All Community Development students participate in a six-week, unpaid Professional Placement in the final term of the fourth year. Placements can take place locally or internationally. Students who have established a GPA of 2.5 or above may also opt for the additional Co-op Program and can enroll either at the beginning of the second year (recommended) or third year.
Co-op requires three work terms, two of which normally take place in the spring/summer and one is conducted during the regular academic year which means that graduation is usually delayed for one term. Students normally receive pay to offset costs during a co-op work term. Upon successful completion of the three work terms, a student receives three elective course credit hours.
Students who are interested in completing the co-op option should meet with their academic advisor as soon as possible to discuss their professional goals and the type of placement as well as possible agencies and locations where they would prefer to gain experience. Once the initial meeting is complete, the student should arrange a further meeting with Community Development's co-op liaison, Christina McRae, who can provide more detailed information about Acadia's Co-op Program.