Co-operative Education Program

The Co-operative Education Program (Co-op) provides interested and qualified students with paid employment experience relevant to their future careers. The Co-op Program is an optional, year-round program supplementary to regular academic programs. For general program information, see Cooperative Education.

To graduate with a “Co-operative Education Program” designation on the transcript, a student must complete three work placement terms, including placements in Term 1 (September to December) and/or Term 2 (January to April) of a Winter Session. One Co-op term provides the student 3 credits toward their Co-op designation, and two Co-op terms provide 6 credits toward Co-op designation.

In order to provide flexibility to students, the Co-op Program offers students the option to take Co-op courses under the management Co-op MGCO_O code “Management Co-op Program” and/or the general COOP_O code “Co-operative Education”. Students should consult with the Co-op Coordinator about which course codes are most appropriate to their needs. The chosen course code will appear on the transcript.

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 admission 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-op Coordinator 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 term placements. Acceptance into the Co-op Program does not guarantee a work term placement.

Students admitted into the program can register in the appropriate Co-op course for each work term once a suitable work placement is confirmed and upon completion of mandatory pre-employment training, as assessed by the Co-op Coordinator. Pre-employment training includes workshops, assignments and activities.

Additionally, payment of the Co-op Program fee is mandatory. This includes a Co-op Program fee for each work term and a one-time pre-registration workshop fee (see Program and Course Fees).

Each successfully completed co-op course is assigned 3 credits on a student's academic transcript. In order to graduate with 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 (for HMKN students this means completing 120 academic credits AND 9 co-op credits.

BHK students who take less than 3 terms of the co-op option are eligible to enrol in HES_O 401/402 and/or HES_O 490 to complete their experiential learning requirements for the degree.

The Co-op Program typically necessitates an additional four months to one year to complete a bachelor's degree. Faculty Advisors or Co-op 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-operative programs at other institutions may request admission to the Co-op Program and may receive credit for previously completed work placements to a maximum of 6 Co-op course credits (two work terms).