All students in Nanotechnology Engineering at the University of Waterloo participate in the co-operative work/study program. Co-op education combines formal classroom teaching with "on-the-job" experience. Six work terms, consisting of two four-month and two eight-month periods, are required of every student. Five work-term performance evaluations with ratings of "Marginal" or better are required prior to graduation. Nanotechnology Students are placed in Stream 4: Students who are assigned to Stream 4 complete four months of academic study (term 1A) before going into industry for the first work term, starting in January.
Schedules
| Year/Term | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year one | 1A | 1B | Co-op 1 |
| Year two | 2A | Co-op 2 | 2B |
| Year three | Co-op 3 | Co-op 4 | 3A |
| Year four | 3B | Co-op 5 | Co-op 6 |
| Year five | 4A | 4B | n/a |
For a more detailed view into the terms, please see our extended course schedule.
Finding a Job
Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) offers a simple and comprehensive employment process for students and employers. CEE maintains an employment pool, with employers both external and internal to the university, to which students apply via an online job search and application tool known as WaterlooWorks. Details about the application process can be found on the CEE website.
Offered or looking for a job outside WaterlooWorks?
Please see this link for detailed information about the process.
Work Term Reports
Reflection is an integral part of work-integrated learning. To achieve the Work-term Reports and Reflection Milestone, Nanotechnology Engineering students must complete four reflective reports. These reflective reports are to be associated with each work-term, and are to be submitted immediately following the work-term. Alternately, students can clear this requirement with credit in a PD course requiring a reflective report, with the approval of their academic advisor, and if that PD course was taken during the work term. Reflective reports are typically short, structured reports offering the opportunity to reflect on experience obtained in the context of their academic learning or work.
Students are also required to submit one technical communication report by taking PD 11 Processes for Technical Report Writing as one of their PD electives.
Professional Development for Engineers (PD)
All Engineering students are required to complete a set of five Professional Development (PD) courses (two core and three electives) during work terms. These courses focus upon the development of professional communication and project management skills and are intended to help students advance their careers and adapt to the work-place world. Additional information about these PD courses may be found at: www.watpd.uwaterloo.ca.