Our university is pretty well-known for vast amount of opportunities for experiential learning. In this blog, we’re talking all about our co-op, internship and placement programs for each faculty at the university.

Ontario Tech University has over 300 industry and community partners dedicated to supporting our students in their learning. Stay tuned for faculty-specific blogs in the future, featuring real students and their experiences in the programs. Let’s get into what experiential learning is, what we offer and why it is so beneficial.

What does experiential learning mean and what is a co-op, internship and placement?

Experiential learning is hands-on, it just means learning through experience! Every single one of our faculties offers this to their students in different forms, but we will just be discussing the more external forms of experiential learning. There are many different terms about to be used, so let’s define what I mean when I say these things.

A co-op usually means a four-month work term, and you are able to do some back-to-back. This form of experiential learning is offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, the Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, and the Faculty of Science.

This involves full-time paid work as a part of your program. It is possible to complete one co-op placement during the summer in between school, or during the school year. You continue taking classes when your co-op term(s) get completed.

An internship is usually a longer paid work placement, lasting 12 or 16 months. In this form of experiential learning, you have the opportunity to take on longer-term projects and integrate into your company more fully. This is offered by our Faculty of Business and Information Technology, the Kinesiology program in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science.

I’m using the term “placement” to encompass the practicum program in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, the research practicum program in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the field placements in the Faculty of Education and the clinical learning experience in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Why should you complete a co-op, internship or placement?

Take the opportunity to gain invaluable practical experience in your field! These placements can give you experience in your field that will make you very desirable candidate once you have graduated, and can even get you rehired by the same company you did your placement with.

Some forms of placements are paid positions, so you can earn good money while getting this experience. You get to network with industry professionals, and apply what you learn in class.

Now that we know what the terms mean and why you should do this, let’s get more into what opportunities are possible per faculty.

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)

FEAS offers both internships and co-ops to students in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher. Check out their amazing new co-op and internship website that really breaks down anything and everything you need to know about experiential learning in their faculty, as well as includes some student profiles.

Some examples of where our students in FEAS have completed internships and co-ops in the past are: Honda, Tesla, Ontario Power Generation, General Motors, Volkswagen, Celestica, General Electric, BMW, RBC, HydroOne and many more!

Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science (FESNS)

Like FEAS, FESNS offers both internships and co-ops to students in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher. Some examples of where past students have completed internships are OPG, Bruce Power, Canadian Nuclear Safety Comission, Nuclear Safety Solutions and more.

Faculty of Business and Information Technology (FBIT)

FBIT offers internships to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some examples of possible companies to complete an internship with through this faculty are: RBC, BDO, CIBC Cisco, KPMG, Ontario Ministry of Finance, SunLife, Ubisoft, TD Bank, Ontario Power Generation, General Motors and more!

Faculty of Science (Fsci)

The Faculty of Science offers co-ops to students with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. The Forensic Science program is excluded from the co-op program due to the already built-in experiential learning components of the program.

Some examples of companies that FSci students have completed co-ops at in the past include: Ontario Centre of Forensic Sciences, Mount Sinai Hospital, Lakeridge Health, Ministry of the Environment, Department of National Defense, and many more!

Faculty of Health Sciences (FHSc)

The Kinesiology program offers one or two semester internships as a course to students in their fourth year. All programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences offer a fourth-year research practicum where students take this as a course, and assist in all aspects of a research project with a research tutor.

The Medical Laboratory Science and Nursing programs have clinical learning experience built into their program for all students, where you can apply your knowledge.

Some examples of placements in FHSc include: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, the Abilities Centre, SickKids, Lakeridge Health, and many more.

Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH)

FSSH offers a practicum program to students in their fourth year, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some examples of placements that our students in SSH have been at include: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Ministry of the Attorney General, Durham Regional Police, Innocence Canada, and many more!

Faculty of Education (FEd) 

The Faculty of Education offers field placements to their Consecutive Education students at one of their partner institutions. A few of these partners include: Durham Catholic District School Board, Durham District School Board, Toronto District School Board, York Catholic District School Board and more.

As you can see, our university offers many opportunities for hands-on practical learning in every faculty! Our students love the connections and experience they gain from completing these programs.

Are you planning on completing a co-op, internship or placement? Find out all about the different faculties, check out our student's success stories and share yours with us!

Interested in any of the programs and faculties mentioned in this blog? Download our viewbook to learn more about what our university has to offer.