The Comprehensive University Guide

Co-Op, or Cooperative Education, programs combine your study terms at school with paid work terms. In a co-op program you spend part of the year taking courses at school and part of the year doing paid work for company in your field of study for course credit. Many students who enter co-op programs find that the work terms give them enough money to pay for their education.

Co-op programs typically have higher admission requirements than standard programs and may take longer to complete than standard programs. However, co-op programs also allow you to gain work experience in your field of study and give you contacts which may prove valuable when you begin looking for a job after completing your program.

Not all schools offer co-op programs, however they are becoming more popular. Consult the school's calender or contact its co-op office for more information about the co-op programs it offers.