This section presents the requirements for programs in:

• Bioinformatics B.Sc. Honours
• Biology B.Sc. Honours
• Biology with Concentration in Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation Science B.Sc. Honours
• Biology with Concentration in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour B.Sc. Honours
• Biology with Concentration in Health Science B.Sc. Honours
• Biology with Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology B.Sc. Honours
• Biology with Concentration in Physiology B.Sc. Honours
• Biology B.Sc. Major
• Biology B.Sc.
• Biology and Biotechnology B.Sc. Honours
• Biology and Earth Sciences B.Sc. Combined Honours
• Biology and Physics B.Sc. Combined Honours
• Neuroscience and Biology B.Sc. Combined Honours
• Biology B.A. Honours
• Biology B.A.
• Biology B.A. Combined Honours
• Biology and Humanities B.Hum. Combined Honours
• Minor in Biology

Co-operative Education

For more information about how to apply for the Co-op program and how the Co-op program works please visit the Co-op website.

All students participating in the Co-op program are governed by the Undergraduate Co-operative Education Policy.

Undergraduate Co-operative Education Policy

Admission Requirements

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 applies to a degree program with a Co-op option from high school, their university grades will be reviewed two terms to one year prior to their first work term to ensure they meet the academic requirements after their first or second year of study. The time at which the evaluation takes place depends on the program of study. Students will automatically receive an admission decision via their Carleton email account.

Students who did not request Co-op at the time they applied to Carleton can request Co-op after they begin their university studies. To view application instructions and deadlines, please visit carleton.ca/co-op.

To be admitted to Co-op, a student must successfully complete 5.0 or more credits that count towards their degree, meet the minimum CGPA requirement(s) for the student's Co-op option, and fulfil any specified course prerequisites. To see the unique admission and continuation requirements for each Co-op option, please refer to the specific degree programs listed in the Undergraduate Calendar. 

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.

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. Once a student accepts a co-op job offer (verbally or written), his/her job search will end and access to co-op jobs will be removed for that term. 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.

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.

While on a co-op work term students may take a maximum of 0.5 credit throughout each four-month co-op work term. Courses must be scheduled outside of regular working hours.

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

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.

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.

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. Dismissal from a work term by the co-op employer
8. Leaving a work term without approval by the Co-op manager
9. Receipt of an unsatisfactory work term evaluation
10. 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.

International Students

All International Students are required to possess a Co-op Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 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.

B.Sc. Honours Biology, Bioinformatics: Co-op Admission and Continuation Requirements

• Maintain full-time status in each study term;
• 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.Sc. Honours Biology or Bioinformatics program;
2. Successfully completed 5.0 or more credits;
3. Obtained an Overall CGPA of at least 6.50 and a Major CGPA of at least 8.00. These CGPAs must be maintained throughout the duration of the degree.

B.Sc. Honours Biology and Bioinformatics students must successfully complete three (3) work terms to obtain the Co-op Designation.

Work Term Course: BIOL 3999
Work/Study Pattern:

B.Sc. Combined Honours Neuroscience and Biology

• Maintain full-time status in each study term;
• 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.Sc. Combined Honours Neuroscience and Biology program;
2. Successfully completed 5.0 or more credits;
3. Obtained an Overall CGPA of at least 6.50 and a Major CGPA of at least 8.00. These CGPAs must be maintained throughout the duration of the degree.

B.Sc. Combined Honours Neuroscience and Biology students must successfully complete three (3) work terms to obtain the Co-op Designation.

Work Term Course: NEUR 3999, BIOL 3999

Work-Study Pattern:

Legend
S: Study
W: Work

B.Sc. Regulations

The regulations presented in this section apply to all Bachelor of Science programs. In addition to the requirements presented here, students must satisfy the University regulations common to all undergraduate students including the process of Academic Continuation Evaluation (see the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar).

Breadth Requirement for the B.Sc.

Experimental Science Requirement

Students in a B.Sc. degree program must present at graduation at least two full credits of Experimental Science chosen from two different departments or institutes from the list below:

Course Categories for B.Sc. Programs