Co-Operative Career Experience Certificate

Earn undergraduate college credits for the courses you successfully complete. You will have an academic transcript just like any other UIC student. Co-Op students do not audit or participate in courses as guests.

Take all of your classes alongside other UIC students. We believe students with intellectual and developmental disabilities add value to the classroom. UIC students with disabilities may request accommodations with the Disability Resource Center. Our team will help you get the accommodations needed to participate in classes and complete assignments.

Our certificate uses co-operative education methods. This means that our students learn through academic work in the class and through practical work placements in the community, which prepares them to pursue careers after certificate completion.

Our team conducts research and shares resources with communities and universities looking to build college programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are currently building our research and resource library. Contact us if you have any questions. You may also visit the Think College Illinois webpage.

Hire Co-Op

Are you an employer in the Chicagoland area who would like to hire our students? We would love to hear from you! Please email Jordyn Jensen.

Co-Op students pay tuition and fees at the UIC undergraduate tuition rate.

As a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP) with the U.S Department of Education, our students are eligible for certain forms of federal financial aid like Pell Grants and work-study. All applicants are encouraged to complete a FAFSA to apply for federal financial aid. 

We are currently growing financial aid opportunities and working with Illinois’ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to open doors for merit-based scholarships and state financial support.