Co-operative Education

If you’re looking for a way to gain valuable work experience during your degree that will allow you to graduate with a competitive edge, Co-operative Education may be a great option for you.  At Saint Mary’s, Co-op is an optional program for students pursuing degrees in Business, Science, Arts (Psychology), and Masters of Science in Applied Science.  Co-op students alternate academic terms with four-month paid work terms.

 

To gain acceptance into the undergraduate co-op program, you can apply in your second year, once you have completed 45 credit hours of study.  To be eligible, Sobeys School of Business students are required to have a minimum 3.0 CGPA and Science students are required to have a minimum 2.5 CGPA, with a 3.0 GPA in their major courses.  All students are required to submit a letter of intent. 

 

Students enrolled in the Masters of Science in Applied Science – Co-op Option must have earned an honours baccalaureate undergraduate degree in Science or the equivalent. And applicants to that program must have achieved a minimum cumulative CGPA of 3.0 in their overall academic record.

 

Once accepted to the program, you will be matched with an Employment Development Officer (EDO) who will guide you through the entire job search process from developing your resume and cover letter to conducting mock interviews, and learning how to network effectively.   Your EDO will also remain in contact with you throughout each co-op placement to ensure you have the opportunity to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a real-world work environment.   In addition, a professor who serves as the Co-operative Education Advisor will help you map out your academic plan, allowing you to keep on track with your studies.

 

All Co-op placements must be approved before they are advertised, to ensure students will have the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience.

 

Co-op is available for Canadian and International students.  Saint Mary’s students have gained work experience in Co-op positions across Canada and around the world.

 

To see how you can benefit from the Co-operative Education program at Saint Mary's University, click here.

 

To learn more about the Co-operative Education program, the application process, and some of the employers who have hired our students, please visit the Co-operative Education website.