Profile:
Arts & Science Co-op
Currently representing 35 academic programs at UTSC, the Arts & Science Co-op program houses over 40 years of expertise in co-operative education. We facilitate academically aligned paid co-op work terms and empower our students through extensive preparation: each Arts & Science Co-op student receives 55+ hours of job search training through co-op preparation courses prior to their first work term.
Our dedicated business development team works with industry partners to seek and secure high-quality, relevant co-op experiences for 4, 8, or 12-month work terms, and providing students with the opportunity to successfully contribute to the workplace.
Program Details
Instructor / Program Coordinator(s):
Susan Soikie, Director, Arts & Science Co-op, University of Toronto Scarborough
Profile(s):
External Partners Faculty & Staff Students
Division:
University of Toronto Scarborough
Benefits to Students:
Arts & Science Co-op students receive extensive teaching on job search skills in addition to hands-on training in a role aligned to their academic program. They have the opportunity to build academic knowledge, apply it to the workplace, and then integrate it back into their academics. This cements a competitive advantage over their non-co-op peers for their plans post-graduation.
Benefits to External Partners and the Community:
The program centers on a 3-way partnership between employers, students, and the university. It offers opportunities for building reciprocal relationships between the University and local/global employers: the employers benefit from U of T’s innovative top talent at their organization, and from budget-friendly opportunities for early recruitment and talent development.
Benefits to the University:
With the burgeoning popularity of work-integrated learning with prospective university applicants, offering a co-op program option within an academic program attracts top-tier students looking for enriched learning. It also offers students the opportunity to reflect on and apply in-course learning in a workplace or research setting, resulting in a deeper application of academic knowledge.
Information for Interested Students:
More information about the Arts & Science Co-op program at the University of Toronto Scarborough can be found on their website.
Advice for Faculty and Staff Interested in Creating a Similar Experiential Learning Opportunity:
Co-op is the most established form of work-integrated learning within Canada, and U of T Scarborough’s Arts & Science Co-op program is the oldest program at the University of Toronto. If you’re considering developing a co-op program, the Office would be happy to assist with labour market research, partnership development, academic and work term sequencing, and more.
U of T Scarborough Arts & Science Co-op student
Details
Partnership Based
Curricular
Paid