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PD1: Career Fundamentals gives students the tools they need to find their first job, develop core career skills, and succeed in the workplace. The version of the course taken by co-op students introduces them to the processes and technology underpinning the University's co-op program.
What do PD1 students do?
- Develop their résumés through feedback and in-person critiques
- Refine their interview skills during the application process by signing up for mock interviews and practicing responses through course assessments
- Reflect on their existing skills and values and articulate those skills to potential employers
If you've completed PD1 (or PD1 EDGE) and want to feature the course on your résumé, you're welcome to use and adapt the following bullet points in a "Professional Development" or "Relevant Courses" section:
- Applied Ontario Ministry of Labour Health and Safety protocols to a workplace scenario about on-the-job safety
- Developed awareness of Ontario Human Rights Commission policies and processes
- Reflected on current and past club/sport/project/volunteer/work experience and wrote a résumé tailored to potential employers
How are PD1 students graded?
PD1 students complete a series of exercises and assignments in addition to submitting their résumé. To pass the course, students need to earn a grade of 75% or higher on their résumé and an average grade of 75% or higher on their non-résumé assessments.
If you have a question about grading in PD1, contact the course team using the information in the sidebar.
Other information
There's more than one version of PD1. Students in undergraduate co-op, specialized, and certificate programs complete slightly different versions of the course. If you want to learn more about these alternative versions of PD1, consult the table below:
| Course code | Students affected | Enrolment details | Key differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD1 | Students completing non-Engineering co-op programs |
Students in non-Engineering co-op programs are auto-enrolled into PD1 and complete the course during the academic term immediately prior to their first work term. PD1 is a required course for all non-Engineering students in co-op programs. |
PD1 is designed for undergraduates in co-op programs, so portions of the course focus on the co-op process and WaterlooWorks. While PD1 EDGE and PD1 share a common foundation, some content and assessments have been changed to meet the needs of students in co-op programs. |
| PD1 EDGE | Students completing the EDGE certificate program |
EDGE students can complete their Career Development Course milestone by taking PD1 EDGE or an academic course listed as an equivalency. They can take the course at any point during their undergraduate career. PD1 EDGE is also open to students who aren't enrolled in EDGE. All students in traditional programs are welcome to take the course and develop fundamental career skills, even if they're not ready to opt into EDGE. |
PD1 EDGE is designed for undergraduates in traditional (non-co-op) programs, so the portions of PD1 focused on the co-op process and WaterlooWorks have been removed. While PD1 EDGE and PD1 share a common foundation, some content and assessments have been changed to meet the needs of students in traditional programs. |
| PDARCH 2 | 2A Architecture students | This is the second of five PD courses taken by Architecture students. It's the first of two courses they take that's administered by WatPD. Students take PDARCH2 during the academic term prior to their first work term. |
PDARCH 2 uses the same assessment deadlines as PD1, including the résumé final deadline. Students are encouraged to include a link to their portfolio on the first page of their résumé. There are some minor differences between select quizzes in PDARCH 2 and PD1. |
| PDPHRM 1 | 2A Pharmacy students | This is the first of five PD courses taken by Pharmacy students. It's the only course they take that's administered by WatPD. |
Assessment deadlines during the first half of PDPHRM 1 are scheduled one week earlier than comparable deadlines in PD1. The courses use the same assessment deadlines during the second half of the course. There are some minor differences between select quizzes in PDPHRM 1 and PD1. |