Cooperative Education Option in Computer Science

Cooperative Education Option in Computer Science

Information for Prospective Students

Advantages of Co-op Option

Cooperative education is an opportunity to get a head start on one’s career.It assists students develop key skills, explore career options,and graduate with 12-16 months of workplace experience. The coop programenables graduatingstudentsin achieving a competitive edge, while seeking positions, within the industry.

Co-op program gives the student a chance to:

• Get practical experience on the job;
• Network with a variety of individuals,
• Learn from a number of mentors and tutors;
• Earn money to help reduce student debt;
• Develop Communication and Presentation skills,
• Develop Technical Writing skills
• Add significant value to one’s degree program;

Students, who successfully complete the specified number of co-op work terms, receive a Cooperative Education Designation on their degree. This special designation signals to future employers that such students are not only well educated, but experienced and committed too.

How Does Co-op Program work

Cooperative education combines academic instruction and practical experience allowing students to develop work skills and gain experience while obtaining a formal education.

The Work-Study sequence in Computer Science consists of eight Study terms interspersed with three Work terms and one optional 4th Work term. The first Work term occurs during the summer (May-August) term of Year 2. The optional 4th work term is for those students who have not secured full-time employment upon completion of their 8th study term which can also serve as a bridging Work term towards full time employment with the employer. Students are expected to complete their degree inSummer of Year 4 and graduate in the fall.

Fall / Winter / Summer
Year 1 / Study 1 / Study 2 / Study 3
Year 2 / Study 4 / Study 5 / Work Term 1
Year 3 / Study 6 / Work Term 2 / Study 7 (Electives)
Year 4 / Work Term 3 / Study 8 / Work Term 4 (Optional)

Admission

The Cooperative option is only available to full-time students registered in the B.COSC programme.
If a student completes the first two semesters offirst year studies with a minimumof 70% in each of the first year courses COSC 1046, 1047, 1056, an overall average of 70% in Year 1 (based on 30 credits) they will be eligible to join the co-op program. To continue in the co-op program a student will be required to maintain 70% average in computer science courses as well as in the overall average throughout their study terms.
In exceptional circumstances, students who do not fulfill all of these requirements will be considered on a case by case basis. Interviews will be held in thefall term ofsecond year to evaluate each student's readiness for the co-op option.Successful applicants must agree to make academic transcripts available to potential employers.

Applying from High School

CanadianHigh School studentscan register directly for Computer ScienceCo-op through Ontario University Application Centre, and select the LCI application code.

Applying after Admissions at Laurentian

If the students did not apply for co-op directly from high school, they can apply after arriving at Laurentian provided their first work term coincides with the established work-study pattern for the program. Students typically are expected to apply for co-op at the beginning of thefirst year of studies in order to fulfill all coop program related requirements.

If a student has never participated in co-op before and wants to apply for the first time, please complete the online signup application form.

Co-op Program Fees

As a partial contribution to offset some of the overall program costs, students participating in co-op pay a program fee.As an undergraduate co-op student, he/she has to pay an administrative fee for each work term. These non-refundable fees are set by the University and approved by the Board of Governors. Co-op Students are also responsible for tuition and incidental fees related to their study terms and costs related to a course taken while completing a work term.

Work Term Employment

Most students begin their first work term while completing their second year of academic studies. Work terms begin in September, January or May, and normally follow a predetermined work-study pattern.

Every effort is made by the Department (through its Coop Officer) to find a sufficient number of work term positions for all students enrolled in co-operative education, but the department does not guarantee a suitable work term opportunity. The placement process is competitive and dependent on market conditions as well as on academic performance, skills, motivation, maturity, attitude, and potential of a student.

It is also the responsibility of a student to secure an available position through successful participation in the competitive interview process and one’s own job search activities.

If a student is unable to obtain suitable employment, he/she is expected to continue with the academic program on a full-time basis.

Co-op Regulations and Requirements

To successfully complete the co-op option of the academic program, students will be required to adhere to following regulations.

1. Students must enroll in full-time academic studies
2. All the work terms must be completed prior to the final academic term.
3. If a student is offered a job after an interview, he/she must reply within 48 hours, or by the specific deadline given.
4. Only one job offer may be declined.
5. Students must pay the cooperative education program fees
6. To graduate with the co-op designation, a student must successfully complete three or four placements. These grades will appear on the student's academic record as non-credit courses COSC 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004.
7. Co-op students returning from a Work-term must submit a report describing the nature of the Work undertaken and the experience gained during the Work-term. A grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) is assigned based on the report and the employer's assessment.A template for work term report can be found here: work term report template
8. Withdrawal from the cooperative education program will not be approved while a student is on a work term.

Information for Employers

Benefits of Cooperative Education to Employers

As a Laurentian co-op employer, you will be able to:

• reduce your recruitment and training costs;
• hire employees for peak work periods or special projects;
• hire students with high academic average
• provide cost-effective support to your current staff;
• benefit from special provincial tax incentives.

Availability of Co-op Students

The recruitment period for co-op students begins one semester before their scheduled work term. It is strongly advised that the employers begin recruiting within the first few weeks of this period as this is when the largest amount of students will be available for consideration. Please contact the co-op officer () for the resumes of the students.

Included in this document are suggestions intended to guide employers through the co-op work term process that might assist employers in planning and getting the most out of a co-op student.

Co-op Salary

The salaries are not determined by the Cooperative Education Office, but rather are an indication of salaries offered to students by employers. The actual salary a student receives is determined between the student and the employer during the recruitment process that varies between $10- $18/hr.

Tax credit

Private companies in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are eligible for a tax credit equal to a percentage of the student's salary.For a tax credit letter, please email at .

Quick links to Work Term Forms

Co-op Contract Form

The co-op participating employers are expected to fax or email employment contract signed between the employer and the student before the work term begins. If the employer has its own contract agreement, it can be used in place of our Co-op Contract form.

OnSite Visit Report Form

The On Site Visit Report form is a tool used to get feedback from both employers and students on coop placement and the co-op program. It is also used in assessing employer’s interest towards future collaborations and in devising means to better equip our students with the skills that matches industry needs.

Student Evaluation Form

The Student Evaluation form can be used to provide developmental feedback which can becrucialina student’s career development. Content of the Student Evaluation forms are expected to be shared with the students to make them aware of the areas they need to work on.

Employer Release and Authorization Form

After the co-op placement, students are required to submit a work term report which is mostly comprised of their workplace experiences, new skills learnt to accomplish tasks assigned and their contribution in resolving challenging tasks. The Employer Release and Authorization form is a tool used to protect sharing of confidential information in work term reports by the co-op students. The employer is expected to review the work term report of the student and complete Employer Release and Authorization form to make it available for final evaluation.

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