MCS Co-op

The MCS co-op degree is a new option for students at UNB. The co-op program provides a practical complement to the mainly theoretical course content. It exposes students to the latest technologies and to advanced work in an applied setting. 

Job Placements

Students in co-op placements will use novel or advanced technologies, make use of their high-level analytical skills, and work more independently than in the typical undergraduate co-op position. The identification of suitable placements will be made by the co-op coordinator in conjunction with the director of co-op. Placements do not have to be related to the student's thesis work, but such connections are possible and encouraged. 

Structure

To receive the co-op designation with an MCS degree, students must take a minimum of 2 work terms (8 months) and a maximum of 3 work terms (12 months). 

Application for the first work term is normally made no earlier than the student's second term of study, in order to assess the student's standing in the graduate program. If a student completed their undergraduate degree within UNB’s Faculty of Computer Science, their assessment for the MCS co-op program can be based on their most recent full time undergraduate semester. The final work term cannot be the final term of the student's program. The schedule of work terms is subject to approval by the student's supervisor (or the Director of Graduate Studies if the student has no supervisor). Three possible schedules are shown below:

At the end of each work term, the student must submit a technical work term report to be reviewed by the Director of the Co-op Program. 

Admission

To receive entry into the co-op program the student must be in good standing in the graduate program and receive written permission from the student’s supervisor. Where a student does not have a supervisor they must receive permission from the director of graduate studies. Students will pay a co-op fee instead of tuition during work terms. The co-op fee is the same as for the undergraduate program. 

Support

Orientation, guidance on preparing a CV and doing interviews, and monitoring of the quality of the program will be made by the co-op coordinator and the director of co-op, as in the undergraduate co-op program.

Fees

Students will pay a co-op fee instead of tuition during work terms. The co-op fee is the same as for the undergraduate program.

Intellectual Property

In the event that work undertaken during a co-op term is related to the student's thesis work, the co-op coordinator, together with UNB's technology transfer officer, will ensure that an IP agreement is in place before the co-op placement begins.

More Information

See the Co-op web site.