A co-operative education option is available to students registered in the B.A. Honours Anthropology program. Students in the B.A. Honours Anthropology program must successfully complete three work terms to obtain the co-op designation.
Please see the Co-operative Education section of the Undergraduate Calendar for more details, including admission and participation requirements.
"Becoming a student in the Anthropology department at Carleton has opened so many doors in my academic career. Anthropology as a discipline trains its students to look at the world through a different lens, a holistic one that incorporates political science, indigenous studies, history, psychology and teaches us to constantly question everything. It has changed how I see the world; I have started to even turn my everyday life and experiences into anthropological sites that can be examined and understood in different ways. I can see over the course of my academic career how my writing, research and comprehension skills developed, and now they are hugely beneficial when applying them in a workplace setting.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities my degree has presented, and one of the most important ones I took part of was to be a part of the co-operative student experience. This has allowed me to apply my academic knowledge in a workplace setting. When I chose Carleton university, it was because it offered this unique opportunity that has enhanced my experience tenfold. I had the chance to work in a government setting, at Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada as well as at Environment Canada, that allowed me to adapt my knowledge of the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada to help them achieve greater sovereignty through modern treaties and through the land claims process. I feel extra lucky because those positions had allowed me to travel to the communities of Indigenous people across Canada, and that would not have been possible without me going through the co-operative process.
Ultimately, my time at Carleton as an anthropology student and as one going through the co-op stream has enriched my experience, and I know it is helping me to lay the foundation as I apply for graduate studies and eventually enter the workforce. It is a valuable experience that I can take with me through the rest of my life."
Deanna Cummings
"As an Arts major specializing in Anthropology at Carleton University, I was involved in the co-op program while I completed my Bachelor’s degree. I am so grateful for the experience as I was able to apply what I had learned in the classroom to a hands-on work environment in Ottawa. The academic background and skills that I acquired on campus helped prepare me for the position as a research assistant in the federal government – beginning at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (formerly Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada), as well as subsequent government positions.
Both my academic and co-op experience further sparked my interest and passion in learning more about Indigenous issues in the Canadian context (in particular in the area of resource development) as well as a passion for international human rights issues. During my time at Carleton, I also worked at Natural Resources Canada and Global Affairs Canada as a co-op student where I gained invaluable experience that helped to develop and strengthen my policy writing, analytical and research skills both in the classroom and in the workplace. Over time, I also developed a network of colleagues from various departments that I continue to depend on.
Today, as a Policy Analyst for Crown-Indigenous Relations I continue to rely on the co-op program at Carleton University to hire new students who are also looking to actively apply what they are studying and to gain experience in the federal government – I’ve truly come full circle!"
Leah Lavoie
"As a former student in Carleton’s BA Honours program in Anthropology I participated in the co-operative education option offered. This option allowed me to incorporate the skills and new ways of thinking I was learning in practical ways. I had the privilege to fulfill my co-op requirements both in the public sector, working for Employment and Social Development Canada in statistics and program analysis, but also with an NGO, assisting in advocacy research and reporting. Both of these experiences were widely different, requiring different academic and interpersonal skills. Both helped shape my understanding of anthropology and the many ways it could be useful as a worldview. My experiences helped me formulate my thoughts about post-undergraduate plans, solidified my passion for advocacy and social justice work, and gave me a deeper understanding of the processes of government and their allies. I look back on my co-op experiences as a formative part of my degree at Carleton, as a trial-by-fire opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and practice, and as experiences that contributed to my growth as an individual."
Clare Maier
Students can apply either from high school or once they are a Carleton student (via mySuccess, found on Carleton Central), typically at the end of 1st or 2nd year. For more information about how to apply and how the co-op program works, please visit the Co-op website.
Admission to the co-op option is based on: 1) the completion of 5.0 or more credits at Carleton University; 2) the required CGPA for the co-op option; and 3) any additional course prerequisites.
Students must be registered in the B.A. Honours Anthropology program, must have a minimum overall CGPA of 7.0 and major CGPA of 8.0 in the first two years of academic study, and must have successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term, the required first-year courses, second-year courses, ANTH 3005 and ANTH 3006 or ANTH 3007. Students must maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits), must be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work), and have successfully completed COOP 1000 once their eligibility has been confirmed based on the above requirements.
