Discover the Benefits to Carleton’s Co-op Advantage

Get a head start on your career with a co-op program at Carleton University.

Do you want to get the most out of your degree? Want to know how you can get a head start on your career? Consider pursuing a co-op program in your undergrad! Carleton University’s Co-op Advantage will have you making career connections, discovering your strengths, and boosting your employability.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out what makes Carleton’s co-op special.

What is co-op?

Cooperative education, or co-op, is when a program combines traditional, in-class lessons with hands-on experience in your field of study. As a co-op student, you’ll alternate study terms at Carleton with four-, eight-, twelve-, or sixteen-month work terms, giving you plenty of time to develop key employability skills, explore your career options, and graduate with workplace experience.

That’s not all, either! Participating in a co-op program can give you the opportunity to network with other industry professionals. The connections you make during your placement could lead to mentorships and career opportunities. You’ll also earn money while you work in your placement, which will help reduce your student debt, pay for rent or bills, go towards your tuition, or however else you see fit.

How does the co-op process work?

When applying to your program at Carleton, you may have the option to select a “co-op option.” If you select “yes,” then your university performance will automatically be assessed at your first possible entry point into the program. This typically happens during the fall of your second or third year. Your assessment will include checking to see how many credits you’ve completed, your cumulative grade point average, and reviewing your registration for the upcoming term.

You’ll receive an email to let you know if you’ve been admitted to the co-op program or not. If you don’t get in to co-op, don’t worry. Do your best to meet the admission requirements and you’ll be automatically assessed again at the next possible entry point for your program.

Before you’re able to jump right into action, you’ll need to complete our COOP1000 course which is a 7 module, 10-week, non-credit online course designed to help new co-op students build requisite employability skills.

Once you’ve successfully completed COOP1000 and have continued to meet all other eligibility requirements, you’ll be able to view the Co-op Job Board in mySuccess, your online student portal.

• Early January — access to Job Board opens to students scheduled to work during the summer
• Early May — access to Job Board opens to students scheduled to work during the fall.
• Early September — access to Job Board access opens to students scheduled to work during the winter.

More jobs are added throughout the term, so students are encouraged to check the Job Board continuously. If you find a position through your own job search, you just need to submit the position for approval to the Co-operative Education Office.

If you’re an international student, you’ll also need to secure a co-op work permit and a social security number before you can begin your co-op placement.

What programs offer co-op at Carleton?

It’s important to keep in mind that a co-op option may not be available for all programs, but there are plenty of programs where you can select a co-op option! Programs from architecture to political science, cognitive science to marketing, mechanical engineering to media production and design, and many more have the option for co-op!

To see which programs offer co-op, as well as each program’s first possible work term, check out this full list of programs with co-ops.

What are the top 10 reasons why you should choose Carleton’s co-op program?

Whether you’re in high school, or in your first year of university studies wondering whether or not co-op is right for you, here are some benefits to choosing a co-operative education:

1. You are well supported by a team of career specialists to guide you through your co-op journey.

2. You’ll expand your network and make the valuable connections needed for the world of work after you graduate.

3. You’ll be well prepared. Our prep course — COOP1000 — will teach you all the things you need to know before you embark upon your first work term, such as how to write a good resumé.

4. Employers love the Carleton co-op program because of our no-ranking/no-matching hiring process; which only benefits your job search!

5. Co-operative Education and Career Services’ information sessions, career fairs, and networking events will help you meet experienced — and hiring — professionals in your field.

6. Our students have told us that co-operative education has given them the chance to solve real-world problems — and see the positive impact of their work!

7. Co-operative Education at Carleton allows students to gain between 12 and 20 months of work experience; a significant amount of time to see how your skills transfer to the workplace and develop career goals.

8. The Ottawa region presents a diverse working community rich in opportunities. Our students study close to an active high-tech community, several renowned research facilities, and many government departments and agencies. Carleton co-op students have completed work terms locally, across Canada, and around the world.

9. Co-operative education will help you identify areas of personal growth.

10. You get paid!

After reading about all these benefits to a co-op program, it’s hard not to want to participate! Set yourself up for your future by considering enrolling in a co-op program.