Co-operative Programs General InformationGeneral InformationCo-operative Programs are enrichment programs designed to integrate
related, practical experience with academic studies. All co-op programs
are either Specialist or Major Programs and may be taken only as part
of a four-year degree. Major Co-op Programs must be combined with
another Major program. Academic credits associated with the successful
completion of work-term requirements are additional to the 20.0 normally
required for a degree. For this reason, some co-op programs may take
up to five years to complete.
No student may be enrolled in more than one co-op program and all
co-op students must be registered at U of T Scarborough in order to
maintain their co-op status. For a listing of co-op programs, the
academic supervisors, and the sponsoring academic Department, see
the Guide
to Programs & Courses section of this Calendar.
Admission to Co-op ProgramsIn most cases, students may apply to enter co-op programs either directly from secondary school or after their first year of university studies. Prospective Applicants:For direct admission from secondary school or for students who
wish to transfer to U of T Scarborough from another U of T faculty
or from another post-secondary institution, applicants must indicate
the special code for the program on the Application for Admission
to an Ontario University. See the Admissions
section of this Calendar for deadlines.
Once U of T is notified of the application, applicants are given
information about documents required to support it. Co-op programs
require a Supplementary Application available at the Admissions and
Student Recruitment website: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions
Enrolment in co-op programs is limited. Admission is granted on
the basis of applicants' academic performance and their interest,
experience and potential ability. The Supplementary Application will
indicate what information is required in addition to the academic
record and it may include a statement of interest, information about
volunteer and work experience and extracurricular activities.
In some cases, an interview may be conducted, either in person
or by telephone.
Current U of T Scarborough Students:For the minimum qualifications for consideration for entry into Co-op Programs following First Year, see the individual co-op program entries elsewhere in this Calendar. Application procedures can be found at the Registrar's Office website: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/subjectpost FeesEvery student in a co-op program is required to pay co-op fees as established by the University. The co-op fees relate to the additional costs associated with the administration of work terms and are calculated in accordance with Ministry of Education and University of Toronto policies. However, no tuition fees are charged when registering for the work-term nor are there any additional fees associated with the required non-credit co-op work term preparation course. If a student leaves the program for any reason, co-op fees paid in earlier sessions are not refundable. Program RequirementsCo-op programs require at least eight four-month terms of full-time
study, and the satisfactory completion of two or three four-month
work terms, as specified by the particular program. Work terms are
evaluated by program faculty, the Co-op Office, and the employer,
and a grade of CR (credit)/NCR (no credit) is recorded on the transcript.
The credits earned for successful work term completion are in addition
to the 20.0 credits required for the degree.
To maintain good standing in a co-op program, to be eligible for
a work term, and to receive certification for its completion on graduation,
a student must:
For additional information about any requirements specific to a
particular program, see the program description in this Calendar.
Status in Co-op Programs
Introduction to Co-op Work Term Preparation CourseDuring their first year of enrolment in a co-op program, students will participate in a non-credit co-op work term preparation course designed to prepare them for their work term experience and to maximize the benefits that will be obtained from the associated learning opportunities. The tutorial will cover a variety of topics to help students develop the skills and tools needed to secure work placements appropriate to their program of study, and to perform professionally in the workplace. Satisfactory participation in this preparation course is required before students may go on work terms. No academic credit is given for the course and no fee is charged. For the name of the course appropriate to each program, see the relevant program description. Work TermsWork terms are an integral part of the co-op program curriculum.
Practical work experience in an approved setting is undertaken to
enhance academic studies through the opportunity to apply and develop
concepts and/or skills that are important in the academic programs.
Work term opportunities are arranged by the Co-op Office for the program,
but must be won by students in competition with all applicants for
the position. While on a work term, students remain in contact with
the University, and prepare for the submission of a work-term report
for evaluation by a faculty member. In addition, both the employer
and the coordinator for the program will evaluate the student's performance
on work terms. The work-term report must be submitted no later than
the end of the second week of the study term immediately following
the completion of the work term. Failure to meet this deadline
will result in a grade of NCR (no credit) for the work term. A failed
work term will be recorded on the transcript, and the student will
be removed from the co-op program.
Work terms normally begin in September, January, or May, and students
are normally eligible for a work placement after three or four academic
terms of full-time study, as specified for individual programs. To
be eligible for the first work term, students must be in good standing
in the program (see above, under Program Requirements) and have completed
any other requirements specified by the particular program. To be
eligible for later work terms, students must be in good standing in
the program, have completed any requirements specific to the program,
and have received a grade of CR (credit) on their earlier work term(s).
Course RequirementsFor the courses required, see the Calendar entry for each specific program. |