Graduate Co-operative Education

At the master's level there are two ways that a student can participate in a co-operative education experience. The first way is to register in one of the co-operative education programs offered at the University of Regina. Alternately, some units offer Graduate Co-operative Education courses, outside of a co-operative education program. Students who complete either a Co-operative Education Program, or complete two approved Graduate co-op work term courses, will have a Co-operative Education Designation added to their transcript.

The student's academic unit has to provide approval for the student to enroll in a co-operative education program or work term. You must be a full-time Master’s student in good standing to be eligible to take a co-op work term. Academic units may have additional requirements for the students who are granted permission to take a graduate work term (these can be found in the course descriptions or with the academic unit).

Process for Registering in a Co-op Course

• 1. Apply for graduate co-op
     • Student completes the online application.
  2. Work with Career Office to find a work placement
     • Once the student has their application approved, they will work with their unit and the Career Education Office to find a placement.
  3. Approval of work term
     • Once the student has an offer of employment, the Career Education Office informs the student's academic unit and the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research of the offer. 
     • The student registers for their unit’s co-operative education course (e.g. ARTS 601/602, SCI 601/602, etc.).
  4. Go on work term
  5. Assigning the final grade
     • When the student returns from their work term, the person who signed the Approval of the Graduate Co-op Work Term form is responsible for submitting a final grade for the student. Departments may require a report or a presentation.
  6. Co-operative Education Designation
     • When the student applies to graduate, FGSR will check if the student has completed the courses required to earn a Co-operative Education Designation. If so, the student will receive a "Co-operative Education" designation which will appear on the student's parchment and transcript.

Requirements for Graduate Co-op Courses

1. Any graduate work term course is graded as a credit/no-credit course.
2. Graduate work term courses will not replace courses or requirements in a student’s program.
3. Graduate work term courses are only available for master’s students, not PhD students.
4. Students will pay tuition or a fee to participate in the co-op program. Tuition will be assessed in the semester in which the student is registered in their work term equivalent to the undergraduate co-op fees, plus all mandatory student fees, as well as the international surcharge where applicable.
5. Students who have completed all formal credit hours of their graduate degree program are not eligible to take a graduate work term course. Students cannot take a graduate work term course in their final semester of study or if they are in a Maintenance of Status course.
6. Students need special permission to take additional classes while enrolled in graduate work term classes.

Note:

• The Career Office will help find placements for students enrolled in graduate co-operative education. The Career Office will attempt to find graduate co-operative education placements with either more responsibilities and obligations than an undergraduate co-operative education placement or a research aspect that complements the student’s graduate education. Obviously, the career office cannot promise research positions. Professors are encouraged to use their contacts to help in this process.
• Graduate students will follow the same work term requirements pertaining to undergraduate students, such as length of terms, suitability of work placements, and codes of conduct.
• International students should apply for a work visa two terms before they anticipate starting their first placement. The career office can provide students with a letter for CIC stating that their co-op course is essential for the student to earn the Co-operative Education Designation.