Co-operative Education

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
COOP 3500
Descriptive
Co-operative Education
Department
Co-operative Education
Faculty
Business Development
Credits
9.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
12- 16 weeks
Max Class Size
N/A
Contact Hours

Co-op: Minimum 420 hours/semester.

Method(s) Of Instruction
Co-op
Learning Activities

Independent learning through a program-related Work Term with support given by a Faculty Advisor and workplace supervisor.

Course Description
This Co-operative (Co-op) Education course is designed for degree students seeking work experience in a related field. Students, with the support of a Faculty Advisor, will apply and expand learned academic transferable and program specific skills. Students will develop knowledge and skills on the job. Students will set learning objectives for the work experience and complete a Work Term report, project or presentation, outlining the nature and tasks of the work experience, detailing what they learned, and articulating how their academic and workplace experiences are connected. A student who successfully completes COOP 1100 plus one of COOP 1200, 2300 or 2400 plus this course, COOP 3500, is eligible for a Co­-operative Education designation on their credential.
Course Content

 

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
2.4 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;
5.3 Outline of what you learned on the job; and
5.4 Format to satisfy needs of employer and/or Faculty Advisor.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to:

  1. Apply career management employment search skills to obtain a Work Term in related field of study;
  2. Set, re-evaluate, and achieve realistic, measurable learning objectives. Students in the BBA programs will want to focus on the career portfolio BBA learning outcomes.
  3. Adapt transferable employability skills effectively;
  4. Follow program specific skills effectively;
  5. Prepare a Work Term report, project, or presentation to meet College and employer standards.

 

 

 

 

Means of Assessment


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 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.

Textbook Materials

N/A

Prerequisites

60 credits towards a diploma and Co-op Coordinator permission, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.33 or permissions of the Dean.

The program of study must be the same throughout the Co-op term(s).