Co-operative Education
Curriculum guideline
Co-op: Minimum 420 hours/semester.
Independent learning through a program related Work Term with support given by a Faculty Advisor workplace supervisor.
1. Career Skills Training and Career Management:
1.1 Edit targeted letters of applications including; cover letters and resumes to College and industry standards;
1.2 Re-evaluate previous learning objectives;
1.3 Review supervisor’s first and/or second Work Term evaluation and focus on areas of improvement; and
1.4 Research potential long-term opportunities, once graduated, with employer.
2. Goal Setting:
2.1 Set specific, measurable and realistic Work Term goals for learning objectives;
2.2 Re-evaluate as situation requires;
2.3 Analyze success through self-assessment which is communicated to the Faculty Advisor verbally and in writing; and
2.3 Outline growth and development from previous Work Term(s) which is communicated to the Faculty Advisor verbally and in writing.
3. Employability Skills:
3.1 Communicate effectively with coworkers, employer clients/customers, supervisors, and College Co-op/Career Centre staff;
3.2 Work effectively as a team member, including resolving conflict;
3.3 Apply critical/creative thinking in decision making and problem solving;
3.4 Embrace learning opportunities;
3.5 Represent self and the College professionally and ethically;
3.6 Develop personal management skills related to time, organization, and stress; and
3.7 Accept constructive criticism as a vehicle to learning.
4. Program Specific Skills:
4.1 Apply learned academic knowledge and skills in the work environment.
5. Work Term Report, Project or Presentation:
5.1 Choose a topic related to student's specific program and Work Term or defined by the employer. Examples include; formal written report, formal presentation, handbook, procedures manual, research paper, and users' manual;
5.2 Prepare project to industry and College standards; and
5.3 Format to satisfy needs of employer and/or Faculty Advisor.
At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to:
- Apply career management employment search skills to obtain a Work Term in related field of study;
- Set, re-evaluate, and achieve realistic, measurable learning objectives;
- Adapt transferable employability skills effectively;
- Follow program specific skills effectively;
- Prepare a Work Term report, project, or presentation to meet College and employer standards.
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Students will be assigned a grade of MASTERY when ALL of the following are achieved:
1. Career skills training documentation and job interview result in a second or third Work Term;
2. Work Term learning objectives are defined and fulfilled;
3. Work Term report, project or presentation is completed based on given criteria;
4. Employer's evaluation is satisfactory based on given criteria; and
5. Faculty Advisor's evaluation is satisfactory based on given criteria.
N/A
COOP 2300 and Co-op Coordinator permission, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.33, or permission of the Dean.
The program of study must be the same throughout the Co-op term(s).