The cooperative education program at LaGuardia Community College, New York, incorporates seminars that integrate school- and work-based learning. In the seminars, students examine issues related to work in general, the organizations in which they are placed, and the ways in which their academic preparation is applied at the work site. The cooperative education program, which is mandatory for all full-time students, includes the following: a course that prepares students for their first co-op placement; planning sessions with a faculty advisor; three internships or placements; and three distinct levels of seminars taken in conjunction with each internship. The first and third levels may be specific to a student's chosen area of study or, may be generic, focusing on common workplace issues. All students take the second seminar, "Fundamentals of Career Advancement," which focuses on using the workplace to gain information about skills and personal requirements for upward mobility. Seminars allow students to explore careers, master skills and competencies common to all jobs, and explore social, ethical, political, and moral themes associated with working. Instructional methods in seminars are traditional lecture, class discussion, simulations, role-play, and faculty sharing of personal experiences. Seminar effectiveness depends on these factors: instructor background, training, and understanding of the seminar's purpose; instructional methods; and integration of the program into the larger college curriculum. The work-based component must become central to the educational purposes of the institution. (Contains 18 references.) (YLB)