Masters of Applied Computer Science Co-op FAQ

Co-operative Education utilizes learning partnerships between the university and employer partnerships to provide students with opportunities for relevant, paid employment while they are completing their academic studies. A combination of non-credit courses combined with practical work experience empowers students. Students apply and further develop the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their degree program, and are more confident and prepared to enter the workforce.

Participants will:

• Apply academic theory gained in the classroom in a structured work setting.
• Obtain 8 months of relevant paid professional experience.
• Get hands-on training and exposure with the emerging technologies and methods in your field.
• Clarify career plans and preferred working style. Get exposure to industry options such as corporate, government, non-for-profit, and research and development.
• Become well informed about professional etiquette, business culture, and business communications.
• Continuously evaluate your own skills, abilities, and knowledge: learn how to promote yourself confidently to an employer.
• Build business contacts and networking skills to assist in finding employment upon graduation.

Co-operative education utilizes experiential learning partnerships between the university and employer to provide students with opportunities for relevant, paid employment while completing academic studies. The three components of the program include professional development seminars, work term, and COOP 530 (capstone course).

Students must be registered and complete 9 credits per term in the full academic year to be considered for, and to remain in, the Co-operative Education Program. Once in the program, September MACS students will complete the two professional development seminars in the fall and will be eligible to work in the summer and fall semester after the first year. January MACS students will complete the two professional development seminars in January and be eligible to work in the Winter and Summer semester after their first year.

MACS Co-op students must achieve 70% in their academic courses throughout their program to remain in the program. If a student's course average falls below 70%, the student will be ineligible to continue with the Co-op Program, no exceptions. (Note: the 70% average is a new requirement starting in September 2023).

Students will be emailed in late August with the process and timeline of confirming Co-op Status. MACS students who begin their academic studies in January will have the opportunity to confirm their decision about completing the Co-op program before the add/drop course date in January.

Once MACS students confirmed their status with the StFX Admissions department, they are automatically enrolled in the Co-op Program. However, students are not recognized by the Co-op Program as Co-op students until the student confirms their decision to complete/not complete the program. Before the course add/drop date in September, the Co-op program will have mandatory co-op student “check-ins” where students will confirm their decision to stay or leave the co-op program. This will be the only time that a student can opt out of the Co-op program. Once the student opts out of the Co-op program, they are not permitted to opt in at a later date. For January MACS Co-op students, the Co-op Office will have a similar process using the January add/drop course date.

* Students have the opportunity to complete 12 credits in the winter semester after completing their co-op work term (subject to change for the 23/24 academic year).

** MACS co-op students are strongly encouraged to focus on their academics in the fall semester of their first year. The Co-op Office will review academic grades in December. If a course grade falls below 70% (which is considered a fail grade by MACS academic standards, the student will be ineligible to continue with the co-op program. 

*** September start MACS co-op students are only permitted to be on co-op work term in the summer and fall terms as indicated in this table. If a student does not secure a work term in the summer, they will become ineligible for the program. 

January MACS start (referred to "January MACS Co-op Students"): In addition to the two professional development seminars that are completed in-person in January, students’ also complete 8 months of work experience (January to August period only) and return to STFX to complete their MACS degree and COOP 530.

* As the students are completing the graduate seminar in-person in winter, the work term in this semester must be in-person (close to Antigonish) or remote.

** MACS co-op students are strongly encouraged to focus on their academics in the winter semester of their first year. The Co-op Office will review academic grades in April. If a course grade falls below 70% (which is considered a fail grade by MACS academic standards, the student will be ineligible to continue with the co-op program. 

*** January start MACS co-op students are only permitted to be on co-op work term in the winter and summer terms as indicated in this table. If a student does not secure a work term in the winter, they will become ineligible for the program. 

Once MACS students confirmed their status with the STFX Admissions department, they are automatically enrolled in the Co-op Program. However, students are not recognized by the Co-op Program as Co-op students until the student confirms their decision to complete/not complete the program. Before the course add/drop date in September, the Co-op program will have mandatory co-op student “check-ins” where students will confirm their decision to stay or leave the co-op program. This will be the only time that a student can opt out of the Co-op program. Once the student opts out of the Co-op program, they are not permitted to opt in at a later date.

Students complete mandatory non-credit co-op courses before going on work terms. The courses are designed to increase students’ success in the program and help students locate and secure the work term. Students can register for the seminars the same as how they register for their regular courses. The content covered in the seminars assist students with learning essential workplace skills and job search preparation that students will use throughout their working life.

Masters of Applied Computer Science (MACS) co-op students (September start) begin their work term in the summer following the first year. The student continues to work in the fall semester and returns to StFX in the winter semester to finish their program and the capstone course COOP 530.

Like other university co-op programs, while on the work term, students complete various assignments that help facilitate learning and reflection. MACS students complete 8 months of co-op work experience. For internal reporting purposes, the work terms are broken down into May to August (Summer) and September to December (Fall).  For each four month work term, assignments include learning objectives, worksite evaluation, reflective essay, and student performance evaluation. A worksite evaluation helps the program, the student and the employer gauge how the work term is progressing. The work site evaluation is a valuable assignment that contributes to student learning as we help students to reflect on their competencies, ability to work within a professional environment, and identify key learnings. One work site evaluation is completed for every 4 months of work. Co-op work terms are paid and full time.  Pay ranges over the last year have been $17-$35/ hr for a minimum of 35 hrs/wk.

In order to pass a work term, MACS Co-op students must successfully complete all co-op work term assignments AND receive a minimum grade of satisfactory from their work term supervisor.

Masters of Applied Computer Science (MACS) co-op students (January start) begin their work term in the Winter semester after completing two academic terms (students complete the Winter term they started the MACS program, and the fall semester). The student starts their work term in January and continue to August (8 months consecutive). The student returns to StFX in the fall semester to finish their program and the capstone course COOP 530.

