Co-op

The co-op stream gives students the ability to gain real-world experience while earning money to pay for university. Any of the English MA degree may be taken in the co-op stream. We invite you to study in the mode that best suits you, regular or co-op.  Admission requirements and the application process can be accessed through the following links on the Programs webpage: English - MA (Literary Studies) (Co-op), English - MA (Experimental Digital Media) (Co-op) and English - MA (Rhetoric and Communication Design) (Co-op). 

Comparing regular and co-op degrees

Co-op and regular programs each have advantages. The chart below describes the main differences between them.

Regular	Co-op
Normally enrol for courses in the Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms	Enrol for your first Fall and Winter term with Spring as your first work term
Complete the MA in three terms	Complete the MA in five terms
No co-op fees	Earn income
No term-by-term adjustments between study and work; no moves between cities and apartments	May enjoy the change of pace and discipline of alternating work and study terms
Focus on achieving your MA	Gain valuable work and life experience as well as useful additions to your resume

Co-op requirements

Students are enrolled for a minimum of five terms, two of which must be work terms. The chart below shows the usual English MA co-op sequence:

Fall	Winter	Spring	Fall	Winter	Spring
Campus	Campus	Work	Work	Campus

Work report guidelines

Graduate students who are not doing two consecutive work terms with the same company are required to submit two work reports of approximately 2000 words each. Students completing two consecutive terms with the same employer are required to submit one extensive work report of approximately 4000 words.

Work reports are due, in the Graduate Coordinator's office, the second Friday of the following term, unless student is in their final term in which case the work reports are due on the last day of that term. 

N.B. A formal or semi-formal report is acceptable in either essay format, or report (technical/business writing) format. Please consult the English Language and Literature Graduate Work Report Guidelines. Students can also consult the work report evaluation form (DOC) by which their work reports will be graded.

In brief, the report should highlight one aspect of your job (positive/negative) demonstrating skills and techniques that you have developed applicable to you as an English Masters Student.

Report topics should focus on discourse or communication issues. They might include but are not limited to:

Typical co-op jobs

Some recent co-op positions include the following: