Co-operative Education

Students can apply to co-op in one of two ways; directly from high school or after beginning a degree program at Carleton.
If a student is admitted to co-op from high school, their grades will be reviewed two terms to one year prior to their first work term to ensure they continue to meet the academic requirements after their 1st or 2nd year of study. The time at which evaluation takes place depends on the program of study. Students will automatically be notified via their Carleton email account if they are permitted to continue.

Students not admitted to Carleton University with the co-op option on their degree can apply for admission via the co-operative education program website. To view application deadlines, visit carleton.ca/cc.

Admission to the co-op option is based on the CGPA requirement for the students' academic program as well as any course prerequisites. The articulated CGPA for each program is the normal standard for assessment. Please see the specific degree program sections for the unique admission and continuation requirements for each academic program.

English Language Proficiency

Students admitted to Carleton based on CAEL, IELTS or TOEFL assessments and who are required to take an ESL course must take and pass the Oral Proficiency in Communicative Settings (OPECS) Test. The test must be taken before being permitted to register in COOP 1000. Admission to the co-op program can be confirmed with a minimum score of 4+.

Participation Requirements

COOP 1000

Once a student has been given admission or continuation confirmation to the co-op option s/he must complete and pass COOP 1000 (a mandatory online 0.0 credit course). Students will have access to this course a minimum of two terms prior to their first work term and will be notified when to register.

Communication with the Co-op Office

Students must maintain contact with the co-op office during their job search and while on a work term. All email communication will be conducted via the students' Carleton email account.

Graduation with the Co-op Designation

In order to graduate with the co-op designation, students must satisfy all requirements for their degree program in addition to the requirements according to each co-op program (i.e. successful completion of three or four work terms).

Note: Participation in the co-op option will add up to one additional year for a student to complete their degree program.

Employment

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. Academic performance, skills, motivation, maturity, attitude and potential will determine whether a student is offered a job. It is the student's responsibility to actively conduct a  job search in addition to participation in the job search process operated by the co-op office. Students that do not successfully obtain a co-op work term are expected to continue with their academic studies. The summer term is the exception to this rule. Students should also note that hiring priority is given to Canadian citizens for co-op positions in the Federal Government of Canada.

Work Term Assessment and Evaluation

To obtain a Satisfactory grade for the co-op work term students must have:

1. A satisfactory work term evaluation by the co-op employer;
2. A satisfactory grade on the work term report.

Students must submit a work term report at the completion of each four-month work term. Reports are due on the 16th of April, August, and December and students are notified of due dates through their Carleton email account.

Workplace performance will be assessed by the workplace supervisor. Should a student receive an unsatisfactory rating from their co-op employer, an investigation by the co-op program manager will be undertaken. An unsatisfactory employer evaluation does not preclude a student from achieving an overall satisfactory rating for the work term.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students may withdraw from the co-op option of their degree program during a study term ONLY. Students at work may not withdraw from the work term or the co-op option until s/he has completed the requirements of the work term.

Students are eligible to continue in their regular academic program provided that they meet the academic standards required for continuation.

Involuntary or Required Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students may be required to withdraw from the co-op option of their degree program for one or any of the following reasons:

1. Failure to achieve a grade of SAT in COOP 1000
2. Failure to pay all co-op related fees
3. Failure to actively participate in the job search process
4. Failure to attend all interviews for positions to which the student has applied
5. Declining more than one job offer during the job search process
6. Continuing a job search after accepting a co-op position
7. Failure to be registered in the Co-op Work Term course
8. Dismissal from a work term by the co-op employer
9. Leaving a work term without approval by the Co-op manager
10. Receipt of an unsatisfactory work term evaluation
11. Submission of an unsatisfactory work term report

Standing and Appeals

The Co-op and Career Services office administers the regulations and procedures that are applicable to all co-op program options. All instances of a student's failure during a work term or other issues directly related to their participation in the co-op option will be reported to the academic department.

Any decision made by the Co-op and Career Services office can be appealed via the normal appeal process within the University.

Registering in Co-op Courses

Students will be registered in a Co-op Work Term course while at work. The number of Co-op Work Term courses that a student is registered in is dependent upon the number of four-month work terms that a student accepts.

Students must be registered as full-time before they begin their co-op job search (2.0 credits). 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.

International Students

All International Students are required to possess a Co-op Work Permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada before they can begin working. It is illegal to work in Canada without the proper authorization. Students will be provided with a letter of support to accompany their application. Students must submit their application for their permit before being permitted to view and apply for jobs on the Co-op Services database. Confirmation of a position will not be approved until a student can confirm they have received their permit. Students are advised to discuss the application process and requirements with the International Student Services Office.

Requirements According to Degree Program

Bachelor of Architecture

Students in the Bachelor of Architecture must complete three (3) work terms to obtain the co-op designation.

Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements for students in the Bachelor of Architectural Studies

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work)
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000 [0.0]

In addition to the following:

1. Registered as a full-time student in the B.A.S. program;
2. Obtained and maintained an overall CGPA of 7.00 or higher.

