Photo: Beverly Barnett is a CoOp student at the UWF Fisheries Lab. She is a Master's student in Biology. Here she is removing the otoliths of a Red Snapper, which will be used to determine the effects of movement of fishes from region to region on their age and development.

Cooperative Education (CoOp) allows students to gain professionally relevant work experiences that complement their academic studies.  It is a partnership among employers, students, and the university focused on professional practice and vocational exploration.  Combining paid work experience with their studies CoOp students have an opportunity to explore their professions and apply principles acquired in the classroom. Students enter the program by attending a Cooperative Education Information Session offered through Career Services. Students must then receive departmental recommendation for the program and attend an Individual Planning Session. From there students begin to apply and interview for CoOp positions.  Upon accepting a CoOp position students are enrolled in the Cooperative Education Program.  Cooperative education is always paid, always for credit, and always a multiple semester experience.