Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts uniquely offers direct entry into a Bachelor of Arts with optional co-op, providing hands-on learning and career opportunities from day one.
What is co-op?
Co-operative education is a form of work-integrated learning which at Waterloo involves alternating hands-on paid work experience with industry partners and full-time study terms. Students in our co-op programs are offered professional development courses, career preparation, and job search support, creating the conditions for students to be successful in co-op. As students' progress in co-op, the effort of continuous self-reflection, and refinement and articulation of workplace skills prepares students for future career choices and transitions, which will be critical to navigating the future of work.
How it works
Co-op at UW is facilitated by Co-operative & Experiential Education. In Arts, you alternate study and work terms beginning in second- year. Prior to each work term you will be searching for employment through various pathways, including WaterlooWorks co-op job postings, external job boards and/or arranging your own co-op employment.
What's best for me: regular or co-op?
Academically, the programs are identical for regular and co-op. You will learn from the same professors, take the same required courses, and learn with the same group of students in your program. The difference comes down to what you want to do outside of the standard school terms.
Key aspects of co-op:
- gain as much as 20 months’ paid work experience
- apply skills and classroom theory to real-world job situations
- build career contacts and connections
- earn money help offset the cost of education
- explore different industries, organizations, geographic locations and positions
- spend considerable effort during study terms securing a co-op job
- spend summers working or studying, after first year
- maintain full-time course load (minimum 3 courses) in each study term of your degree
- complete your degree in five years
Key aspects of regular:
- provides a predictable rhythm in studies and social life and may make it easier to manage living arrangements term to term
- plan your own summer. Find employment, travel, or work on your own projects
- graduate sooner, and move on to whatever comes next: the workforce, graduate studies, teacher's college, or professional schools
- the EDGE experiential education certificate is available to students in the regular stream of study
What jobs are available to Arts students?
While being a co-op student is challenging, many of our co-op students are grateful for the opportunities they gathered. Explore typical Arts co-op jobs and blog posts from fellow Arts students.
Co-op sequences
Your co-op degree sequence contains five potential co-op terms. The sequence you follow is determined by when you start your studies, your program, and your major. If you’re unsure of which sequence to follow, or if you started your studies earlier than Fall 2020, please consult with your academic advisor.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term | F | W | S | F | W | S | F | W | S | F | W | S | F | W |
| Honours Arts and Business, Honours Arts (Econ, English and Fine Arts majors only) | ST | ST | OFF | ST | WK | ST | WK | ST | WK | ST | WK | WK | ST | ST |
| Honours Arts Co-op (all majors except Econ, English and Fine Arts) | ST | ST | OFF | ST | ST | WK | ST | WK | ST | WK | ST | WK | WK | ST |
- F = Fall term, September - December
- W = Winter term, January - April
- S = Spring term, May - August
- ST= Study
- WK = work
Co-op fees
Co-op at Waterloo is predominantly funded by a student-paid co-op fee. Similar to tuition, this fee is associated with being enrolled in a co-op program and is paid in instalments throughout your time at Waterloo. To learn more about these fees and what they cover, visit the Co-operative Education’s fee page.
Supports
As a co-op student, you have a co-op advisor dedicated to supporting you throughout your degree, plus a team of career advisors for job search and employment coaching. Connecting with advisors early and often throughout your co-op degree can really aid in your success. Learn how to connect with your team
Navigating the co-op process on top of schoolwork and other life demands can be challenging. We are here to further support co-op students with wellness counselling and resources.