Field Experience Essay
Michael J. Bonneville
Professor Stephanie Wallace
COMM1007
10 February 2014
Cooperative education (Co-op) is becoming more abundant in the curriculum of college and university degree programs within recent years. With a strong focus on gaining field experience, this form of education helps students cross the boundary from classroom learning to the real world. Co-op focuses on developing general employment skills and provides a head start for students in achieving their career goals (Wilton 603). Although not without it’s faults, the program has received positive results from employers, students and educators alike. It is no wonder why post-secondary institutions are rushing to ensure that students have some type of co-op or work placement in their study program.
Career uncertainty is a thought that goes through the mind of many young students that are attending college or university. “When students commence university studies, they typically choose subjects that are of interest to them, and hold only vague notions of intended career paths” according to a study done by Zegwaard and Cole (282). This is why cooperative education provides a great base for defining a student’s career choices. The co-op placement gives the student a taste of the real world without having to fully commit to a specific field. For example, if a student is enrolled in the George Brown diploma program for Business, he or she may decide they want to specialize in accounting. Without any hands on experience, the student may graduate school and acquire a position with an accounting firm. After a few weeks or months, he or she may find that profession is not to their liking. If the student had enrolled in a co-op program, they may have already discovered this during their first work placement term. During their second term, they may have opted to try a different field and realized that project management was much more fitting to their personality and abilities.
Another benefit of
Professor Stephanie Wallace
COMM1007
10 February 2014
Cooperative education (Co-op) is becoming more abundant in the curriculum of college and university degree programs within recent years. With a strong focus on gaining field experience, this form of education helps students cross the boundary from classroom learning to the real world. Co-op focuses on developing general employment skills and provides a head start for students in achieving their career goals (Wilton 603). Although not without it’s faults, the program has received positive results from employers, students and educators alike. It is no wonder why post-secondary institutions are rushing to ensure that students have some type of co-op or work placement in their study program.
Career uncertainty is a thought that goes through the mind of many young students that are attending college or university. “When students commence university studies, they typically choose subjects that are of interest to them, and hold only vague notions of intended career paths” according to a study done by Zegwaard and Cole (282). This is why cooperative education provides a great base for defining a student’s career choices. The co-op placement gives the student a taste of the real world without having to fully commit to a specific field. For example, if a student is enrolled in the George Brown diploma program for Business, he or she may decide they want to specialize in accounting. Without any hands on experience, the student may graduate school and acquire a position with an accounting firm. After a few weeks or months, he or she may find that profession is not to their liking. If the student had enrolled in a co-op program, they may have already discovered this during their first work placement term. During their second term, they may have opted to try a different field and realized that project management was much more fitting to their personality and abilities.
Another benefit of
Cited: Darred, Aman. Personal Interview. 8 Feb. 2014 DelClou, L. Sattler, P. and Peters, J. “The University of Waterloo and Work Integrated Learning: Three Perspectives” Higher Education Quality Counsel of Ontario (2013): uwaterloo.ca 22-103 Web. 8 Feb. 2014 Green, J. Peter. "The Impact Of A Work Placement Or Internship Year On Student Final Year Performance: An Empirical Study." International Journal Of Management Education (Oxford Brookes University) 9.2 (2011): 49-57. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Jan. 2014 Wilton, Nick. "The Impact Of Work Placements On Skills Development And Career Outcomes For Business And Management Graduates." Studies In Higher Education 37.5 (2012): 603-620. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Feb. 2014 Zegwaard, Karsten E., and Richard K. Coll. "Using Cooperative Education And Work-Integrated Education To Provide Career Clarification." Science Education International 22.4 (2011): 282-291. ERIC. Web. 9 Feb. 2014