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Co-Op/Internship Procedures
About the Gerontology Co-Op/Internship Procedures:
Cooperative Education (CO-OP)/Internship Experience for Gerontology Students
The purpose of the co-op/internship requirement in the Family and Child Studies-Gerontology concentration
is to provide students with a supervised, work-based, professional and academic experience in community-based
agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations working with well, frail or institutionalized older adults.
The co-op course presents many opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in "real world" situations;
learn new skills; and improve their ability to learn in a self-directed manner. The co-op experience also fosters personal,
professional and academic growth through a variety of on-the-job interactions, reflection activities and academic projects.
Individualized learning objectives and assignments for the course are developed by the students in consultation with their faculty
supervisor and their work site supervisor at the beginning of the co-op semester. Students earn a letter grade for academic work
submitted throughout the co-op semester.
Students in the Family and Child Studies-Gerontology concentration must successfully complete 8sh of co-op coursework either with one
full time (8sh) co-op or 2 part time (4sh) co-op courses taken in different semesters.
Contact the Family and Child Studies-Gerontology Program Coordinator, Dr. Marybeth Henry (henrym@mail.montclair.edu), and the Cooperative
Education Coordinator, Elaine Russo (russoe@mail.montclair.edu), to discuss options that meet your objectives.
Planning for Your Co-Op/Internship Course
Since meeting various application requirements takes time, it is recommended that you begin the planning process a few semesters in advance. This will allow time to: project for and plan course schedules; plan the timing of the co-op semester(s); take the two mandatory co-op workshops; meet with co-op staff to prepare a resume and post it on Place Pro, a web-based site; have job interviews; and complete co-op paperwork. Some positions require background checks and/or medical clearances while others require transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and interviews which lengthen the application process.
Your co-op placement is approved and supervised by co-op staff and faculty. You may decide to enroll in a full time (8sh), culminating co-op experience toward the end of your college career or you may enroll in two part time co-op courses to "try out" different career, personal development and learning opportunities. In the latter case you would enroll in one 4sh co-op course (COED 401) in one semester and another 4sh co-op course (COED 402) in another semester.
Eligibility
You must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and have successfully completed 30 credits before applying for a co-op position.
Family and Child Studies-Gerontology students usually enroll in co-op experiences in junior or senior year.
Students who transfer into MSU with an associates degree or a bachelors degree, do not have to obtain any course credit at
MSU to be eligible for co-op. Students who transfer into MSU without a degree must complete at least 9 credits at MSU, have at
least 30 credits completed toward their degree, and earn a GPA of 2.0 or better.
It is strongly recommended that you complete foundational coursework in gerontology before you enroll in co-op.
Obtaining Your Co-Op /Internship* Position
To sign up for required workshops go to the Center for Community-Based Learning located in Morehead Hall, room 338.
As part of your preparation process you will meet with Elaine Russo to begin the job search and interview process.
Both the Co-Op Coordinator and the Gerontology Program Coordinator will guide you in selecting an approved work site.
Once you have finalized your co-op work site and submitted documentation, if required, you will register for COED 401 or
COED 402. The Co-Op Coordinator will provide you with the course call number and permission to register in the WESS system.
As stated earlier, you may elect to enroll in an 8sh co-op (COED 401) and work full time over the entire semester and complete
the terms of learning agreement developed with your co-op faculty advisor. You may decide to enroll in two 4sh co-op courses,
COED 401 and COED 402 for a variety of reasons, such as, experiencing more than one placement, to help clarify career goals, or
to have a broad experiential education background preparing you for graduate studies. The 4sh co-op runs for the entire semester
during which you would work 20 hours a week and successfully complete the terms of the learning agreement you developed with your
faculty advisor for co-op. Separate learning objectives and agreements are developed for each of the 4sh co-ops.
It is strongly recommended that you complete foundational coursework in gerontology before you enroll in co-op.
Taking Co-Op Courses as Electives in the Gerontology Minor and Certificate Program
You may use your elective credits to take co-op courses. This may be especially helpful if you are in the Gerontology Minor or the Gerontology Certificate Program where co-op courses are recommended but not required. A co-op experience provides opportunities to use your skills and knowledge as well as gain valuable “hands on” experience in an organization working with older adults. It may also help you explore new career choices and service opportunities not considered in the past.
It is strongly recommended that you complete foundational coursework in gerontology before you enroll in co-op.
If You Have any Questions About This Process, Contact:
Dr. Marybeth Henry, Gerontology Program Coordinator
Department of Family and Child Studies
University Hall 4034
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
Tel: (973) 655-7484
Email: henrym@mail.montclair.edu
Elaine Russo, Cooperative Education Coordinator
Center for Community-Based Learning
Morehead Hall, 3rd floor
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
Tel: (973) 655-7495
Email: russoe@mail.montclair.edu
* The terms Co-Op and Internship are used interchangeably.
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