreciation of the responsibilities he/she has to his/her employer, greater awareness and improved job skills.

There are two classifications of Cooperative Work Experience Education at San Bernardino Valley College.

  • In Occupational Cooperative Work Experience, students may earn four units per semester for a maximum of sixteen units.
  • In General Cooperative Work Experience students may earn three units per semester with a maximum of six allowable during their college career; and they need not be enrolled in a related course. Seventy-five hours of paid work experience (or 60 hours volunteer work) equal one unit of college credit.

San Bernardino Valley College offers two formats for Cooperative Work Experience:

  • In Parallel Format, students take a Cooperative Work Experience class concurrently with other college courses.
  • In Alternate Format students alternate between taking a Cooperative Work Experience class one semester and other college courses the previous and/or following semesters.

Units earned through Work Experience do not apply toward units in a major unless such courses are specifically required for a degree in that department. However, course credit earned through work experience can apply as elective units in any associate degree. Refer to the specific department section of this catalog for a list of specific courses required for a major. For information on a specific discipline, contact the department or the division office.