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 Political Science through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
- Learn how co-op works
- Learn if co-op is right for you
- Learn about your roles and responsibilities as a co-op student
Co-op eligibility
Co-op is only available to students in Honours academic plans.
- Honours Political Science students require a minimum 70% major average
- Honours Arts and Business, Honours Political Science 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 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 the Political Science Advising Team 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 Political Science major.
If you are requesting a sequence change, please see:
- Reasons for a sequence change request
- Co-operative Education request for academic/work term sequence change form
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.
Work term reports and Professional Development (PD) courses
Effective Winter 2022, work reports will no longer be required for co-op students in the Faculty of Arts. From Winter 2022 onward, Arts co-op students will instead complete embedded reflections within the required Professional Development (PD) courses.
Fall 2021: This is the last term that work reports will be required. If you are scheduled for a Fall 2021 work term, you are still required to complete a work report (e.g. WKRPT 200, WKRPT 300, WKRPT 400), following the normal submission process. If you are enrolled in PD 12, you will not submit a work report, as you already have an embedded reflection within this PD course.
Winter 2022 and onward: If you are scheduled for any work terms(s) in Winter 2022 and onward, you are not required to complete a separate work report. The WKRPT 200, WKRPT 300, WKRPT 400 courses will no longer be added to your record in Quest.
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.
You can also contact the Political Science Advising Team.