Science Co-op Program
The Computer Science Department was the first in the Faculty of Science to have students complete industry co-ops. Since 1989 our co-op program has continued to expand, providing students with valuable, hands-on experience and essential skills that prepare them for success after graduation.
What is a co-op?
A co-op is a paid career-related placement for qualified students offering full-time work terms ranging from 4-16 months. Shorter four month co-ops can start as early as the summer term after year 2.
Co-ops that last 8-16 months will delay graduation by one year due to the co-op term overlapping with the regular academic year. The 8-16 month timeframe allows the co-op student to learn marketable skills in an industry work environment over a longer peiod of time. Placement opportunities span the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, with availability varying based on employer needs.
Who employs our co-op students?
Past employers of Computer Science co-op students have included IBM, RIM, Honeywell, 3M Canada, Bell Canada, various gaming companies such as Big Blue Bubble in London, etc.
Companies that have participated in the 8-16 month co-op program have expressed appreciation for the strong technical foundation and formal Computer Science education that upper-year students bring. Longer co-op terms give employers the opportunity to provide meaningful training and integrate co-op students into projects alongside full-time employees. As a result, these extended placements offer students a more authentic and comprehensive understanding of software careers compared to shorter co-op experiences.
Why should I participate in a co-op?
- Hands-on work experience with professionals in their field
- An opportunity to explore your chosen career and discover if it’s the right fit for you
- You will gain a valuable advantage for future employment opportunities
- A full year course credit toward your degree
- You'll get paid! The average annual salary for Computer Science co-op students is typically $40,000+
What do past co-op students have to say about their experiences?
Jules Cote, co-op at Big Blue Bubble, London
Click here to read Jules account of his internship experience at Big Blue Bubble, a game company in London, Ontario.
Ryan Dagg, co-op at RIM, Waterloo
"Getting this opportunity to complete a sixteen month placement and partake in important roles was fantastic! It taught me a lot about the work force, computers and myself."
Kate Zyla, co-op at OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre)
"My managers made sure that I was prepared for the type of work I would be doing, and that I felt comfortable doing it. Through several online courses and the tutorials and webinars I attended during my first couple of months on the job, I became much more confident in my abilities."
Dave Corbett, co-op at IBM Software Group, Markham Labs
"I heartily encourage all Computer Science students to consider enrolling in the Science Internship program. It provides an opportunity to experience a real-world work environment for those who may not have such experience, and it has allowed me to apply my skills to real, complex and challenging problems."
Patrick Carnegie, co-op at RIM, Waterloo
"RIM has provided me with a really great experience. I've learned a lot about teamwork and time management, and how to become an independent thinker. This internship gave me motivation to pursue software engineering more and to understand all the models required to successfully manage a team of many developers. In fact, I actually changed my minor from Applications to Software Engineering because of this internship, so I would say it really made a big impact on my future."
Jeff Shantz, co-op at IBM in Toronto
"In September 2008, I concluded a 16 month internship with IBM in Markham, Ontario, working on a technical marketing team to promote DB2 - IBM's flagship relational database server. Working at IBM was a fast-paced, exciting, and dynamic experience. I was held accountable for my work and never treated as just the intern. I was put into positions of responsibility and required to deliver.
However, I was also rewarded well for my hard work. I learned all about Linux, DB2, Ruby, and all sorts of other technologies that will serve me well in my career. I had the opportunity to design and implement a peer-to-peer distributed system from scratch. I was able to fly business class to the Netherlands, and travel to cities like San Antonio, Las Vegas, and Orlando. Perhaps most importantly, I got the chance to build up a large network of contacts within the industry, and I was able to refine my communications and interpersonal skills through meetings, presentations, and the various other liaisons that arise in the business world. In short, my internship gave me opportunities that school simply could not.
Internship will significantly increase your marketability and, in doing so, you will probably have some fun too. Employers want people with practical skills and knowledge, and that is exactly what you will get from the internship program. While an internship may delay your degree by a year, you will find that, coming out of school, you have better and more lucrative options available to you. Who knows? You may even have a job waiting for you after graduation in the company at which you completed your internship.
My time at IBM has been an immense learning experience and I am grateful for the opportunity that was provided to me. I feel as though I was particularly fortunate in the sense that I got a job with a highly productive team that travels the world and performs exciting work. Even though doing the internship has extended my career as a student by a year, I am happy to have more practical, real-world experience under my belt. After working at IBM, I would certainly advocate that all students participate in the internship program to help identify the type of work they wish to do, as well as to increase their competitiveness when applying for employment after graduation."
