Introduction

Students in the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program in the College of Technology (COT) at Bowling Green State University have co-op requirements that are unique to their program.

The method in which your co-op requirements are completed are different from COT students whose major is not ATE. As an ATE student, you are required to complete 3 co-ops, TECH 289, TECH 389 and TECH 489. The level of co-op (289, 389 or 489) is simply determined by the order in which you complete your co-ops. For example, your first co-op will be TECH 289, your second, TECH 389 and finally, your third and last co-op is TECH 489. Below is a sample of how most ATE students will complete their co-op requirements:

FIRST CO-OP:  Waived if student holds an Associate Degree

SECOND CO-OP: Student chooses "Live" Co-op OR Credit-by-Exam (CBE)

THIRD CO-OP:  Student completes either their "Live" Co-op OR Credit-by-Exam
             (CBE), whichever method they DID NOT use for their second co-op.

*** Of the 3 required co-ops, ONE must be completed as a "Live" co-op. ***

If you hold an Associate's Degree, you now have two (2) co-ops remaining to be completed. One of these two required co-ops may be completed via a Credit-by-Exam (CBE). A CBE may allow you to use previous, related work experience to gain credit for one of your three co-op requirements. You may scroll down to read more on these requirements or simply click HERE.

At least one of your required co-ops must be a "Live Co-op". A "live" co-op requires that the work occur during the semester for which your register for your "Live" co-op. The work must last the entire semester.

The remainder of this web page about the ATE program will give you all the information you need to successfully complete both the live co-op and CBE. However, if you have any questions, feel free to contact Tom Siebenaler, Assistant Director of Cooperative Education in the College of Technology at thomacs@bgsu.edu.

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Guidelines to Credit-by-Exam (CBE)

To qualify for a CBE, you must be able to answer "YES" to all of the following:

1. Was your work experience was full-time (working at least 40 hours per week) and continuous (with no breaks in between) for at least 12 months?
2. Did your work experience occur after high school graduation and (preferably) related to your Associate Degree?
3. Did your work experience occur prior to entering the College of Technology?
4. Can you previous or current employer provide documentation of employment?

The following must be submitted in the application packet:

1. CBE Application/Cover Sheet  (A copy can be found HERE)

2. Documentation of Previous Work Experience

• Letter(s) must verify your 12 month work experience and what duties you performed.
• Documentation must be on company letterhead from the company(ies) you are using for your CBE experience.
• Letter(s) must be signed & dated by a human resource manager, supervisor or other appropriate person.

3. Recommendation/Evaluation of Work Experience

To be completed by the company(ies) using one of the methods listed below:

• Formal company performance evaluation for continuous the 12 month period.
                or
• Letter(s) of Reference (this can be incorporated as an additional paragraph in the letters of documentation defined above).
                or
• Cooperative Education Performance Evaluation form. (Blank copies are available in the co-op office).

4. Cooperative Education Report

The Credit By Examination Report format can be found by clicking on the link below:

CBE Report Guidelines

Submission Process

1. The CBE application packet must be submitted for approval to the OCE during a semester in which you are already registered for at least 2 semester hours of credit at Bowling Green State University.
   
2. The completed packet must be submitted to:
          Office of Cooperative Education
          College of Technology
          Bowling Green State University
          Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0306
   
3. The packet must contain and be arranged (in order) the information covered HERE and outlined below:
      1. CBE Application/Cover Sheet
      2. Documentation of Previous Work Experience
      3. Recommendation/Evaluation of Work Experience
      4. Cooperative Education Report
   
4. The approval process takes approximately 5 weeks. Upon approval, the OCE will send you a notification letter.
   
5. An $80.00 processing fee will be added to your Bursar account after your CBE packet is submitted.

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Guidelines to the "Live" Co-op

1. A "Live" co-op is a full-time (working at least 40 hours per week), semester-long work experience. In your case it may be the job at which you are currently working.
2. You must register for your live co-op prior to the beginning of the semester by completing a cooperative education registration form and submitting it to the OCE. This registration form can be filled out and submitted electronically to the Co-op Office by saving the completed registration form and attaching it to an email addressed to coop@bgsu.edu.
3. You will be granted four credit hours upon completion of the following:
   1. The cooperative education report.
   2. The completion of a site visit to be conducted by an assigned University representative from the College of Technology.
   3. An evaluation form (Performance Evaluation Profile: PEP) to be completed by your supervisor.
4. A grade of "S" will be awarded upon successful completion of the above requirements.
5. The standard University fee structure applies to the four hours of credit granted for the live co-op.

