The first of its kind in Canada, our PhD co-op option enables students to combine their academic studies with practical work experience in positions related to their professional interests.
Degree requirements
Students in the co-op option are required to complete the regular degree requirements for the PhD Political Science program, as well as the PhD Experiential Seminar, 12 months of placement, and the Graduate Studies Work Report.
Application
Students registered full-time in the PhD in Political Science program can apply through the Graduate Programs Coordintor to transfer into the PhD in Political Science Co-operative Program after completing at least one academic term. Admission will be decided based on the student’s progress to date, and is subject to approval by the Department Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.
Work-term placement(s)
Students will usually seek placement(s) in their third or fourth year of study, after the completion of their courswork and comprehenesive exams. In order to satisfy the requirements for the co-op option, 12 months of placement must be completed. Students may choose to work with a single employer for the duration of their work-term, or may choose/become matched with four or eight month work-terms to accumulate 12 months of experience.
Graduate Studies Work Report
Students must complete and submit 15-20 page (double-spaced) work-term report within one month of the completion of the work-term(s). Only one work-term report is required, if the student has multiple placements, a work-term report will be submitted after the final placement.
Resources
For more information, please familiarize yourself with the following campus partner websites: