The buzz about TRSM’s expanding co-op programs is getting around, and we at TRSM’s Business Career Hub and the Ryerson Co-op Office are seeing a great amount of interest from students who want to know more about how they can apply to their program’s co-operative education option.

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about co-op. Keep checking back with the This Is TRSM blog as we continue to share more information about our co-op programs, as well as our co-op students’ successes. Happy reading!

What is Co-operative Education?

Co-operative education (co-op for short) is a form of experiential learning that allows students to gain real-world experience in the workplace during non-academic terms.

The experience gained during a student’s work term not only helps him or her to gain valuable professional experience and begin to build his or her network, it also helps an employer assess a potential future employee.

Students complete three to five work terms (depending on their academic program), and graduate with up to 20 months of paid work experience. As a result of this work experience, co-op students require an additional year to finish their academic studies.

It is important to note that students are not simply placed into jobs; rather, students compete for jobs as they would in real-world job search settings.

Co-op students find themselves in various businesses and industries including government, social services, professional services and more.

The Ryerson Co-op Office is available to assist you with the co-op process!

What TRSM programs have a co-op option?

By the 2016–2017 academic year, TRSM will have rolled out co-op options for all of its undergraduate BComm programs.

TRSM has had a co-op option for students in Business Technology Management for almost 20 years, and as of the 2014–2015 academic year, it began to roll out co-op to the rest of its BComm programs.

Co-op options for Marketing Management and Entrepreneurship & Strategy will launch this year, with the first work term for these programs starting in Spring/Summer 2017.

Have I missed the co-op application deadline?

If you think you’ve missed the opportunity to apply to co-op, don’t worry, you might not have!

While some institutions ask students to apply to co-op from their initial admission applications, students applying to Ryerson Co-op apply after they’ve completed at least one year of study. So, somewhere between the end of your first year and the beginning of your third year you will apply to your program’s co-op option. It all depends on which program you are in!

So when do I apply to co-op for my program?

See below for the co-op application deadline for each program in the 2016–2017 academic year. It’s important to stay up to date with the 2016–2017 Undergraduate Calendar in case any changes are made from year to year.

Accounting and Finance: after Semester 2 (Spring/Summer)
Business Technology Management: after Semester 2 (Spring/Summer)
Business Management:

• Economics and Management Science: Semester 5 (Fall)
• Entrepreneurship and Strategy: Semester 3 (Fall)
• Global Management Studies: Semester 5 (Fall)
• Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour: Semester 3 (Fall)
• Law and Business: Semester 3 (Fall)
• Marketing Management: Semester 5 (Fall)
• Real Estate Management: Semester 5 (Fall)

Hospitality and Tourism Management: Semester 3 (Fall)
Retail Management: Semester 3 (Fall)

When do co-op work terms begin?

The first work term for each program will be the summer after you are admitted into co-op. For example, if you apply for the co-op option for your program in Fall 2016, your first work term will be the Spring/Summer of 2017.

For an outline of the co-op work terms for your program, visit the 2016–2017 Undergraduate Calendar and click on your program’s co-op option.

Where can I go to learn more about co-op?

To learn more about co-op, please visit the Ryerson Co-op Office website or contact Laura Henshaw, TRSM Co-op Coordinator at [email protected].