The Co-op Program at Acadia is a fantastic way to gain paid, full-time work experience in your field — while earning credit toward your degree.
Here’s how it works:
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🧪 Co-op terms last about 4 months and usually happen after your first year
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💼 You’ll work in a role related to your studies, build professional skills, and explore career options
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🎓 You’ll earn academic credit and graduate with real-world experience on your resume
🗓️ When to apply:
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Undergraduate students: Apply in your second year (or earlier, depending on your program)
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Graduate students: Apply in September of your first year
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Application opens: August for undergrads, September for grads
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Apply online
📋 Minimum Requirements:
Undergraduate:
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✅ Full-time student in a degree program that offers Co-op
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✅ Minimum GPA of 2.5
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✅ At least 24 credit hours completed
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🚫 Not eligible if you’ve completed more than 75 credit hours — unless you’ve switched programs and have 45+ credits left in your new one
Graduate:
Note: Students registered with Accessibility Services may be considered full-time with two courses per term.
📘 Helpful Definitions:
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Co-op Program: A structured academic option that includes paid work terms related to your field of study
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Credit hours: Units that measure your academic progress — most courses are worth 3 credit hours
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Full-time student: Typically enrolled in 3+ courses per term (or a thesis course for grad students)
📎 Suggested Links:
📝 Special Notes:
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You don’t need to have a job lined up — CEL helps you find and apply for Co-op placements
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Co-op is available in select degree programs — check if your program offers it
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International students are welcome to apply and should confirm work eligibility with Acadia’s International Centre