People gather at the 2019 Co-op Awards

Co-operative Education Program

Work, earn and learn with Arts Co-op. Combine job experience with your studies!

 

Testimonials

Want to know what everyone's saying about co-op? 

Hear from our current co-op students

Success Stories

Read the stories of current co-op students and co-op alumni. 

Learn where our co-op alumni are now

Awards

Every year we recognize outstanding co-op students and employers.

Our 2022 winners

Events

Join us for events that relate to career development.

View some events that we have hosted in the past


How to apply

Think you might be a good fit for the Arts Co-op program?

 

 

See our FAQ video 

Learn how to apply

Current students

Already a Co-op student?

Get all your current student information

Resources and forms

Students

Employers 

 

Learning goal samples, tip sheets, links and forms.

View resources and forms

Contact us

Need to talk to our team? Find out how to reach us.

Employers consider hosting a Virtual Coffee Chat with students 

Contact the advising team

Enhance your education

Gain career-related work experience before you graduate! You'll alternate full-time, paid work terms with study semesters.

You'll get practical experience and develop a network of contacts. Gain a better understanding of careers in your field. Have the chance to apply what you learn in the classroom to a work environment.

The Co-op advising team is here to help you search for a job, create a strong resume and develop job interview best practices.


Year one

Ask an advisor about the Co-op program

Year two

Check your eligibility and apply

Year three and four

Go on work terms

Year five

Graduate with twelve months' work experience!

How does it work?

  • Complete three (12-16 week) work terms to get your co-op designation. A fourth term is optional.

  • Work terms are full-time, paid, relevant positions that provide supervision and feedback.

  • Placements are not guaranteed but Co-op coordinators are here to help you throughout the process! We also have a mentorship program that matches you with senior or alumni co-op students.

  • While on a work term, you will be registered into a Co-op course. You are assessed one course fee and have full-time student status with the university

  • Co-op work terms are in addition to your academic requirements. They do not lessen the number of courses required to complete your degree.

  • Work terms can alternate or be consecutive.

Why Co-op?

Find out directly from one of our students.


Trajectory

Co-op students normally begin their work terms during the third year of studies, alternating periods of work and study and ending on an academic semester. A typical Co-op student might experience a work term sequence that looks something like this:

First year/term

Fall: Academic

Winter: Academic

Spring/Summer: Vacation

Second year/term

Fall: Academic

Winter: Academic

Spring/Summer:Vacation

Third year/term

Fall: First work term

Winter: Academic

Spring/Summer: Second work term

Fourth year/term

Fall: Academic

Winter: Study abroad

Spring/Summer: Vacation

Fifth year/term

Fall: Third work term

Winter: Academic

Spring/Summer: Graduate


Featured events


Co-op News

2022 Arts Employer and Student of the Year Awards

Faculty of Arts Co-op program celebrates successes of employer supervisors and co-op students

Arts Employer and Student of the Year Awards

Faculty of Arts Co-op program celebrates successes of employer supervisors and co-op students

48 local tech companies and over 1,100 students attend first-of-its-kind tech networking event

Inaugural UCalgary Tech Fest builds community in Calgary

Reverse career fair puts arts students in the spotlight

Students showcase breadth of their abilities and diversity of the arts faculty to employers at Discover Arts event

'We look forward to hiring you in the future'

Fourth annual Co-op and Internship Awards celebrate student and employer support for work-integrated learning programs

Faculty of Arts students reveal diverse skills at reverse career fair

Participants highlight their degree skills, work and volunteer experiences to employers and visitors