Co-operative Programs

Director

Cindy Dunne

Associate Director

Gloria Didiodato

Senior Relationship Managers

Cara Boese, Dana Tonus, Julia Zhu

Relationship Managers

Amanda Etherington, John-Paul Goldsworthy, Alejandra Wichartz, Julia Zhu

Career Consultants

Alesia Dane, John Paul Goldsworthy, TBA

General Information

Administrative Assistants

Heather Azar

Paul Gadd

Mackenzie Chown A336

905-688-5550, extension 4325

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:30

e-mail:co-op@brocku.ca

brocku.ca/co-op

The Co-op Programs Office at Brock provides information and assistance to applicants and registered students for all campus co-op and internship programs, and will:

	advise students regarding application to co-op programs, academic program requirements, job placements, and job searches
	recruit employers for co-op and internship placements
	maintain computerized online job banks for co-op and internship postings
	facilitate the recruitment process from employer job posting through co-op employer offer to hire
	prepare students for successful placement experiences with pre-employment workshops
	introduce students and employer through co-op job postings and on-campus interview assistance;
	monitor and support employer/student placements with regards to placement quality and student contribution through a work site visitation and performance evaluation
	support student recruitment to co-op and internships programs and evaluate student applications for admission decisions
	provide placement information to the Registrar's Office for inclusion on students' academic transcripts

Students who are interested in applying to a co-op or internship program are encouraged to contact the Co-operative Programs Office for information.

What is a Co-op or Internship?

Co-op education combines traditional undergraduate academic programming and relevant work experience in alternating terms. The work term experiences are designed to prepare students for their transition from university to the professional community. The 4 and 5 year programs enable students to acquire experience in their areas of career interest. The practical experiences and academic studies complement one another. The Co-op Programs Office manages the administration and facilitation of the co-op experience at Brock. Relationship Managers for each program support students throughout their co-op experience.

Brock University co-op programs have clear advantages, particularly the limited class sizes that ensure appropriate time is allocated to each individual student. Students can explore career possibilities; discover/confirm their interests and the type of work environment that best suits them, helping them make informed decisions about their career options. Co-op graduates have the highest rates of employment after graduation. Many employers use co-op programs as a way to identify and recruit their future permanent workforce.

List of Current Co-op Programs

(Please consult calendar copy for specific course requirements.)

Accounting

(BAcc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Applied Linguistics/Teaching English as a Subsequent Language

(BA Honours, 4 yrs)

Biochemistry

(BSc Honours, 5 yrs)

Biotechnology

(BSc Honours, 5 yrs)

Business Administration

(BBA Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Business Economics

(BBE Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Chemistry

(BSc Honours, 5 yrs)

Computer Science

(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Computing and Business

(BCB Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Computing and Network Communications

(BSc Honours, 4.5 years)

Computing and Solid-State Device Technology

(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Dramatic Arts

(BA Honours, 4 yrs)

Earth Sciences

(BSc Honours, 5 yrs)

Earth Sciences - Environmental Geoscience

(BSc Honours, 5 yrs)

Economics -Applied Economic Analysis

(BA Honours, 5.5 yrs)

Economics

(BA Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Geography

(BA Honours, BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

History

(BA Honours, 4 yrs)

Liberal Arts

(BA Honours, 4 yrs)

Mathematics Integrates with Computers and Applications

(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Mathematics Integrated with Computers and Applications with a Concentration in Statistics

(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Mathematics and Computer Science

(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Neuroscience

(BSc Honours, 5 yrs)

Oenology and Viticulture

(BSc Honours, 4 yrs)

Physics

(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Political Science

(BA Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Political Science - Public Administration

(BA Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Psychology

(BA Honours, With Major, 5 yrs)

Admission to Co-operative Programs

Admission to the co-op option at Brock University takes place in the final year of high school, and a limited number of students are also considered at the end of the fall term of their first year of university study for admission the following September.

Admission from secondary school (Ontario Grade 4U/M): Students applying to the co-op option normally require a minimum 80 percent average; some co-op degree programs also require at least one math with a 75 percent. Applicants may be required to submit a resume for consideration.

