Employers want to hire graduates with education and experience. Most of Centennial's three-year programs in business and engineering technology offer co-op education. This arrangement combines academic courses and related paid work experience with approved employers. In most cases, your four-month work terms will alternate with academic terms (after Semester 3), so you won't have the traditional summer break between academic years. By the time you graduate, you could have a full year of Canadian work experience. And the government allows you to work for an additional year after graduation.

Co-op education staff work closely with students to make their work experience as meaningful as possible. However, finding and arranging for a job is ultimately the student's responsibility. Staff also work with a wide variety of organizations in business and industry to promote the program and locate appropriate available positions. As part of your co-op education, we will help you with the following:

• Preparing your résumé
• Learning job search techniques
• Interviewing skills
• Defining on-the-job expectations
• Setting and achieving your objectives
• Developing your academic and career potential

To qualify for co-op work terms, you must complete 80 per cent of first-year courses, as well as achieve a minimum grade of C in College English (ENGL-170) and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5/4.5 in engineering technology programs, or a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.5 for business programs.

Please be advised that the difference in tuition fees for a co-op and non co-op program is approximately $350 per semester. If a student decides to switch from a co-op to a non co-op program after the add/drop date deadline (one week after the official start date) or does not qualify due to a low GPA (below 2.5), he/she is not entitled to a refund of the co-op fee for past semesters.

International students are eligible for co-op programs. For more information, please call 011-416-289-5000, ext. 2524.