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Dec 05, 2025
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Academic Calendar
Co-operative Education in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
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General information
All programs in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH) incorporate experiential learning opportunities allowing students to build valuable work experience prior to graduation. These experiences may involve four-to-16-month co-operative education positions (available in selected programs), four-month internships, and flexible practicum placements of 100 hours within one term. All experiential learning programs include a required course to develop essential employability skills that will help you to navigate professional career paths in the non-profit, community, and corporate sectors, such as application and interview techniques, workplace culture, effective communication, and networking skills. Students in the co-op program who successfully complete at least three work terms will graduate with the Co-operative Education designation on their degree parchments. The FSSH co-op education model has been designed to conform to the Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL). Programs
Co-operative education is one experiential learning option offered in FSSH in selected programs. All undergraduate FSSH students participating in the Co-op program are governed by the FSSH Co-operative Education Policy. Co-op is available in the following Bachelor of Arts (Honours) programs: Admission requirements
Full-time students apply to the co-op program directly from high school and must successfully complete their first year at Ontario Tech University in clear standing. They should meet the following criteria to apply for the Co-operative Education Program: - Have completed first year with a minimum cGPA of 2.7.
- Be returning to full-time studies after completing the co-op work term.
- No hold on their account with the university.
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
Information on the application process and administrative fees are available from the Co-op office. FSSH students must successfully complete three (3) work terms to obtain the Co-op designation on their degree. Students who have not successfully completed three work terms by the end of their program will graduate without the co-op designation. Participation and continuation requirements
Students wishing to participate in the Co-operative Education program must meet the admission requirements outlined above. Once accepted, they will be required to complete and pass SSCI 2200C – Professional Skills (a zero-credit course) in the fall semester of their second year. Students must continue to maintain a minimum cGPA of 2.7 to participate in co-op and complete the second year of study before their first co-op work term. Note that while every effort is made to support students in finding an appropriate placement, students are not guaranteed to have a position for each work term. While on a co-op work term, a student can request to take a maximum of one course. Students must have a minimum cGPA of 2.7 to request to take a course. Approval must be obtained from the co-op employer and the faculty by completing a Co-op Course Approval form. Work term type
To provide students with a variety of work-integrated learning co-op opportunities, a student may complete any of the following work term types, as long as placements can be verified as relevant experience. A work term must be between 12-16 weeks of full-time work (35-40 hours per week) with a total minimum of 420 hours per work term. Note that a co-op placement may consist of several co-op work terms back-to-back. This means that an eight-month work duration would count as two co-op work terms; a 12-month work duration would count as three co-op work terms; and a 16-month work duration would count as four co-op work terms. A work term report is required at the end of each work term. Placements may be in different settings. For example, policy-oriented placements may occur in settings such as governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as private enterprises. Other examples include: industrial placements may include roles with companies like Honda, General Motors and Ontario Power Generation; an entrepreneurial placement, such as through programs offered by Brilliant Catalyst, may allow for ideas and concepts to be developed into marketable business ventures; research placements may support cutting-edge research at Ontario Tech; and international placements may allow students to gain valuable work experience with partners across the globe. Any of the above types of placements could be applicable subject to international, federal and provincial regulations. |
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