The Department of Co-operative Studies was responsible for teaching cooperative studies in undergraduate courses at Yangon Co-operative Degree College since in 1996. According to organizational structure, the Department of Co-operative Studies was reorganized as the Department of Co-operative and Economics in 2006. In 2012, Co-operative University (Thanlyin) was upgraded to university level. From that time, the Department of Co-operative and Economics was reformed as the Department of Co-operative Studies and the Department of Economics.

The Department of Co-operative Studies has been responsible for teaching Bachelor of Business Science. The Co-operative University (Thanlyin) has started to change the Bachelor of Business Science Degree Program with five specialized courses starting from the 2013-2014 academic year. Degree courses offered included B.BSc (Social Enterprise Management), B.BSc (Regional Development), B.BSc (Marketing Management), B.BSc (Accounting and Finance), B.BSc (Applied Statistics). The Department of Co-operative Studies offered the B.BSc (Social Enterprise Management) program.

In addition, Postgraduate Diploma in Social Enterprise (PGDSEM) Program was launched in 2014. Master of Social Enterprise Management (MSEM) program was launched in 2015 with the aim of to nature the future entrepreneurs and innovators for the community development. In November 2021, Co-operative University (Thanlyin) was renamed the University of Co-operative and Management, Thanlyin.

At the present, the Department of Co-operative Studies offers the programs of B.BSc (Social Enterprise Management), Postgraduate Diploma in Social Enterprise Management (PGDSEM) and Master of Social Enterprise Management (MSEM).

Moreover, the Department of Co-operative Studies is launched a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Business Management (Free Online Certificate Course) short-term training course with the aims of to learn the principles of business management and to develop the human resources who can understand and apply the basics of Entrepreneurship.