Student Experiences in Co-op
Political Science MA student Jason Giddings talks about his experiences in the co-op program.
Political Science MA Co-op Program
Co-op work terms provide students with an opportunity to integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of undergraduate and graduate studies in Political Science, and locate students in government, not-for-profit, private, or voluntary sector organizations.
The Co-op program is administered by the Co-op Office.
Recent MA Program Co-op Placements
Organization |
Position |
| Health Canada | Policy Analyst |
| Global Affairs Canada | Junior Communications Officer |
| Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | Trade Policy Analyst |
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | Co-op Student in Migration Health |
| Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada | Negotiations Intern |
Lashaunda Yates, 2019 MA graduate who chose co-op and master’s research paper options in her program
After finishing my undergraduate degree in the US, I had the choice between attending law school and pursuing a master’s degree. Out of all the schools I had applied to, Carleton offered me the most opportunities to continue my education while working in the nation’s capital, giving me access to multiple NGOs and government agencies; it was the best choice I could have made for myself. Not for the reasons outlined but because of the support I received from my professors, supervisors and the administrative staff, especially Brookes Fee.
While studying at Carleton, I was able to obtain a co-op placement at the Canadian Federation for Independent Business which is Canada’s largest non-profit organization devoted to creating and supporting an environment where your business can succeed. Shortly afterwards I was given the opportunity to work with James Milner and the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN) as a Project Officer. LERRN is 7-year SHHRC partnership grant dedicated to building a team of researchers and practitioners committed to promoting protection and solutions with and for refugees.
The experience I obtained through my co-op placement and time as a Project Officer paved the way for me to obtain an FWSEP placement at Global Affairs Canada, where I have continued to work since graduating.
During my time at Carleton, I wrote an MRP with Dr. Elinor Sloan as my supervisor. My paper was called Arctic Concerns: A New Age of Security Threats and it gave me the opportunity to do more in depth research on the possibility of a security dilemma in the Arctic while also developing a good relationship with Dr. Sloan.
Thank you Carleton University for a memorable two years, I’m glad I choose to do my MA in Political Science here!
More information on MA Co-op
Full-time MA students who have completed a minimum of 2.5 credits may choose a co-op option. Co-op work terms provide Master’s students with an opportunity to develop skills relevant to their chosen field of study and to explore various career options and work environments. As a co-op student you will become an integral part of the work team that you join. Participation in co-op will allow you to develop the necessary skills to conduct an effective job search and to graduate with a network of established career contacts.
Students must successfully complete two co-op terms to receive a co-op designation on their academic transcript. The co-op designation is in addition to the 5.0 credits for the MA program. Students will be registered in the co-op course PSCI 5913 (0.0 credit) once they are successful in their co-op job search, and may not take more than 0.5 credits of course work at the same time. If a student chooses to enroll in 0.5 credits of course work while on a co-op work term, the course must be taken outside of regular working hours.
Work terms are four months in duration, and students who are successful in obtaining a placement can typically find work in either government or the private sector.