Like other university co-op programs, while on the work term, students complete various assignments that help facilitate learning and reflection. MACS students complete 8 months of co-op work experience. For internal reporting purposes, the work terms are broken down into January to April (Winter) and May to August (Summer).  Students are not eligible for Co-op opportunities until they have successfully completed the professional development seminar and two academic terms. For each four month work term, assignments include learning objectives, worksite evaluation, reflective essay, and student performance evaluation. A worksite evaluation helps the program, the student and the employer gauge how the work term is progressing. The work site evaluation is a valuable assignment that contributes to student learning as we help students to reflect on their competencies, ability to work within a professional environment, and identify key learnings. One work site evaluation is completed for every 4 months of work. Co-op work terms are paid and full time.  Pay ranges over the last year have been $17-$35/ hr for a minimum of 35 hrs/wk.

In order to pass a work term, MACS Co-op students must successfully complete all co-op work term assignments AND receive a minimum grade of satisfactory from their work term supervisor.

Students return to the academic setting after the employment experience to share their work experience with co-op peers.  Co-op 530 consists of a formal group debrief and presentation. COOP 530 is completed in the winter (September start) or fall (January start) semester after the student completes their final work term.

MACS Co-op students must obtain a 70% in each course (new University policy, starting for September 2023). The Co-op Office will review students' averages at the end of every term. If a grade falls below 70% the student is not eligible to continue with the Co-op Education program. The Co-op Office strongly encourages all MACS Co-op students to focus on their academics. Although you are completing 3 courses per term; the workload associated with the courses is much higher than undergraduate courses. In addition, some employers will base hiring decisions on a student's academic average. Some employers will request students provide an unofficial transcript when applying for a job.

Your success in the program is dependent upon your level of involvement. You will get more out of your Cooperative Education experience, the more you commit to the program. Attending the mandatory non-credit co-op courses, incorporating what you are learning into your co-op work term search, and polishing your own employability will increase your success. Students must personally balance their academic commitments at all times in the program. This program is competitive, rigorous and requires extra time and effort in addition to your degree requirements. Co-op staff help and support. We have seen many students who have achieved their career and educational goals while enrolled in the Co-op Education program.

The Co-op Office provide day-to-day program support and oversight. The Co-op Office’s function is to facilitate and evaluate the learning process and to develop employment opportunities for students. The Co-op Office works with students to help prepare them with pre-employment training, reviews letters of offers, and works with employers to build approved work term opportunities for students. Additionally, the Co-op Office also ensures that both the student and the employer are having a productive work term. If an issue does arise, the Co-op Office works with both the student and the employer to find a solution. The Co-op Office works to ensure the integrity of the Co-op program and all of its stakeholders, including our co-op students and employers.
Co-op Education is more than just work experience. Each StFX Co-op program component from the seminars to the work term to COOP 530, assists students with building their competencies, career goals, and reflection skills. Monitoring and evaluating a student's work term performance provides an exceptional learning opportunity for the student.

Yes. The Co-op Office must approve the job as a co-op work term first. Students submit the job description and letter of offer to the Co-op Office. We will review the information and determine if the role meets our co-op work term requirements.  The Co-op Office will also advertise numerous jobs from employers with whom we have developed partnerships. We have many "repeat" employers who love to hire StFX Co-op students.

The following are identified limitations:

• The Co-op Program requires additional time and effort. Attending the non-credit courses, completing assignments, applying for work terms, and interviews can increase students’ workload. However, the skills you learn in Co-op will assist with future job searching and career goal setting.
• The Co-op staff does not guarantee work term placements. Job searching is competitive and the professional development seminars teach students how to be successful in the job search.
• The Program requires flexibility and adaptability. Often students need to flexible and understanding when applying to co-op positions or participating in interviews.
• Students must be aware that securing a work term can be stressful, interviews and commencement of employment offers can occur on short notice. Co-op students need to be flexible and accommodating.

Students join because they make the decision to begin the transition from student to professional. Students learn about themselves through the program requirements, by sharing experiences with other co-op students, and through access to related events. They become informed of different career options available in their field of study, learn to effectively job search, as well as market their education, skills, and experience. Students can earn money to help offset educational costs. Finally, the StFX Co-op Education program is one of the few universities in Canada that assigns academic credit for Co-op completion.

No. The Co-op Program receives positions from across Canada. There are very few if any, IT-related roles in Antigonish. Students must expect to relocate in order to complete a work term.

The Co-op Office will receive co-op job ads from a number of employers from across Canada. This can change year to year depending on the employer's hiring needs. Typically, co-op jobs are advertised on the Co-op Education job board and/or the employer's website. Co-op students apply to the role with the information asked for by the employer (i.e. cover letter, resume, names of references, transcript). The employer will review all of the applications they receive and select co-op students who they would like to interview. The students go through the interview and the employer decides who they would like to hire. The timeline from when the student applies to the interview to the hire can vary depending on the employer (i.e a couple of weeks to a month or longer). To increase their chances of being selected for an interview, students must customize their cover letter and resume to the job and employer. The Co-op Office can provide guidance to students when applying.

How much a student gets paid while completing a co-op work term will vary (role, location, industry, the number of work terms, etc). However, over the last year, we have had students make between $20/hr to $35/hr.  Our co-op students work a minimum of 35 hrs/wk for a minimum of 14 weeks in a semester.  In a four-month work term, working a 35 hr/wk for 14 weeks a student can make between $9800 to $17,150 before deductions.

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9 digit number that you need to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits.  A SIN is issued to one person only and it cannot legally be used by anyone else.  Students can apply for their SIN once they begin their studies at StFX.  For additional information about SIN, visit the following Government of Canada website.