UNIV 304: Experiential Learning in the Workplace

UNIV 304 will help you develop foundational and transferable skills that will support your success in workplace, volunteer and professional settings. 

UNIV 304 will teach you how to recognize and integrate the skills you learn at any job with your career goals and studies. Topics will include teamwork, professionalism, communication, problem-solving, leadership, and time management.  

UNIV 304 is a great option if you: 

• have financial, personal or time barriers to traditional co-op or internship programs
• want to try out a smaller work-integrated experience before applying to a  co-op or internship 

You'll enjoy an enriched learning community structured on diverse peer-to-peer disciplinary perspectives. You'll also learn from your peers' variety of professional placements. 

Take this course at any point in your degree program, as long as you've completed 18 credits. 

Second-year students 

This course might be a chance to decide if you want to commit to more extensive opportunities like a co-op internship. 

Senior-level students 

UNIV 304 will give you the chance to learn more about how your degree skills can transfer to the work world. Explore the career options open to you once you graduate! 

Any undergraduate student on campus, from any faculty, who has the following requirements:

• Completed at least 18 units to register for UNIV 304
• Secured a job, volunteer position, research position, or career exploration opportunity (“WIL Placement”) for a minimum of 39 hours over the semester
• Is not using the WIL Placement for credit simultaneously on campus (e.g., not enrolled in Co-op)
• Has a supervisor or mentor at the WIL placement willing to provide feedback

UNIV 304 is an alternative work-integrated learning opportunity, and the work experience you use cannot be simultaneously used for a credit course elsewhere on campus. For example, you cannot be enrolled in a co-op program at the same time.

Yes, although some positions may be more suitable for UNIV 304 than others. Your job or volunteer position requires a minimum of 39 hours in total over the semester, and you will need a supervisor or manager to collaborate with you and provide feedback throughout the course as well. 

Your work-integrated learning placement can be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, volunteer or a career exploration like job shadowing a professional. The position can be in any field or industry either directly related to your degree or something else you want to explore. The work or volunteer hours should be spread out over the semester (e.g., 3 hours per week) to allow time to practice your skills and reflect. 

Opportunities like those through Canada Summer Jobs, volunteering with a non-profit you are interested in, shadowing a job you are interested in learning more about and work opportunities in your chosen field are all great examples of the kinds of opportunities you can pair with this course. 

You are responsible for securing your own work-integrated learning (WIL) – a job, volunteer opportunity, or job shadowing experience before you start the course. We encourage you to look at opportunities on Elevate and the Student Experience Catalogue. You must complete a work experience to successfully complete this course. If you need more time to find an appropriate opportunity, you must enroll in another semester. 

Meaningful work integrated learning requires an engaged partnership between you, your instructor, and the community or industry partner who is hosting you. 

You need to ensure that your manager/supervisor or career exploration professional is aware of your enrolment in this course. They should commit to supporting you and your goal development.