Cooperative Education
Knowledge Applied in the Real World
Antioch College promotes meaningful engagement with the world through intentional linkages between campus-centered and field-based experiential learning.
For 100 years, a central component of Antioch’s education model has been its flagship Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program.
Lead an impactful life
By linking the life of the mind with professional engagement, Co-op animates a unique liberal arts curriculum that positions students to take action in a variety of diverse settings. Students have opportunities to engage with numerous partner organizations as they learn to navigate complex work environments, communicate publicly, and experiment with solution-oriented approaches to social change.
All Antioch students spend up to a third of their academic program—a minimum of three academic terms—engaged in the kinds of full-time work, research, or self-directed learning enterprises that have earned Antioch Co-op students an international reputation for creativity, industriousness, and ingenuity.
Co-op provides knowledge and knowhow which is why generations of Antiochians have had significant impacts in their communities and professions.
At the core of the Co-op experience is professional engagement—meaningful work in challenging settings where students generally can expect reasonable compensation for their contributions. Not only do Antioch students graduate with an outstanding education, an impressive resume, and compelling stories of Co-op adventure in distant locales, they gain exposure to innovative workplaces and discover their unique talents as they apply themselves to real problems in the world.
Real World Work Experience
Read student Co-op stories from Antioch Engaged: our journal of social practice & professional engagement
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Exploring Mexica Dance: Gael Cabrera Ocampo ’24 in Mexico City, Mexicoby Sara Marsh on September 22, 2021
For this winter co-op, I was able to continue with a small but significant part of my life goals. I came to Mexico City—and traveled to other parts of Mexico—to work on a documentary discussing Mexica dances and their part in war. This film will
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Awake and Dreaming: Michael Perea ‘24 at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohioby Michael Perea on September 15, 2021
The words appear stark against the old wall, somewhere between a whisper and a shout. It is one of many phrases scrawled upon hallways and pillars. Some have clear intentions like the names and phone numbers scribbled onto corners and others are musings or perhaps
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Swimming Against the Anti-Immigrant Current: Kensy Zelaya ’21 at the Central American Resources Center in Houston, Texasby Kensy Zelaya Sabillon on November 3, 2020
I am Kensy Zelaya, a fourth-year student at Antioch College with a self-designed major in political economy and social psychology. For my last co-op, I found an internship at CARECEN, located in Houston, Texas. What is CARECEN? Under the slogan “No Human Being is Illegal,”
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The Center of a Movement in the Middle of Nowhere: Ike Wylie ’22 at Camphill Copake in Copake, New Yorkby Ike Wylie on October 10, 2020
In a valley that, if observed from up high, resembles a bowl- there is a village of twelve houses. They hold farmers, bakers, and candlemakers. These houses do not have televisions, pets, or microwaves. They sing and bless their meals. They are from Europe
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The Dream of a Future Farmer: Kaylee Rutherford ’23 at the Antioch Farm in Yellow Springs, Ohioby Kaylee Rutherford on October 9, 2020
At the Antioch Farm, sustainability is of the utmost importance. Food forests and annual gardens spread across the vast fields towards the south end of the campus, where permaculture practices are explored and utilized to create a beautiful and bountiful environment. The food grown on
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Conflict of Interest: Chris Chavers ’21 at the Law Office of Phillip Brigham in Chicago, Illinoisby Chris Chavers on October 9, 2020
There’s this moment when I walk into the courtroom that surrounds my body with excitement, inspiration, and fulfillment of purpose. It is a feeling that I can’t wipe off my skin because in these seconds I feel alive. I see the bench, I see the
“We have students working at foundations, nonprofits, successful businesses and companies and looking at what that feels like out in the world — being a part of a real team, making purposeful projects come to reality.”
— Luisa Bieri Rios,
Assist. Prof. of Cooperative Education
How it works
Field experience lies at the heart of cooperative education; however, developing a sense of inquiry, reflecting on lessons learned through experience, and engaging in dialogue on the ideas that emerge are essential components of the Co-op learning cycle. In order to meet the Co-op requirement necessary for graduation, all students are required to complete three approved field experiences and pass three Cooperative Education field courses (12 credits each) with a grade of C. Students enroll in these by registering for the appropriate Cooperative Education course that is offered at the time they engage in their Co-op term, as determined by fulfillment of both the co-requisite and any prerequisites identified. They thus are expected to earn a minimum of thirty-six Cooperative Education credits required for graduation.
Our voices carry around the world
Students have completed their Co-ops throughout the United States and in the following countries:
Argentina
Australia
Austria
The Bahamas
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Ethiopia
France
Germany
Ghana
Guatemala
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Nepal
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Peru
Senegal
Spain
St. Vincent
Thailand
United Kingdom
Co-op News & Achievements
Explorations Through Co-op: Jen Ruud ’18
Although Jen Ruud ’18 majored in Environmental Science at Antioch, their Co-ops provided opportunities for exploration in different fields.
Organizing Her Voice Rises: Faculty Spotlight on Luisa Bieri
Her Voice Rises; a transnational arts exchange between Antioch College and Mujeres de Artes Tomar (MAT) was an arts residency three years in the making, spearheaded by Yellow Springs-native and Associate Professor of Cooperative Education Luisa Bieri.
The 365 Project Promotes Black Culture in Yellow Springs
For Black History Month, the 365 Project will share one video each week that takes viewers on a journey through Yellow Springs to learn about land ownership of Blacks in the past up to the present. In their most recent video, the 365 Project take a walk through Antioch College’s campus and the surrounding area.