Co-operative Education Option

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 Sociology 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, SOCI 2000 and SOCI 2001 or SOCI 3000. 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 Sociology 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 admitted to Carleton with English language assessments, who are required to take an ESL course, must take and pass the Oral Proficiency in Communicative Settings (OPECS) test, before being permitted to register in COOP 1000. Students must apply for and maintain a valid co-op work permit throughout their co-op participation.

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.

Yes. 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.

No, 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.

• Provide work that is relevant to the co-op student’s academic program
• Provide supervision/training and set expectations for the work term regarding responsibilities, duties, and priorities
• Provide feedback to the student’s co-op advisor mid-way through the work term regarding performance and progress to date
• Review the co-op student’s work term report prior to submission to the University for grading
• Complete an online evaluation of the student’s performance at the end of the work term

• Maintain contact with the Co-op Office and provide work site information, including work contact information and the supervisor’s contact information
• Be proactive – request regular touchpoints with work supervisor to discuss responsibilities, progress, and expectations
• Share feedback with your co-op advisor mid-way through the work term (during site visit or check-in)
• Write work term report according to guidelines and have work supervisor review prior to submission deadline (December 16th, April 16th, or August 16th depending on work term)
• Submit work term report (via cuLearn) by the submission deadline for grading
• Meet with work supervisor to review the online performance evaluation at the end of their work term

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.

It depends. 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.

No. 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 Sociology students.