Co-op

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 Medieval Studiesthrough Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Co-op eligibility

Co-op is only available to students in Honours academic plans.

As an Arts student, in most cases you will be assessed for co-op eligibility when you declare your major.

If you are eligible, you will be admitted to co-op prior to starting your second year Fall term (academic level 2A). Learn more about Arts co-op eligibility and speak with David Porreca or Steven Bednarski or Brigitte Schneebeli if you have any questions.

Co-op sequences

You will have five work term opportunities in your sequence and you need to complete a minimum of four work terms. The sequence you follow is determined by when you start your studies and your academic plan(s). For example, students in Honours Arts and Business follow a different sequence than students in Honours Arts.

Learn more about which sequence you follow as a Medieval Studies major.

If you are requesting a sequence change, please see:

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

Co-op students in Arts must successfully complete four Professional Development (PD) courses. These courses help you increase your employability and assist you with seeing connections between workplace experience and what you learn in the classroom.

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 resources and supports at any point during their time at Waterloo.