Graduate students

At UVic Political Science, learning extends beyond the classroom. Through the Co-operative Education Program (co-op) and Career Services, students can develop skills for a successful and fulfilling career.

Co-operative Education is an integrated approach to post-secondary education that combines academic coursework with employment in the public, private or not for profit sector. Co-operative education is a three- way partnership between the university, students and employers. Co-op work terms give students the opportunity to contemplate theory learned in the classroom, contribute to the success of host organizations, and develop discipline specific and professional workplace skills.

Political Science is one of the seven disciplines in the Social Sciences Co-op Program. Further information on the program is available on the Social Sciences Co-op website.

In addition to taking part in the co-operative education program, students and organizations can benefit from events and services such as career fairs, company information sessions, one-on-one meetings with career educators and more. Visit the Co-op and Career events website to learn more.

Political science students love co-op because it enables them to use their education in a practical way while developing professional workplace skills and contacts. It also enables them to experience a variety of workplaces and earn while they learn! Graduate students also appreciate maintaining full-time student status while on co-op terms without being registered in other courses.

MA and PhD students should apply to the co-op program in your first term of study and must achieve a grade of B or better in courses taken for credit in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. MA students complete their first co-op term after the first year of course work, usually in the summer or fall.

In order to earn the co-op designation, MA students are required to complete two co-op terms and PhD students are required to complete three work terms. Further information on the Graduate Co-op program is available in the Graduate Studies Calendar.

Who hires graduate political science co-op students and what do they do?

Political science students work in government, in private sector and for non-profit organizations in Greater Victoria, across Canada, and beyond. Some recent organizations of graduate students include: BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition, Literacy Victoria, and the University of Victoria Division of Continuing Studies.

Common work that Political science students do is research to support policy analysis and development, Ministerial meetings, program design and implementation, and communications. Political sciences co-op students also are involved with project management, program coordination, website writing and maintenance, media monitoring, educational outreach, and community development activities.