General Information

Co-op Course Descriptions

Co-op Work Report

Cooperative Education - Program Description

Cooperative education is a five-year plan of work and learning, in which the student alternates periods of employment in the computer graphics industry, with periods of attendance at Purdue University.  Actual work in computer graphics becomes an integral part of the educational process.  Work assignments will vary from production work, such as page layout, design/drafting, sketching, and illustrating; to graphic design, 3D modeling, animation, and multimedia production.  Responsibilities in work assignments will grow with experience and demonstrated ability.  Students who successfully complete the co-op program and qualify for a degree from Purdue will be awarded a co-op certificate of completion by the Purdue Board of Trustees.

The Purpose of Cooperative Education

The purpose of this program is to provide the computer graphics industry with qualified students who have realistic and practical experience.  The program allows the student to integrate university experience more closely with a well-planned industrial experience in computer graphics.

Program Administration

A Co-op Coordinator will be appointed by the head of the Department of Computer Graphics Technology to administer the CGT Co-op Program.  This person will be responsible for:

• Locating and approving suitable employers.
• Establishing and implementing procedures for approval of student applications.
• Advising students on registration for co-op courses, and regular Purdue classes.
• Advertising the co-op program to eligible CGT students.
• Arranging for placement interviews.
• Maintaining reference files on employers, including student evaluations and reports.
• Establishing and maintaining a system of record keeping for co-op students.
• Reviewing student and employer evaluations/reports to assign Pass/Fail grades for co-op courses. 
• Evaluating each year's co-op experiences and recommending changes or additions to improve the program.

The estimated costs of administration are based on FTE guidelines established by the University Cooperative Education Coordinating Committee.

Benefits to the Student

1. Practical experience (from bottom level to top level), with an opportunity for the student to evaluate the chosen profession.
2. Courses become more relevant.
3. Enrichment of educational experiences through competitive job experiences.
4. Provides a greater sense of accomplishment, with an increase in maturity and self-confidence, and a growing ability to carry more responsibility.
5. Academic credit for participation.
6. Opportunities to earn money toward education, during the educational period.

Benefits to the Employer

1. The availability of graduates who have gained valuable, direct, and non-textbook knowledge of computer graphics operations.
2. An effective, inexpensive way for an employer to come into contact with prospective employees to interest them in the organization's particular needs and problems.
3. A year-round flow of productive and qualified talent, with an opportunity to observe performance firsthand before offering a firm commitment for permanent employment.
4. An opportunity to develop communication and mutual understanding between the computer graphics community and the Department of Computer Graphics Technology ; and an opportunity to influence the educational program.
5. An opportunity to provide a college education in the field of computer graphics to an outstanding high school graduate who lacks adequate financial background.

Benefits to the Department of Computer Graphics Technology

1. Knowledge that its graduates are better prepared for a career in the computer graphics industry.
2. Creation of a valuable liaison with the computer graphics industry.
3. An ability to offer a learning experience to other students by bringing actual computer graphics experience more directly into the classroom.
4. Opportunities for other mutually beneficial activity to occur while faculty members and computer graphics executives work together in this educational process.

The Cooperative Education Program

The student will normally enter the cooperative education program during the sophomore year;  then alternate periods of work with periods of study for the remainder of the bachelor's degree program.  The student can complete the required courses in five years.

University Study and Work Learning Periods

The co-op student's schedule of University study periods and work learning periods are arranged on an individual basis to best meet the needs of the employing organization, the co-op student, and the University.  The work learning periods provide the co-op student with a variety of experiences related to his/her field of study.  Each work period  offers increasing responsibility and challenge.  Each work period is evaluated by the employer and the student in writing, and reported to the co-op coordinator.  The student must satisfactorily complete four (4)  registered cooperative education work learning periods to qualify for a University issued cooperative education completion certification.  At least two of the work periods must be during the academic year.

A variety of plans for scheduling the work learning periods are possible, depending on when the co-op student enters the program and how the employing organization wishes to schedule the work sessions.  For those companies that desire a co-op student all year, the Department Coordinator will make every effort to schedule alternating students to meet the needs of the company.  Three plans are shown below:

Eligibility for the CG Cooperative Education Program

To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology bachelors degree program.  The student must have completed his or her freshman year on campus; and have demonstrated above average academic performance.  Generally, this means a grade point average of above 3.0.

Academic Credit

During each scheduled work period, the student will enroll in CGT 291, 292, 393, 394, depending on the number of work periods completed.  These courses give the student 1 credit for each co-op work period.  Depending on the level of the work experience, these credits may be used to satisfy a CGT elective, or any free elective.  The credit will not substitute for other required courses.

Grades

The co-op student does not receive a letter grade in connection with the co-op course he signs up for, but instead receives a Pass or Fail designation.  This designation is based on the written evaluation of the employer, the written report of the student, and the evaluation by the CGT Co-op Coordinator.

Participating Responsibilities

Student:

Upon acceptance for employment, the student is expected to continue with the employer throughout the program.  However, upon graduation, the student is not obligated to join the company, nor is the company under obligation to hire the student.

In order to continue in the program, the student is expected to:

• Maintain a satisfactory academic and disciplinary record while at the University. (3.0 GPA)
• Maintain a satisfactory work performance while employed.
• Abide by all of the employer's rules and regulations.
• Meet all University co-op requirements such as registration and fees.

Students who fail to maintain satisfactory records with the University, and/or fail to maintain satisfactory records with the employer, will be dropped from the co-op program.

During each work period, the student will be registered in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology for the appropriate cooperative education credit course, and a fee will be charged by Purdue University.  The student will submit reports of work experience as required.  Upon approval of the reports, the student will receive the appropriate credit.

Employer:

When being accepted into the program, employers will agree to:

• Provide employment that is related. 
• Provide diversified assignments in order to give the student a variety of experience.
• Provide work of increasing difficulty and responsibility, commensurate with the abilities of the student as he or she progresses through the program.
• Place the student under the supervision of a training director, or comparable person, so that the student does not get lost in the organization.
• Counsel with and complete a rating form for each student after each period of employment.
• Pay the student a reasonable wage, commensurate with the ability, experience, and job responsibilities of that student.
• To permit the departmental representative to visit the student and employer periodically, as may be required to review the program.