Co-operative Education

Co-operative Education is an optional academic (non-credit) program for students in the Faculties of Arts and Science, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, and the Dhillon School of Business.

Dual Admission students are also eligible to participate in Co-operative Education prior to or after activation of their enrolment at the University of Lethbridge.

Co-operative Education is a nationally recognized form of Work-Integrated Learning that combines professional experience with academic studies to enrich the students academic, intellectual, personal, and professional development. The program works to create a partnership between students, the University, and the employer, bridging academic theory with professional development and practical application. The co-op experience allows students to alternate academic terms of study with remunerated work terms in a professional workplace.

Benefits of Co-operative Education:

Allows students to experience real-world application of their discipline (connecting theory to practice);

Allows students to explore, build and translate technical and work-ready competencies;

Introduces students to employment possibilities in the workplace;

Develops valuable research skills for future work experience or graduate school;

Encourages proactive job search skills and professional development;

Provides students with challenging and relevant remunerated work experience;

Assists students in making informed career decisions;

Provides the opportunity for students to build valuable contacts with employers; and

Assists students in the transition from University to the workplace.

Students must acknowledge, accept, and abide by the requirements and regulations as outlined in the Academic Calendar and the co-op student agreement.

a.Eligibility for Participation

Students seeking to participate in a co-op program are encouraged to contact the Career Bridge office as early as possible in their academic programs. It is recommended that students complete a minimum of 10 courses (30.0 credit hours) prior to their first co-op work term.

1.Criteria for Eligibility

a.Academic Standing

Dhillon School of Business

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 (on the University of Lethbridge 4.00 scale).

Faculties of Arts and Science, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (2.30 for Science students) (on the University of Lethbridge 4.00 scale).

Note: Students who do not meet the above GPA requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis and are encouraged to contact the Career Bridge office.

b.Co-op application (www.ulethbridge.ca/career-bridge).

c.Successful completion of the Co-op admissions requirements, and pre-employment preparation training are required prior to the first work term.

2.Dual Admission Applicants

Students participating in Dual Admission are eligible to apply for a co-op program while attending a partner institution and prior to or after activation of their enrolment at the University of Lethbridge. These individuals are encouraged to contact the Career Bridge office at least six months in advance of their intended co-op term. Dually admitted students must meet the criteria for admission for their intended University of Lethbridge program to be eligible to participate in a co-op program.

3.Transfer of Co-op Terms

For the purpose of fulfilling the Co-operative Education designation requirement of three co-op work terms, a maximum of one co-op work term from another institution with formal Co-operative Education programs shall be eligible for recognition toward the requirement. To be eligible for recognition, the co-op work term shall be subject to special assessment by the Career Bridge office. An approved co-op work term must be registered as a non-academic course on the student’s transcript from the sending institution and must have received either a passing letter grade or ‘Pass’.

b.Requirements

Students may complete between one and six co-op work terms in one or more placements. Co-op work terms are normally four months in length (minimum 420 hours per term) and can begin in January, May, or September. Students are required to complete pre-employment preparation training prior to the first work term.

Students are required to complete the Co-op Admission requirements, a personal intake interview and pre-employment preparation training prior to the first work term.

Co-op work term Internships are also available and are 12-16 months in duration at a single workplace.

Co-op work terms are assigned the following course names and numbers:

Dhillon School of Business

Management 3002 - Co-op Work Experience I

Management 3003 - Co-op Work Experience II

Management 3004 - Co-op Work Experience III

Management 3005 - Co-op Work Experience IV

Management 3008 - Co-op Work Experience V

Management 3009 - Co-op Work Experience VI

Faculty of Arts and Science

Arts and Science 3011 - Co-op Work Experience I

Arts and Science 3012 - Co-op Work Experience II

Arts and Science 3013 - Co-op Work Experience III

Arts and Science 3014 - Co-op Work Experience IV

Arts and Science 3015 - Co-op Work Experience V

Arts and Science 3016 - Co-op Work Experience VI

Faculty of Fine Arts

Fine Arts 3001 - Co-op Work Experience I

Fine Arts 3002 - Co-op Work Experience II

Fine Arts 3003 - Co-op Work Experience III

Fine Arts 3004 - Co-op Work Experience IV

Fine Arts 3005 - Co-op Work Experience V

Fine Arts 3006 - Co-op Work Experience VI

Faculty of Health Sciences

Health Sciences 3331 - Co-op Work Placement I

Health Sciences 3332 - Co-op Work Placement II

Health Sciences 3333 - Co-op Work Placement III

Health Sciences 3334 - Co-op Work Placement IV

Health Sciences 3335 - Co-op Work Placement V

Health Sciences 3336 - Co-op Work Placement VI

c.Registration and Grading

Students may complete co-op work terms from more than one Faculty/School; each successive work term is registered sequentially. Students may opt to complete a maximum of six co-op work terms.

Note: International students require a co-op work permit to participate in a Co-operative Education program. International students may complete three co-op work terms; no more and no less. See www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/intern.html for specific details. For more information, contact the International Centre (SU060; 403-329-2053; international@uleth.ca) or the Career Bridge office (AH151; 403-329-2000; coop@uleth.ca).

Students must be registered for the entire duration of the work term(s) applied for through the co-op program, including extensions. Once registered, students are not permitted to withdraw from the work term without penalty of failure (‘F’). A grade of ‘F’ will be entered on the academic transcript for the term(s) unless extenuating circumstances warrant granting of a Withdrawal with Cause (‘WC’), in accordance with University of Lethbridge policy (see Academic Regulations). Where approval is granted by the Co-op program and the appropriate Faculty/School Dean, a ‘WC’ will be entered on the academic transcript. Tuition fees will be assessed as per the University’s policy. Students should contact a co-op coordinator for assistance with the procedure.

d.Co-operative Education Designation

To receive the Co-operative Education designation upon conferral of their degree, students must have successfully completed a minimum of three co-op work terms in addition to their degree program requirements.

Students in eligible combined degree programs will receive the Co-operative Education designation on both degrees if they complete at least two co-op work terms from each Faculty/School. In the case where a student completes only three co-op work terms, the designation will apply to the degree where the majority of co-op terms is completed.