Students in the B.A. Honours Anthropology must successfully complete three work terms to obtain the co-op designation.
Please click here for more information.
COOP 1000 is a 6 module, 8-week, online course that covers key employability skills and topics to support a successful co-op job search and transition to work. It is mandatory for all undergraduate students wishing to participate in co-op, and must be taken at least 8 months (2 terms) prior to their first work term. Students will be notified by the Co-op Office if/when they are eligible to register in the course. The course is offered in each of the fall and winter terms.
Students gain access to a job board (via mySuccess) that is dedicated to co-op students, and they can review and apply to any of the posted jobs that they are interested in. Students are also encouraged to conduct a self-directed job search to increase their chances of success.
Although every effort is made to ensure a sufficient number of job postings for all students enrolled in the co-op option of their degree program, no guarantee of employment can be made. Carleton's co-op program operates a competitive job search process and is dependent upon current market conditions. In addition, academic performance, skills, motivation, maturity, attitude and potential will determine whether a student secures employment. It is a student's responsibility to actively conduct a job search in addition to participation in the job search process through the Co-op Office.
Students must complete a ‘Self-directed Approval Request’ form (found on mySuccess). A job description or posting that includes the position information will be required, along with the full contact information of the employer. The Co-op Office will review the job description for suitability and adherence to co-op requirements; in addition, the Co-op Office will contact the employer to ensure s/he is in agreement both with the student using the position to fulfill a co-op work term and also with their expectations/requirements of co-op employers. All co-op regulations and fees apply when a student secures a position through a self-directed job search.
Students must attend all interviews to which they have been invited. Failure to attend an interview will count as a student’s “one decline” for that job search period. Failure to attend subsequent interviews may result in removal from the co-op program.
Students are permitted to decline one job offer during a job search period. If a student chooses to decline an offer, they must accept the next offer. All co-op students are given two full business days to respond to co-op job offers, and must respond with a decision by the deadline indicated in the offer email.
Once a student accepts a job offer (verbally or via email), this is considered a binding commitment. The Co-op Office will record the work term on the student’s record, and access to the co-op job portal is removed. The employer will typically follow up with the student to discuss start/end dates, any required documentation, etc. Students may not continue their job search after accepting a job offer, and breaking a contract may result in removal from the co-op program.
It is recommended that students establish fall-back plans if they do not secure employment for a given term (e.g., continue with their academic studies, remain in current part-time employment, etc.). Students remain eligible to compete during their next scheduled work term, assuming they meet co-op continuation requirements.
A student may take a maximum of 0.5 credit during each four-month co-op work term. The course must be scheduled in the evening, outside of regular working hours.
Students must discuss any request for vacation days directly with their employer. The decision to approve such requests is made by the employer – and in conjunction with the Co-op Office, if applicable - in order to ensure that the employer’s operational needs are met and the work term still meets the required duration. Employers are under no obligation to approve requests for time off.
The co-op program gives students an opportunity to gain work experience during their program that is related to their field of study. Students are required to complete either three or four work terms in order to graduate with the Co-operative Education designation on their degree. Work terms must be full-time, four months in duration, and paid. Students complete work and study terms as per their program’s unique work/study pattern. Participation in the co-op program will add 8 to 12 months to the duration of a student’s degree.
Co-op fees are collected to cover the operation and administration of the co-op program. The program cost for undergraduate students includes 4 administration fees that are charged on a predetermined schedule (based on timing of admission) and a work term fee for each work term that is secured (applied only if a work term is secured). All program fees are non-refundable. Click here for more information on fees.
Students must submit the “Undergrad Student Work/Study Pattern Change Request’ form (via mySuccess). A detailed course plan that outlines each remaining academic term and the courses the student plans to take each term must be included. It is recommended that this course plan be reviewed by the student’s academic department prior to submitting the request, to ensure that it aligns with the course offerings by term. Work/study pattern change requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the Co-op Office may request further consultation with the academic unit as applicable.
All co-op work terms must be completed before the beginning of the final academic term. Students may not finish their degree on a co-op work term.
Students with questions or concerns should contact their co-op student advisor for individual assistance throughout their participation in the co-op program. Please click here for a list of co-op student advisors, and select the individual responsible for advising B.A. Honours Anthropology students.