Overview
As per the MDSAI (Co-op) Academic Calendar, students in the MDSAI full-time co-op program must complete one work term, which is expected to take place in their third term. They are then expected to return to campus for a final study term. Any exceptions to this standard sequence requires additional approval. Students may also apply for a one-term (4 month) extension of their work term with the same employer. To complete the work report, students must have had a work placement and receive at least a satisfactory evaluation for their co-operative education term.
Guidelines
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Students are required to participate in mandatory co-op workshops. It is highly recommended that you attend the live sessions for the most benefit. However, if attendance is not possible, instructions to complete the workshops online will be provided afterwards.
| Workshop Title | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Co-op Documents (Resumes, cover letters) Workshop | September 27, 2023 | 1:30-3:00 PM |
| Interviews Workshop | October 4, 2023 | 1:30-3:00 PM |
| Co-op Education process & strategy Workshop | October 18, 2023 | 1:30-3:00 PM |
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The standard sequence for MDSAI (co-op) students is below. In extenuating circumstances, a student may request to change this sequence by emailing a completed co-op sequence change form to the Program Administrator before the student's recruitment term (normally in the student's first Fall term). Please note that a request to end on a co-op work term is normally not allowed but a student may complete a petition for exception to academic regulations to make their case.
- Term 1 (Study) - Fall (September to December)
- Term 2 (Study) - Winter (January to April)
- Term 3 (Co-op) - Spring (May to August)
- Term 4 (Study) - Fall (September to December)
- Students may request a one-term (4 month) extension of their work term with the same employer for a total of 8 months. A request should be made to the Program Director and copy the Program Administrator using the request for academic/work term sequence change form. Students may not extend their work term with different employers, nor may they add on additional co-op terms.
- Students may also apply directly for 8-month co-op jobs with the same employer. If a student plans to accept an 8-month job offer, the same extension request should be made to the Program Director and copy the Program Administrator using the request for academic/work term sequence change form.
- Students will find co-op opportunities on WaterlooWorks (access is provided the term before your co-op term).
- Students who are unable to find a co-op job may request to transfer to the regular (non co-op) stream MDSAI program. This request must be made through the Program Administrator by completing and submitting a Graduate Program/Plan Change form.
Arrange Your Own Co-op Job
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There are lots of different ways to find a co-op job! You can apply for jobs on the WaterlooWorks Co-op job board and also search for opportunities outside this portal at any time during the co-op employment process. This is what is called "arranging your own job" (AOJ).
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Just like when searching for jobs on WaterlooWorks, there are certain guidelines that you must follow in order to receive co-op credit. To be eligible for credit, all AOJs are assessed on a case-by-case basis that must be related to data science.
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If you receive an offer from an employer outside WaterlooWorks and you think the job meets our requirements, follow the steps below to arrange your own job for co-op credit.
Work Report
- Students must complete and submit a MDSAI Co-op work report form (.docx) through the Work Report Dropbox within 1 month after completion of one work term (or an extended 8-month work term with the same employer) on an approved job OR 2 months prior to completing their degree requirements (whichever is sooner). Therefore, if a student has been approved to end on a co-op term, they must submit their work report 2 months before the last day of final exams.
- Your co-op work report should not include any material that is deemed confidential by your employer. It does not have to discuss original research or relate to a new technical discovery. You can do one of the following:
- Choose a topic, discuss the underlying problem encountered on your co-op term, your approach to solving the problem, and the progress you made in solving it. You should identify an analytic component, compare and evaluate several methods or techniques. You can discuss advantages and disadvantages of different approaches in the report.
- Reflect on specific ways that your co-op working experience has helped you in becoming a better data scientist. What new understanding about which specific aspects of the data science have you gained through your work experience? How has the work experience changed your views on data science? How has the work experience changed your assessment of your skills to work in the data science industry? What are some skills that you need to improve most and why? Connect your reflection to specific experiences and events encountered on your co-op term.
- In addition, in concrete terms, describe how the courses you have taken so far in the MDSAI program at the University of Waterloo relate to your work. The topic and reflection should be based on your co-op job experience.
- A report is unacceptable if it is simply a users’ guide or other documentation, or if you simply summarize your work term tasks. Your report should contain conclusions, which summarize key points derived from the work experience. As a guideline, your report should be around 10 pages (15 max).