Last updated: April 11, 2019 @ 11:43AM

Co-operative Programs

Director of Co-op, Career and Experiential Education
Cara Krezek

Associate Director, Co-op Programs
Julia Zhu

Senior Employer Development Managers
Dana Tonus, Alesia Dane, Melissa Beamer

Employer Development Managers
Lori Sather, Ryan Larouche, Jackie Crawford, Sam Abraham, Kristen Richardson

Career Consultants
Andrew Bassingthwaighte, Carolyn Halinda

Administrative Assistants
Kate Balint, Sha Uppal
Mackenzie Chown A336
905 688 5550, x4325
Monday - Friday - 8:30 - 4:30
Email: [email protected]
http://www.brocku.ca/co-op

General Information

The mission of the Co-operative Office at Brock is to bridge learning to practice by cultivating student talent, career development, and individual growth through proactive engagement of industry, academia and community.

To accomplish our mission we:
·   See each student and stakeholder as unique and deliver an individualized, quality experience

Foster employer relationships to identify and support hiring needs;

·   Provide career guidance and coaching through quality and innovative programming:
·   Act as an integral conduit for external partners to engage with Brock;
·   Facilitate quality experiential opportunities.

The Co-op Education Office will:
·   Provide information and assistance to applicants and registered students for all campus co-op programs;
·   Advise students regarding application to co-op programs, co-op specific academic program requirements, employment opportunities and job searches;
·   Provide career guidance and coaching through quality and innovative programming;
·   Foster employer relationships to identify and support hiring needs;
·   Monitor and support employer/student relationships with regard to job quality and student contribution through site visitation and performance evaluation;
·   Provide employment information to Registrar's Office for inclusion on students' academic transcripts.

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

What is a Co-op or Internship?

Co-operative 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.

Brock Co-op Programs are designed to enhance a student's education by helping them acquire career-related work experience. The Co-op Programs Office manages the administration and facilitation of the co-op experience at Brock. Co-op coordinators for each program support students throughout their co-op experience. Through coaching and training, our committed versatile and motivated students, will become valued members of organizations and stand out as leaders both in their work place and their communities.

List of Current Co-op Programs

(Please consult calendar copy for specific course requirements.)

Accounting
(BAcc Honours, 4.5 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
(BA Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Geography
(BA Honours, BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

History
(BA Honours, 4 yrs)

Labour Studies
BA Honours, 4 yrs)

Mathematics
(BSc Honours, 4.5 yrs)

Mathematics - 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)

Public Health
BPH Honours, 4 yrs)

Psychology
(BA Honours, With Major, 5 yrs)

Tourism Management

(BA Honours, 4 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 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 per cent average; some co-op degree programs also require at least one math with a 75 per cent. Applicants may be required to submit a resume for consideration.

Admission from university year 1 with no more than 5.0 credits: 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 (accumulative), as calculated by the Office of the Registrar. Admission is competitive and students must complete the online application form. Interviews may be required based on individual applicant. (Please note that meeting the minimum grade requirement does not guarantee admission to 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 preparation 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

The Co-op Office does not guarantee work term employment. The Co-op Office assists in identifying employment opportunities and working with employers to encourage them to fill their vacancies 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 the success of securing a quality co-op employment opportunity. Each student is responsible for monitoring the job board daily and is expected to follow the Co-op Manual set by the Co-op Education Office.

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

A Co-operative Education course titled Co-op Reflective Learning and Integration, has been designed to allow for a better understanding of the learning components provided through both the co-op career preparation course (0N90) 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. This 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 0N90 Pre-Employment Workshop series for Co-op, and have maintained the required minimum major and non-major averages.

Graduate Requirements
Students in the co-op option must:
1.  Complete 0N90 - Pre-employment workshop series;
2.  Satisfactory completion of a minimum of the three co-op work terms;
3.  Develop and submit learning objectives for each work term;
4.  Obtain satisfactory employer evaluations for each work term;
5.  Submit corresponding Co-op Work term reports to satisfy the requirements for the Integration and Reflective Learning Course.

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 Program are required to read, sign, and adhere to the terms of the Undergraduate Co-op Student Terms and Conditions and Co-op Student Manual (brocku.ca/co-op/current-students/co-op-student-manuals) 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.

Each four-month co-operative 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 term, students are committed to complete all terms. Students may not withdraw from a co-op 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 Manual and Student Regulations Waiver.