Co-operative Education Program

The Co-operative Education (Co-op) program provides interested and qualified students in the B.M.S. program with paid employment experience relevant to their future careers. The Co-operative Education program is an optional, year-round program, supplementary to academic programs in the Faculty. For general program information, see Co-operative Education. To graduate with a Co-operative Education Program designation on the transcript, a student must complete three work placement terms, including placements in one of Term1 (September to December) and/or Term 2 (January to April) of a Winter Session.

Students wishing to enrol in the Co-op program typically apply in the Winter Session, Term 1 of their third year, however, other entry points may be possible if requested and will be evaluated on a case by case basis. For admittance into the Co-operative Education program, students must have completed all their program requirements to date while maintaining an overall GPA of 70%. Academic performance and suitability for the work environment, as assessed by the Co-operative Education office during the student intake process, will also be part of the selection criteria used for program admission. Total enrolment is subject to the availability of appropriate work placements. Acceptance into the Co-op program does not guarantee a work term placement.

Students admitted into the Co-op program will be registered in the appropriate Co-operative Education course for each work term, once a suitable work placement is confirmed and upon completion of mandatory pre-employment training. Pre-employment training includes workshops, assignments and activities.

Additionally, payment of the Co-operative Education program fees is mandatory. The fees include a Co-operative Education program fee for each work term and a one-time Co-operative Education program workshop fee (see Program and Course Fees).

Each successfully completed Co-operative Education course is assigned 3 Co-op credits on a student's academic transcript. In order to graduate in a Co-operative Education program designation, a student must complete a minimum of 9 Co-op credits (three work terms), in addition to the normal academic requirements of the Faculty.

The Co-operative Education program typically necessitates an additional 4 months to one year to complete a bachelor's degree. Faculty advisors or Co-operative Education coordinators visit students at their places of work and provide advice on the work term reports that are a requirement of the program. Students transferring to UBC from accredited co-op programs at other institutions may request admission to the Co-op program and may receive credit for previously completed work placement, to a maximum of 6 Co-op course credits (two work terms).