General
The Faculty of Business offers a cooperative education option for students in Business specializations. Cooperative Education is an experiential learning program in which students alternate periods of study with periods of paid, discipline-related work experience in cooperating employer organizations. All new and continuing students are eligible to compete for places in the Cooperative Education option provided there is sufficient room in their programs to complete the requirements. Normally, a student who has completed more than 75 units prior to entry will not be accepted. Students will be admitted to the program based on a combination of grades and work experience. Modest program and application fees are charged. For more information, contact the Careers and Work Integrated Learning office.
To qualify for the Cooperative Education degree, students accepted into the option must successfully complete the following four courses in addition to the regular requirements for the Bachelor of Commerce degree within their major area of study:
- Introduction to Cooperative Education (non-credit seminar)
- WKEXP 911
- WKEXP 912
- WKEXP 913
Students registered in the Cooperative Education option will complete 12 months of work experience. To accommodate the work experience portion of the program, students will normally require a minimum of four and one-half years to complete the requirements of the Cooperative Education degree. The normal sequencing for Cooperative Education students is that they attend the Introduction to Cooperative Education seminar in the first term following admission to the Cooperative Education Program. Students have several options for scheduling work terms, provided that that all work terms are completed prior to the final study term.
Students in the cooperative option are considered full-time students at the University of Alberta for the full 12 months of any academic year (July 1–June 30) while they are registered in work terms.
All work experience courses are graded on a pass/fail basis. Grades are determined by a student’s job performance as evaluated by the employer, by the student’s performance on a work term report, and by the student’s ability to integrate the work experience and the classroom study. Students who fail a work term must normally withdraw from the Cooperative Education program.
Students registered in the Cooperative Education option receive assistance in locating suitable work placements. The Business Cooperative Education coordinator is responsible for developing Cooperative Education students to conduct an active personal job search. However, the ultimate responsibility for obtaining suitable work term employment rests with the student.
An additional optional WKEXP 914 placement is available under special circumstances. Students should inquire with the Careers and Work Integrated Learning office for details.
Police Information Check
Under the provisions of the Protection for Persons in Care Act, all new employees, volunteers and other people engaged for services by designated agencies (hospitals, nursing homes, lodges, group homes, etc.) must complete a Police Information Check (also known as a Criminal Check, Security Clearance Check, or Police Clearance), which must include a Vulnerable Sector Check. In addition, certain other agencies, organizations, and educational facilities may require students to present a Police Information Check prior to entering a practicum, work placement term, internship, or field experience placement.
Students who have concerns related to their ability to provide a clear Police Information Check should consult with the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Program. Students will be informed of the need for a Police Information Check prior to specific field experience placements. Requirement for Police Information Checks for more information on the general requirements concerning Police Information Checks and the fees associated with them.