Admission from university year 1 or 2: Students are eligible to apply for admission to the co-op option with a minimum 70 per cent major average and a minimum non-major average of 60 per cent, as calculated by the Registrar's Office. Admission is competitive, and students must submit a resume and attend a personal interview. Final decisions for admission are based on the results of the interview. (Please note that meeting the minimum grade requirement does not guarantee a spot in Co-op).

Co-op Administration Fee

In addition to academic tuition, students are assessed administrative fees for the Co-op Program. Universities offering co-op programs incur significant costs related directly to operating the program which is not covered by government operating grants. The government Ministry has established guidelines for setting co-op fees to allow universities to recover the cost from program participants. Brock follows Ministry guidelines, and as will other Universities, sets fees to distribute cost recovery through installments over the duration of the program. It is important to understand that the administrative fee is not a replacement fee, but rather relates to all the non-academic costs of operating co-op programs. Please consult Student Accounts Financial Information regarding the amortization of Co-op fees. Co-op fees are subject to change/increase each year. Fees incurred are non-refundable.

Pre-employment Training

Students registered in Co-op are required to register for and complete a co-op pre-employment training and development course (ON90) comprising of lectures, presentations and industry specific information for two hours each week prior to the first co-op work term. Attendance is mandatory and will be taken each week.

Work Study Sequence

The work study sequence optimizes the quality of the work experience, by providing an opportunity to work during each cycle or season of a business. The alternating terms also ensure academic course requirements are met on a timely basis.

Employment of Co-op Students

Employment of Co-op Students

The Co-op office does not guarantee work term employment. The Co-op Office assists in identifying vacant employment opportunities and working with employers to encourage them to fill their vacations with Brock Co-op students. Ultimately it is students' academic and professional performance, skills and attitude that determine whether they are offered a co-op assignment. Student engagement is critical to ensure Co-op success. Each student is responsible for monitoring the job board daily and is expected to follow instructions and advice provided by Co-op professionals.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals

In certain cases, students may choose to withdraw from the co-op option and complete their degree requirements through the regular program. The University can withdraw a student involuntarily from the co-op option if the student has not completed the pre-employment workshop series, the three required work terms with satisfactory evaluations, or if the student has not met the required academic performance. Involuntary withdrawals are noted on the student's academic transcript.

Integration and Reflective Learning

Integration and Reflective Learning

A Co-operative Education course titled "Co-op Work Term; Integration and Reflective Learning", has been designed to allow for a better understanding of the learning components provided through both the Co-op career preparation course (ON90) and through challenging, structured, experiential opportunities. In addition to the experiential component of the co-op experience, students will be required to complete a number of reflective learning assignments which will include: developing and submitting learning objectives; preparing for and actively participating in a site visit with a Co-op Representative; preparing a comprehensive work term report; reviewing/discussing the work term performance evaluation with employers; and ensuring that the work term report is submitted to the Co-op Office. The addition of the new course structure will allow students to acquire 0.5 additive credits for these Co-op specific activities. The additive credits cannot be used to replace course work that is required for an academic degree.

Participation in the work and reflective learning components of the program is mandatory and available to students who have been admitted to the Co-op Program, have successfully completed the ON90 Pre-Employment Workshop series for Co-op, and have maintained the required grade point average for their respective major and minor subjects.

Graduate Requirements

Students in the co-op option must:

In addition, any/all Co-op fees must be paid in full before being given the final approval for graduation.

All students in the Co-operative Education Program are required to read, sign, and adhere to the terms of the Student Regulations Waiver and Co-op Student Handbook as articulated by the Co-op Programs Office. In addition, eligibility to continue in the co-op option is based on the student's major average and non-major average, and the ability to demonstrate the motivation and potential to pursue a professional career. brocku.ca/co-op/current-students/co-op-student-handbooks

Each four-month co-operative education work term must be registered. Once students are registered in a co-op work term, they are expected to fulfill their commitment. If the placement accepted is for more than one four-month work term, students are committed to complete all terms. Students may not withdraw from a co-op work term or terminate a work term without permission from the Director, Co-op Program Office.

It is the responsibility of all co-op students to adhere to co-op program procedures and regulations which are outlined in the Co-op Student Handbook and Student Regulations Waiver.