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How Does Co-operative Education Work?

Students alternate academic terms with work terms. Work terms are always paid and can take place in a professional industry, non-profit, private business, and public sector organization.

Students learn valuable career skills and an opportunity to test-drive a wide variety of career options. Students can also earn three credits per co-op work term and tuition is equal to that of a regular three-credit course at TRU.

Co-op Student Handbook:Download

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are common questions, but don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any others

Students are enrolled in a work term when they accept an employment offer from a co-op employer. Work terms can be completed back-to-back or split up at various stages in your program. Consecutive work terms can also be done (4, 8, 12, or 16 months). Students enrolled in a work term are also enrolled in an online course that is completed asynchronously and includes reflective practice, a site visit, an employer evaluation, and a final project.

To achieve the Co-op designation at Thompson Rivers University, students must complete a minimum number of work terms in their degree. Students in a four-year degree program must complete a minimum of three work terms. Students in diploma programs can earn designation by completing two co-op work term.

Students can find co-op opportunities in a variety of ways, including:

apply to positions on Career Connections
apply to positions using external job search platforms or your network
create a position with an employer and have it evaluated and approved as a co-op position

Computing Science – 1 Work term may be used for 3 lower-level elective credits up to a max of 6. 1 work term can be used for 3 upper-level computing science elective credits. 2 mandatory work terms for 6 credits towards graduation requirements. Any additional work terms will be additive credits.

Computing Science Diploma – 1 Work term may be used for 3 lower-level elective credits up to a max of 6. 1 Work term can be used for 3 upper-level computing science elective credits.

Science – 1 work term can be used for 3 lower-level elective credits. Any additional work terms are assigned as additive credits.

Software Engineering –cooperative education is a requirement of the degree. Students are required to complete two mandatory work terms (a total of eight months) in the fourth year of study. Up to 12 months of co-op work may count towards the work experience required for professional designation providing it supervised by a P.Eng.

ARET – Work terms completed will count towards additive credits.

For additional information on the co-op program visit tru.ca/cel