COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

2-Credit OR 4-Credit CO-OP

What is Co-op?

Co-operative education involves partnership between education and business, industry, the trades and professional organizations with the purpose of extending learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.

As one of several experiential learning programs available to students, co-operative education offers students an opportunity to earn high school credits through a course that integrates classroom theory with learning experiences in a workplace. Students apply and further develop skills related to a high school course and career area of choice.

Why consider Co-op?

By participating in co-operative education, students develop their skills, interests and professional connections while still in high school creating a personal career plan based on realistic, practical information.

Students learn about themselves, the expectations of the world of work and the realities of a profession while developing the work habits, attitudes and job skills necessary for a successful transition from secondary school to post-secondary education or the workplace.

Benefits

• An opportunity to earn academic credits while exploring career and education choices

• Earn credits towards your diploma

• Make more informed education and career planning choices

• Gain a competitive edge in more constrained economic times

• Move more confidently into post-secondary education or the world of work

• Gain valuable related experience as required for some post secondary programs

• Choose OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) as part of a skilled trade and have The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities pay for your tuition for a registered apprenticeship.

How does it Work?

Co-op placements are available in a broad range of sectors including:

Health and Life Sciences
Business,
Media
Performing and Visual Arts
Social and Community Services
Skilled Trades
Hospitality,
Child Education
Culinary Arts
Computer Engineering
and more…

Placements are located and assessed by the Co-op teacher.

All placements are screened for providing real work experience in a safe learning environment free from discrimination and harassment, following safe practices and providing supervised learning experiences.

Students are regularly monitored by their co-op teacher and have a Personalized Placement Learning Plan developed by all parties: teacher, supervisor and student.

Prerequisite: 

You cannot take a Co-op course as a standalone, unrelated subject. Every Co-op credit is linked to a standard Ministry-approved course (e.g., Biology, Construction Technology, or Business Studies).

• You must take the related classroom course either beforehand or at the exact same time as your Co-op placement.

• To do a Co-op placement at a veterinary clinic, you must have previously taken or currently be taking a Grade 11 or 12 Biology course