Institute for Co‑operative Education
Work-Integrated Learning Programs
The Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Philosophy
Advantages of Co‑operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning
Admission to the Institute for Co-operative Education
Institute for Co-operative Education Fee
Institute for Co-operative Education Performance Requirements
Accelerated Career Experience Option
Personnel
Director, Experiential Learning and Co-operative Education
Manager
Location
Work-Integrated Learning Programs
The University, through the Institute for Co‑operative Education, offers a variety of structured co-operative education and work‑integrated learning offerings in a number of departments across all faculties.
The Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Philosophy
Co-operative education and work-integrated learning are structured educational strategies that integrate academic studies with learning through program-relevant work experiences. They provide experiential learning experiences integrating theory and practice, giving students the opportunity to transfer knowledge and skills between work and classroom settings.
Advantages of Co‑operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning
Integrating theory and practice in a structured and purposeful manner allows students to come to terms with the realities of professional practice in a way that allows for the development of self‑confidence, self‑reliance, and self‑motivation. Co‑operative education and work-integrated learning provide opportunities to gain practical experience in a chosen field. With the help of the Institute for Co‑operative Education, students enhance their technical knowledge, soft skills, and interpersonal skills through practical experience and through participation in professional development sessions, workshops, and other activities.
The collaboration between employers, staff, and faculty is mutually beneficial, providing an opportunity for employers to contribute to, and influence, the educational process, and for the faculty to become aware of the latest developments in industry. In some cases, joint industry‑university research projects result.
Admission to the Institute for Co-operative Education
Admission to the Institute for Co-operative Education is selective, primarily based on academic performance, and may include prerequisites as well as other factors such as extracurricular activities, communication skills, motivation, personality, and drive. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada. International students are required to obtain a Canadian Work Permit.
Students applying to join the Institute for Co-operative Education should complete the appropriate section on the University Admission form. Please refer to concordia.ca/academics/co-op for program, application, and admission details.
The final decision to accept or reject an applicant rests with the Institute for Co‑operative Education.
Institute for Co-operative Education Fee
Students should note that a fee exists to cover in part the administrative costs particular to membership at the Institute for Co-operative Education. For specific deadlines, visit concordia.ca/students/financial/tuition-fees/deadlines.
Institute for Co-operative Education Performance Requirements
Students who undertake their studies as members of the Institute for Co-operative Education, enroll as regular undergraduates and are subject to their program’s academic regulations. Higher performance standards are often required to continue as members of the Institute for Co-operative Education.
Students registered in a co‑op program are required to remain full-time and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. A faculty or department may require a higher GPA and may have additional requirements to continue in the co‑op program.
Students are advised to consult with the Institute Academic Director of their program for the specific requirements of their program or if they wish to apply to an Institute for Co-operative Education offering after their initial admission to Concordia.
The work term evaluation consists of two components:
- student work term performance as evaluated by the Manager of the Institute for Co‑operative Education or delegate, with input from the employer;
- the work term report or presentation evaluated by faculty, the Manager of the Institute for Co‑operative Education or delegate.
Each component is evaluated separately. Students must successfully complete all required components to pass the work term which is marked on a pass/fail basis.
A failing grade for the work term or failure to meet the Institute academic requirements will normally result in the dismissal of the student from the Institute for Co‑operative Education.
A student may be exempted from any work term requirements if he or she submits medical and/or other evidence to support such exemption to the Manager of the Institute for Co‑operative Education.
Work Term
Co‑operative education at Concordia is not to be construed as a placement operation or an inexpensive labour apprenticeship.
The work term is an essential part of the student’s learning experience and there is to be equitable remuneration paid for work performed. A co‑op coordinator or participating faculty member visits the students at their place of work to evaluate the work performance, gauge the learning opportunities, assess the compatibility of student and employer and, if necessary, takes corrective action. The procedures for matching students with employers are managed by the Institute for Co‑operative Education.
Students must be willing to work anywhere in Canada, and may go abroad for a work term. Students must begin and end their degree with an academic study term. It should be noted that the University does not guarantee every student a job.
The work terms are designated as CWT 100, 200, 300, and 400 (Co‑op Work Term I, II, III, and IV respectively). An appropriate letter is added to the course code to identify the student’s area of study. These work terms carry no credit value and are used to indicate that the student is on a work term. Students are considered to have full-time status at the University during their work terms. Students doing a work term through the Institute are enrolled in complementary credit and work term courses for the semester in which their work term takes place.
