At Waterloo, co-op students alternate study terms with co-op work terms and graduate with relevant, paid work experience. This means learning how to navigate the hiring process, applying your skills to real-life problems and learning about yourself along the way.
In Arts, co-op is available in Economics through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
- The benefits of co-op
- How co-op works
- Is co-op right for you?
- Your roles and responsibilities as a co-op student
Co-op eligibility
Co-op is only available to students in Honours academic plans.
- Honours Economics students require a minimum 70% major average.
- Honours Arts and Business, Honours Economics students require a minimum 70% major average and a minimum 70% average in their Honours Arts and Business courses.
As an Arts student, in most cases, you will be assessed for co-op eligibility when you declare your major. If you are unable to declare co-op during this time, you can still be admitted if you meet all other eligibility requirements.
If you are eligible, you will be admitted to co-op prior to starting your second year Fall term (academic level 2A). Speak with an Economics advisor if you have any questions.
Economics Co-op sequence
Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
The study/co-op sequence is the same whether you study Economics through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Third | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fourth | Study | Co-op | Co-op |
| Fifth | Study | Study | - |
Your first work term will be halfway through the second year (January to April).
Sequence Changes
The sequence above was created to ensure that you can meet all of your academic requirements and your co-op requirements on time. The sequence is also used to plan and schedule required courses. Changing your sequence could affect your ability to continue to take Economics major required courses. Please read our sequence change policy before requesting a sequence change from an advisor.
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.
Professional Development (PD) courses
PD courses are also required to gain the co-op designation on your degree.
Co-op supports
As a co-op student, you will have a team of support. Learn how to connect with your team.
All students (co-op and regular streams) have access to Centre for Career Development (CCD) resources and supports at any point during their time at Waterloo.
You can also reach out to an Economics academic advisor if you have questions about your co-op plan.
Co-op student jobs
Here are a few examples of co-op jobs Economics co-op students have had:
- Integrated Business Team Member
- Research Analyst
- Operations Program Manager
- Junior QA Analyst
- Finance Team Member
- Business Analyst
Examples of employers Economics co-op students have been employed with include:
- Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Finance
- Microsoft Canada
- The Globe and Mail
- Bell Canada
- Manulife Financial
Co-op student experiences
"The UWaterloo co-op program, and the Professional Development courses associated with it, have given me a fantastic platform from which I can initiate my career in the reinsurance industry. The resources offered, such as resume critiques and mock interviews, have given me the necessary foundation to succeed in applications. The Professional Development courses ready you for any scenario you may come across in the work place. From the invaluable experiences I have received in the co-op program at the UWaterloo I plan to graduate with a job in my chosen field." - Daniel Pell - former student in Honours Economics, Co-op
Arts Co-op Blog
Hear about co-op experiences directly from other students. Check out the co-op blogs from fellow Arts students.