Work Term Report Course:  ARCN 3999 [0.0]

Work/Study Patterns
A table of work/study patterns can be found at the end of this section.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Program

The following Bachelor of Arts Honours programs offer a co-operative education option: Anthropology, Applied Economics and Economics, English, Environmental Studies, European and Russian Studies, French, Geography, Geography with a Concentration in Physical Geography, Geomatics, History, Law (concentrations in Business Law and Law, Policy and Government only), Political Science, Psychology and Sociology

To obtain the co-op designation in these programs students must successfully complete three (3) work terms.

B.A. General Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work)
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000 [0.0]

B.A. Program-Specific Admission and Continuation Requirements

Anthropology and Sociology

1. Registered in either the B.A. Honours Sociology or B.A. Honours Anthropology Program;
2. Have a minimum overall CGPA of 7.0 and major CGPA of 8.0 in the first two years of academic study;
3. 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 (for undergraduate sociology majors) or ANTH 3005 and ANTH 3006 or ANTH 3007 (for undergraduate anthropology majors).

Applied Economics and Economics

1. Registered as a full-time student in the second year of a Bachelor of Arts Honours Economics or Applied Economics program;
2. A major CGPA of 8.00 or higher and an overall CGPA of 8.00 or higher;
3. Successfully completed all required first- and second-year courses before beginning the first work term.

English

1. Registered in the B.A. Honours English program;
2. Obtained and maintained an overall CGPA of 9.0 or higher at the end of second year of academic study
3. Obtained and maintained an overall CGPA of 8.0 or higher and a major CGPA of 9.0 or higher by the end of third year of academic study

European and Russian Studies

1. Registered in the B.A. Honours European and Russian Studies program
2. Obtained and maintained an overall CGPA of 8.0 or higher and a major CGPA of 9.0 or higher
3. Have successfully completed by the start-date of the first work term, the required first-year courses, second-year courses ; have completed PSCI 3206, PSCI 3207, PSCI 3208, PSCI 3209, PSCI 3704 before the second work term; and ECON 3807 or ECON 3808 before the third work term

French

1. Registered in the B.A. Honours in French;
2. Obtained and maintained an 8.0 CGPA overall with a major CGPA of 9.0
3. Successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term, the required language courses and others listed hereafter: FREN 2100 (or any substitute course) or FREN 2110; FREN 2401; FREN 2201 and must be registered in FREN 3050 and one of FREN 3251 or FREN 3451 during the fall of the third year if the course is not offered in the fall term, it will be offered in the evening of the winter term to allow Co-op students to take it)
4. have completed the Departmental Examen oral de français ;
5. be registered as full-time student in the term before the work term;
6. have obtained third-year status.

Geography and Environmental Studies

1. Registered in the B.A. Honours Environmental Studies, Geography, Geography with a Concentration in Physical Geography, or Geomatics;
2. Obtained and maintained an overall minimum CGPA of 9.5 and a major CGPA of 9.5;
3. Have obtained second-year standing;
4. Be registered as a full-time student.

History

Law

Political Science

Work/Study Patterns

A table of work/study patterns can be found at the end of this section.

Co-op Work Term Courses - B.A. programs

Bachelor of Cognitive Science

To obtain the co-op designation in Cognitive Science, students must successfully complete three (3) work terms.

Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements for Students in the Bachelor of Cognitive Science

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work);
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000 [0.0]

In addition to the following:

1. Registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Cognitive Science program;
2. Obtained and maintained an overall CGPA of 8.50 or higher;
3. Successfully completed CGSC 2001.

Work/Study Patterns

A table of work/study patterns can be found at the end of this section.

Work Term Report Course: CGSC 3999 [0.0]

Bachelor of Commerce

The following concentrations in the Bachelor of Commerce Honours program offer a co-operative education option:

Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and students without a concentration.

To obtain the co-op designation in these concentrations students must successfully complete three (3) work terms.

Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements for Students in the Bachelor of Commerce

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work)
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000

In addition to the following:

1. Have a major CGPA of 8.00 or higher and an overall CGPA of 6.50 or higher;
2. Successfully completed 6.0 credits in the major and have at least 6.0 credits remaining for completion of the B.Com. program prior to their first work term;
3. Registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Commerce program.

Work/Study Patterns

A table of work/study patterns can be found at the end of this section.
Co-op Work Term Course: BUSI 3999

Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies

To obtain the co-op designation in Communication and Media Studies, students must successfully complete three (3) work terms.

Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements for Students in the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study terms (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work);
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000 [0.0]

In addition to the following:

1. Registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies Honours program;
2. Obtained and maintained an overall CGPA of 9.00 or higher.

Work/Study Patterns

A table of work/study patterns can be found at the end of this section.
Co-op Work Term Course: COMS 3999

Bachelor of Computer Science

The co-operative education option is available in all B.C.S. programs (Honours and Major).

Students in the Bachelor of Computer Science must successfully complete four (4) work terms to obtain the co-op designation.

Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements for Students in the Bachelor of Computer Science

For admission to and continuation in the co-op option, all students must:

• Maintain full-time status in each study term (2.0 credits);
• Be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work)
• Have successfully completed COOP 1000

In addition to the following:

1. A major CGPA of 8.00 or higher and an overall CGPA of 8.00 or higher;
2. Successfully completed 3.0 required credits in Computer Science, including one of COMP 2402 or COMP 2404;
3. Registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Computer Science program (2.0 credits).

Work/Study Patterns

A table of work/study patterns can be found at the end of this section.
Co-op Work Term Course: COMP 3999