Cooperative Work Experience (CWE)

Updated on: Monday, August 19, 2024

Cooperative work experience (CWE 195 and 196/296) is a way to earn college credit through on-the-job experience in a chosen field. This program offers students a way to combine classroom study at WVC with related work experience under the supervision of an employer. Work experience, paid or unpaid, must be related to a student’s educational and career objectives.

This program is subject to the following stipulations:

  • Students must meet with the CWE coordinator to determine eligibility and to complete the enrollment process.
  • Course credit may be earned for work experience if the work is related to either the student’s major or vocational goal.
  • One CWE credit requires 50 hours of work experience.
  • Regular registration policies and tuition rates apply to CWE credits.
  • CWE 196/296 credit will be awarded on a pass/fail basis and will not affect GPA. CWE 195 is graded.
  • The CWE coordinator will meet with the student and their employer on the job site as part of the evaluation process for CWE credits.
  • No more than 10 CWE credits may be applied to any WVC degree.