Co-op Exceptions
All College of Engineering and Innovation students must complete required co-ops to earn their degrees. But there are some exceptions.
Non-traditional online students in these programs follow a different protocol for co-ops and should consult with their academic advisor:
- Management and technology
- Quality systems
All other students should consult with their assigned academic advisor or the Office of Cooperative Education about co-op exceptions.
Did you earn an associate or bachelor’s degree from an approved and accredited institution BEFORE declaring a major in the College of Engineering and Innovation? Then you may be eligible for one co-op course exception, contingent on your previous program requirements.
A co-op course exception can be granted only after final transcripts documenting the earned degree are received and officially verified by BGSU’s Office of Registration and Records. Notify your academic advisor when you submit your final transcripts.
Basic military training
Students who complete basic military training may receive credit for one co-op course. You must submit documentation to BGSU’s Office of Registration and Records verifying they have completed basic military training. Review your degree audit to ensure the exception has been made. Consult with Non-traditional and Military Services or your academic advisor for assistance.
Tech school and on-the-job training (OJT)
You may be eligible for one co-op course exception. Tech school and OJT periods vary but must consist of at least a combined 13 weeks and must be directly related to your major.
For example: If you’re an aviation studies major and have gone to at least 13 weeks of combined aircraft maintenance school and training, you would submit documentation to BGSU’s Office of Registration and Records verifying completion of training.
Consult with Non-traditional and Military Services and your academic advisor to ensure the exception has been processed.
You may request consideration for a co-op exception (waiver) if you have completed ROTC training. Note: Co-op exceptions in the form of a waiver do not generate credit hours. You should review your graduation plan to account for waivers and ensure you complete the hours you need to earn your degree.
How to request consideration for a co-op exception (waiver) – Submit documentation of your ROTC field training in the form of an official letter or certificate signed by your commanding officer. Email coop@bgsu.edu and cc your academic advisor. Your academic advisor will process the exception if approved.
You may be eligible for co-op credit by examination if you have work experience related to your field of study prior to entering the College of Engineering and Innovation. You will need to fulfill University CBE requirements and submit CBE required documents to insure proper credit.
- Review University CBE requirements.
- Must be registered for two credit hours AND maintain the minimum registration level the entire semester in which you are pursuing CBE credit and at least five weeks before the semester ends.
- Must be able to answer “yes” to ALL of the following questions:
- Did your work experience occur after high school graduation?
- Did your work experience occur prior to entering the College of Engineering and Innovation?
- Was the work experience related to your major?
- Was the work experience full-time (working at least 40 hours per week) and continuous (with no breaks in between) for at least 12 months?
- Can you provide documentation of your employment?
- Consult with a designated CBE faculty member for your major if you meet all requirements. They will help you determine if your work experience is eligible for co-op CBE. Email the Office of Cooperative Education, to find out who the designated CBE faculty member is for your program.
- Secure and submit required documents if your designated faculty member determines you are eligible for CBE. All documentation must be emailed to the Office of Cooperative Education at the same time in order to be processed.
- Documentation of previous work experience. This should be submitted from your BGSU email. Verification of your previous work experience should be submitted on letterhead from the company(ies) or employer you are using for your CBE experience and must include:
- A letter verifying your employment for 12 months of full-time (40 hours/week) work, including dates of employment, your title and description of your position. Must be signed and dated by a human resource manager, supervisor or other appropriate person.
- Recommendation/evaluation of work performance from your employer, using one of the following methods:
- Formal performance evaluation for the 12-month period
- Letter(s) of reference (This can be incorporated as an additional paragraph in the verification of work experience letter.) OR
- Cooperative education performance evaluation form (Contact the Office of Cooperative Education for the form.)
- Cooperative education report. Download the CBE report template. Online management and technology students and online quality systems students should consult their program directors for the appropriate report template.
- Credit by exam application form.
- Documentation of previous work experience. This should be submitted from your BGSU email. Verification of your previous work experience should be submitted on letterhead from the company(ies) or employer you are using for your CBE experience and must include:
It takes about five weeks to process your co-op CBE request once we receive all of your documents and application.
An $80 fee is assessed for a credit by-exam course.
How to request consideration for a co-op exception (waiver) – Contact the Office of Cooperative Education directly. Your department (chair/director) and assistant dean may be consulted. You must email coop@bgsu.edu documentation of completion of approved training in the form of an official letter or certificate signed by your commanding officer. Your academic advisor will be notified to process an approved co-op exception.
- Advanced Training Assistant/Advanced Training Program (ATP): A minimum of 7 weeks of education and training for Air Force officer career fields is required for consideration. The training program usually occurs for about seven weeks in the summer.
- Advanced Camp: Usually occurs in the summer for 5-6 weeks between the student’s junior and senior year.
- Cadet Troop Leader Training/Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC): This is the centerpiece of the US Army’s ROTC program. It is conducted only during the summer months (June, July and August) at Fort Lewis, Washington. LDAC is normally attended by cadets between their junior and senior years of college. The last rotation consists of soldiers in the OCS (Officer Candidate School) program.
- Cadet Troop Leader Training (CLTL): Provides cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units over a three- to four-week period. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level leadership positions in active-duty units. Platoon Leader positions have 3-4 week duration depending on the hosting unit and location. Assignments include units that are located CONUS and OCONUS. Cadets are assigned a unit mentor, and are provided on-post lodging and meals via a dining facility. This program is exclusively designed for MS III Cadets before and after completion of the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC).
Platoon Leader Class (Junior or Senior) – The 10-week class may be considered for one co-op course exception.
Platoon Leaders Class (Combined): The Platoon Leaders Class is a physically and mentally challenging summer program leading to a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. The training is conducted only during the summer. Freshman and sophomores attend two 6-week training sessions. Of the two 6-week classes, only one may be considered as a co-op exception.
Updated: 08/15/2025 02:13PM