Success starts at Waterloo
As home to Canada's largest faculty of environment and the world's leading co-op program, Waterloo is the only place where you can test drive up to five careers before you graduate.
With a 100% co-op success rate, you’ll gain 16 months of real-world experience in roles like ESG analysis, climate risk reporting and sustainable investing. Students earn an average of $16,000 per work-term, with some making as much as $31,200. Your cross-disciplinary expertise will prepare you for careers in sustainability-focused roles as well as traditional accounting and finance positions at Big Four firms and leading organizations.
"SFM uniquely equips me to connect issues in sustainability, accounting, and finance. In my 200+ member co-op team at a leading firm, only 5 people had this background, three of them in SFM." - Harrison (he/him), SFM student
Co-op work-study sequence
Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
| Year: | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Third | Co-op | Study | Study |
| Fourth | Study | Co-op | Co-op |
| Fifth | Study | - | - |
Your first work term will be halfway through your second year (January to April 2028).
"The co-op team was right there, providing the exact support I needed, which helped me believe that not only were my dreams achievable, but that I was also capable of pursuing even bigger aspirations." - Rachael (she/they), SFM student
Kickstart your credentials. Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) is a direct route to a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Grow your own green business. Take a course in green entrepreneurship or drop by Entrepreneurship at Environment to work on your business plan with experienced advisors.
Questions:
Available as a co-op program?
Co-op only
Available as a regular program?
No
Available as a minor?
No
"SFM prepared me well for my co-op in Sustainability Reporting & Assurance at a Big Four firm. I've gained important soft skills and knowledge to create a solid base to flourish in the workplace!" - Michelle (she/her), SFM student