Undergraduate Co-op Programs
Please see the following Faculty sections of the Undergraduate Calendar for a list of co‑op programs by Faculty, and Faculty‑level requirements:
For a complete list of current undergraduate co‑op programs, sequence of work and study terms, and contact information, please refer to the website: concordia.ca/co-op
C.Edge (Career Edge) Option
Notes
Following the philosophy of co‑operative education, the University, through the Institute for Co‑operative Education, offers the C.Edge option to all undergraduate students in programs that offer it.
The work term for the C.Edge option runs for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks. Work during this period is full‑time, and students are paid by the employer at competitive rates. Following completion of the work term, students may be required to return to the University to complete the remaining courses for their undergraduate degree. It is not possible to guarantee that all students wishing to participate in a C.Edge option work term will be able to do so.
Admission Requirements
Students in all programs who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 are eligible to apply for the C.Edge option if their program offers it. Some departments may have a different requirement to be accepted into and remain in the option. Please check with the Institute Academic Director of the respective program for more details.
Work Terms
Students in C.Edge may complete one or two work terms. For each work term, students are registered in their work term courses. As with co-op, students are considered full-time students at the University during their work terms. For each work term, students must complete a work term report reviewed and graded by their Academic Director. Students must also complete a self-assessment and self-evaluation and ensure that their employer or supervisor completes a student assessment and evaluation. Work term courses are assigned no degree credits.
The evaluation of the work term consists of two components:
- the student’s work term performance as evaluated by their supervisor, their Program Coordinator or delegate, and overseen by the Manager of the Institute for Co-operative Education;
- the work term report or presentation, as evaluated by the Academic Director and the Manager of the Institute for Co-operative Education or delegate.
Each component is evaluated separately. Students must successfully complete all required components to pass the work term which is marked on a pass/fail basis. A failing grade for the work term or failure to meet the academic requirements will normally result in the dismissal of the student from the Institute for Co-operative Education.
Reflective Learning Courses
All C.Edge students are enrolled in Reflective Learning Courses concurrently with their work term. They are each 3-credit extension courses connected to the work term and are above and beyond the credit requirements of the students’ academic program. The credits earned from the Reflective Learning courses are not transferable, nor are they included in the assessment of full- or part-time status. They are graded on a pass/fail basis.
Fees
Students should note that a fee exists to cover in part the administrative costs particular to membership at the Institute for Co-operative Education. For specific deadlines, visit concordia.ca/students/financial/tuition-fees/deadlines.
Accelerated Career Experience Option
Notes
Following the philosophy of co‑operative education, the University, through the Institute for Co-operative Education, offers Accelerated Career Experience to all undergraduate students in Faculties and programs that offer it.
The work term for the Accelerated Career Experience option runs for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 16 consecutive months. Work during this period is full‑time, and students are paid by the employer at competitive rates. Following completion of the 12‑ to 16‑month work term, students return to the University to complete the remaining courses for their undergraduate degree. It is not possible to guarantee that all students wishing to participate in an Accelerated Career Experience work term will be able to do so.
Admission Requirements
Students in all programs who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 are eligible to apply for the Accelerated Career Experience option if their program offers it. Specific eligibility criteria and admission information can be found on the website concordia.ca/academics/co-op, and Faculty-level requirements in the Faculty sections of the Calendar:
Some employers may have additional requirements to apply to a position.
Work Terms
Students in the Accelerated Career Experience option may complete one 12- or 16-month work term. Students are registered in their work experience courses (ACCE 100, 200, 300, 400) and are considered to be full-time students during enrolment in these courses. For the 12- or 16-month work term, all students must complete a work term report reviewed and graded by their Academic Director. Students must also complete a self-assessment and self-evaluation and ensure that their employer or supervisor completes a student assessment and evaluation. Work term courses are assigned no degree credits.
The work-term evaluation consists of three components:
- the student’s work term performance as evaluated by their supervisor, their Program Coordinator or delegate, and overseen by the Manager of the Institute for Co-operative Education;
- the work term report or presentation, as evaluated by the Academic Director and the Manager of the Institute for Co-operative Education or delegate;
- the work term presentation component as evaluated by their employer or supervisor and a group representing the management or executive of the hosting organization or delegates.
Some employers may have additional requirements to evaluate the student on a work term.
Each component is evaluated separately. Students must successfully complete all required components to pass the work term which is marked on a pass/fail basis. A failing grade for the work term or failure to meet the academic requirements will normally result in the dismissal of the student from the Institute for Co-operative Education.
Fees
Students should note that a fee exists to cover in part the administrative costs particular to membership at the Institute for Co-operative Education. For specific deadlines, visit concordia.ca/students/financial/tuition-fees/deadlines.