In the Business Technologies Division, students participate in a cooperative education program. Cooperative education sets Cincinnati State apart from most colleges and universities. Cooperative education allows students to apply their majors in the business world and to gain practical experience that will enhance their first full-time employment after graduation. Therefore, in the Business Technologies Division, all students must earn 8-10 credit hours (per technology requirements) in cooperative education (except Dietetic Technician Program). 

The Cincinnati State Working for Success Experience is a series of practice-oriented courses designed to assure students success in preparing for and achieving their career goals.

The learning continuum provided by the Cincinnati State Working for Success Experience is fundamental to the goal of preparing students for the world of work. The program engages students in a wide variety of learning experiences that prepare them for success academically and professionally while keeping them connected to the Institution. By completing this practice-oriented sequence, Cincinnati State is meeting the needs of students, employers and the community.

Benefits to the Student
Educational - Cooperative education reinforces learning in the classroom.
Career classification - Cooperative education helps you identify the appropriate career track.
Personal Professional Growth - Through cooperative education, you create a record of personal growth and professional accomplishment in the workplace.
Financial - Cooperative education allows you to help finance your education.

Benefits to the Community
Trained Technicians
Employment Screening
Economic Gain
Citizen Productivity
Curriculum that Meets Work Force Trends

Eligibility Requirements
1. In order to be eligible to participate in the cooperative education program, a student must generally meet the following requirements:
A. Be a matriculated student.
B. Maintain a G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher, and complete any required program
 technical courses. See co-op coordinator for list.
C. Attend a co-op orientation session and complete a petition to co-op   packet. It must be returned to the program co-op coordinator before   consideration for placement.
D. Agree to follow curriculum and meet all program requirements as specified.
E. Agree not to seek full-time employment with his or her co-op employer until graduation.
F. Understand that co-op students are not eligible for unemployment benefits for
co-op positions, and as such, agree not to apply for them.
G. Any student wishing to drop out of the co-op program must have prior coordinator approval and complete the remainder of his/her co-op requirements by taking the co-op seminar courses. Once a student leaves the co-op program, he or she will not be eligible to re-enter without approval of the co-op coordinator.

2. Students may complete the required co-op experience on either an alternating or parallel track depending on the availability of positions. Students must meet with their co-op coordinator as soon as possible after admittance to their academic program to complete their co-op plan.

3. The Business Technologies Division will assist students in completing their cooperative education work experiences. Although the division’s co-op coordinators are generally successful in finding interview opportunities for co-op students, there is no employment guarantee. In these cases, the co-op coordinator will work with the student on alternatives to fulfill the cooperative education requirement.