Combine Academics and Work Experience
Co-op alternates between semesters of regular academic courses and semesters of paid, full-time work experience, called "work terms." Each work term is a course (making you a full-time student) that is recorded on your transcript.
The successful recruitment of Co-operative Education students is a collective effort of three parties – the employer, the co-op student, and the associated educational institution. Co-op positions, whether posted on the co-op job board or on an employer's website, can only be completed if you are registered in a co-op program.
Eligibility
You are encouraged to join the co-op program in your first year. It is typical to complete your first work term after you have completed at least ten courses toward your degree so that you have sufficient academic experience to fulfill employer needs. Once you are admitted to the co-op program you will be granted access to the private online job board.
More information for:
Work Terms
Work terms can be four, eight, twelve or sixteen months in duration, beginning in September, January or May. Planning and preparation for a co-op work term can take up to six months, so remember to apply early! Opportunities exist with educational institutions, small businesses, industry, not-for-profit organizations, and all branches of government (local, provincial and federal). In addition to active and successful engagement on the job, critical reflection assignments are also completed in cooperation with your employer.
All co-op work terms are graded on a pass/fail basis.
While on a work term, you maintain full-time student status with regard to:
- Financial loans and scholarships
- Students’ Union Health & Dental Plan
- Registration privileges
The type of work you perform in Co-operative Education will be relevant to your degree. Positions are selected and approved to provide a broad range of experience and to encourage the development of skills and knowledge through increasingly challenging work placements.
Students complete alternating semesters of academics and work terms- see sample co-op sequencing plans below. Co-op work terms must be completed in different seasons to benefit from differences in nature of work, demands and priorities in the work place, and must end on an academic semester.
Sample Co-op Sequencing
Bachelor Degree
Sample 1: Three 4-month work terms
|
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 1 |
Academic Term |
Academic Term |
Vacation |
|
Year 2 |
Academic Term |
Academic Term |
Work Term #1 |
|
Year 3 |
Academic Term |
Work Term #2 |
Academic Term |
|
Year 4 |
Work Term #3 |
Academic Term |
Academic Term |
Sample 2: One 8-month and one 4-month work term
|
|
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 1 |
Academic Term |
Academic Term |
Work Term #1 |
|
Year 2 |
Work Term #2 |
Academic Term |
Academic Term |
|
Year 3 |
Academic Term |
Work Term #3 |
Academic Term |
|
Year 4 |
Academic Term |
Academic Term |
Vacation |
Sample 3: One 8-month and one 16-month work term
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Academic Term | Academic Term | Vacation |
| Year 2 | Academic Term | Work Term #1 | Work Term #2 |
| Year 3 | Academic Term | Academic Term | Work Term #3 |
| Year 4 | Work Term #4 | Work Term #5 | Work Term #6 |
| Year 5 | Academic Term | Academic Term | Vacation |
Post Diploma Bachelor Degree
Sample 1: Three 4-month work terms
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | Academic Term | Work Term #1 | Vacation |
| Year 4 | Work Term #2 | Academic Term | Work Term #3 |
| Year 5 | Academice Term | Academic Term | Vacation |
Sample 2: One 12-month work term
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | Academic Term | Work Term #1 | Work Term #2 |
| Year 4 | Work Term #3 | Academic Term | Vacation |
| Year 5 | Academic Term | Academic Term | Vacation |
Sample 3: One 8-month and one 4-month work term
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | Academic Term | Work Term #1 | Work Term #2 |
| Year 4 | Academic Term | Academic Term | Vacation |
| Year 5 | Work Term #3 | Academic Term | Vacation |
Certificate Program
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Academic Term | Work Term #1 | Academic Term |
Professional Diploma in Accounting
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Year 1 | Academic Term | Work Term #1 | Vacation |
| Year 2 | Work Term #2 | Academic Term | Work Term #3 |
| Year 3 | Academic Term | Academic Term | Vacation |
Co-op Designation
The Co-operative Education designation is an achievement that goes on both your degree parchment and transcripts. It demonstrates to employers that as a graduate, you are sufficiently prepared to enter the workplace with limited orientation. Co-op graduates are seen to be a proven commodity in the eyes of potential employers, significantly reducing the risk that comes with hiring an entry-level employee.
Work Terms Required for Co-op Designation
| Program | Minimum Required Number of Co-op Work Terms |
| BA, BFA, BMgt, or BSc | Three 4-month work terms (12 months total) |
| Eligible MSc or MA | Two 4-month work terms (8 months total) |
| Combined Degree (e.g., BEd/BSc, BEd/BMgt, BFA/BMgt) |
Three 4-month work terms (12 months total)
|
- The minimums listed above are required to graduate with the BA, BFA, BMgt, BSc, MSc or MA co-op designation.
- Canadian undergraduate students can complete a maximum of six 4-month work terms (24 months total).
- Canadian graduate students can complete a maximum of four 4-month work terms (16 months total).
Fees
There are no fees in order to access Career Bridge resources. However, a co-op work term is registered as a course and appears on your transcript, and is therefore assessed a course fee. This fee is based on the current tuition schedule which can be found within the academic calendar.
Co-op fees are due on the last day of scheduled classes for each semester. This means you can pay for your co-op as you complete it!
Please check with the Cash Office or your Bridge account for outstanding balances and due dates.
Important Info
If the co-op office acts as the contact for you (e.g. forwards your resume, tells you about the position), that position must be taken as a co-op placement. As a result, you are required to pay the co-op work term fee and complete the co-op assignments by their respective deadlines. This also applies to any subsequent co-op positions offered by the same employer.
The University of Lethbridge does not guarantee employment positions. Successful placement depends upon labour market conditions, mutual cooperation and effort from the student, the University and the employer.