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Report Formats for "Live" Co-op

TECH 389 Report Guidelines

TECH 489 Report Guidelines

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ATE FAQ

1. Why do I have to complete the co-op requirements?

The co-op requirement is part of the academic requirements for your degree in Advanced Technology Education. It is a requirement for all students pursuing degrees within the College of Technology at Bowling Green State University.

2. How many co-ops do I have to complete?

Three. Associate Degree holders are required to complete 2 co-ops. Generally, students complete 1 Live Co-op and 1 via the Credit-By-Examination (CBE).

3. Do I have to leave my current job?

No, you are not required to leave your current job to complete the co-op requirements.

4. Can I use my current job as a "Live" Co-op? If so, how?

Yes. To use your current job as a "Live" Co-op, you must notify the Co-op Office of the semester you wish to complete the "Live" Co-op, complete the Co-op registration form, and successfully fulfill the requirements for the desired co-op (either TECH 389 or TECH 489).

5. Can I use my current job as a Credit-By-Exam (CBE) co-op? If so, how?

Yes, but there are certain guidelines to follow. To use your current job to complete a CBE, you must obtain and complete a CBE packet from the Office of Cooperative Education in Room 101 Technology Building. Please refer to the CBE page for further instructions.

6. How much credit do I receive for each co-op?

Each co-op (both the "Live" Co-op and the CBE) is worth 4 credits.

7. How much is tuition for a "Live" Co-op?

The fee for a "Live" Co-op varies depending on the current "per semester hour" fee. Multiply the current "per semester hour" fee for either Ohio residents or out-of-state residents (depending on your situation) times 4 (each co-op is 4 semester hours) to determine the exact cost. "Per semester hour" fee x 4 semester hours = Fee for a "Live" Co-op. Current fees may be found on BGSU's Bursar webpage.

8. How much does it cost to complete a CBE?

The current cost for completing a CBE is an $80.00 processing fee.

9. Can I complete my CBE at anytime?

You may complete your CBE requirement during any of BGSU's semesters (Spring, Summer or Fall). However, you can only complete your CBE during a semester in which you are enrolled for at least 2 credit hours of BGSU courses, not counting your CBE credit hours.

10. How do I register for a "Live" Co-op?

You must first complete a Co-op registration form. After you complete the registration and submit it to the Co-op Office, the Co-op Office will register you for the co-op if the site is approved. You can NOT register for a "Live" co-op using the STAR-90 system, you can only register through the co-op office. You must register for your live co-op BEFORE you begin work during the semester you have chosen to complete your live co-op. Retroactive credit will not be granted.

11. How do I register for a CBE?

To register for a CBE, you must complete the CBE packet obtainable in the Co-op Office. Once you successfully complete the CBE packet and it has been approved, the Co-op Office will process the credit for your CBE to your academic record and you will billed an $80.00 processing fee on your Bursar account. Please click HERE for more detailed information.

12. Can I register for a co-op through another college or university?

No. You can only register for a co-op through Bowling Green State University. Refer to the CBE page and "Live" Co-op page for instructions on how to register for those co-ops.

13. How do I get graded for the "Live" co-op?

All co-ops are graded using the S/U format.
You will receive an "S" if you fulfill the following three requirements:
   1.  Complete and submit an acceptable co-op report.
   2.  Receive a satisfactory evaluation from your supervisor.
   3.  Receive a completed site visit from your University Representative.

14. How do I get graded for the CBE?

Once your CBE packet has been approved, the Office of Cooperative Education will authorize the credit for the co-op to your academic record. The grade will appear as an "S" on your transcript.

15. Can I do a "Live" co-op and a CBE during the same semester?

Yes, as long as you provide proper documentation for both co-ops.

16. What happens during a site visit?

A University Representative (UR) will visit with you and your supervisor one time during the semester in which you are completing your co-op. The purpose of the visit is to gain an understanding of your job responsibilities and how those responsibilities relate to your degree and career. During this time, the UR will also view the projects you are currently working on.

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