Commerce Co-op Overview
Our Program
The University of Guelph's business program has been transforming students into strong leaders in the Canadian and global economy for nearly 50 years. Through co-operative education experiences, hands-on projects, service learning and business competitions, our business students have the opportunity to apply their learning to real world situations.
Co-op is available from the following Commerce majors:
- Accounting
- Food and Agricultural Business
- Government, Economics and Management
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Management
- Management Economics and Finance
- Marketing Management
- Real Estate
- Sport and Event Management
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University of Guelph Advantage
- Students begin their first work term after completing 3 or 4 academic semesters and mastering the core competencies needed to integrate successfully into the workplace.
- All Commerce students complete courses in Accounting, Information Management, Statistics, Marketing, and Human Resources Management.
- Co-op students complete a mandatory one-semester course that provides them with critical job search skills and prepares them for on-the-job success.
Our Co-op program functions on an on-going basis with job postings accepted throughout the semester. We encourage employers to post at the beginning of our recruitment cycle to ensure a large pool of candidates are available. Employers can begin posting in May for a September start date, in September for a January start date, and in January for work terms beginning in May.
Academic/Co-op Schedule
Accounting Schedule
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Work | Academic |
| THREE | Academic | Work | Academic |
| FOUR | Work | Work | Off |
| FIVE | Academic | Academic |
Management Schedule
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Academic | Work |
| THREE | Academic | Work | Academic |
| FOUR | Work | Work | Off |
| FIVE | Academic | Academic |
Hospitality and Tourism Management Schedule
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Academic | Work |
| THREE | Work | Work | Off |
| FOUR | Academic | Academic | Off |
| FIVE | Academic | Academic |
All Other Programs
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Academic | Work |
| THREE | Work | Academic | Work |
| FOUR | Academic | Work | Work |
| FIVE | Academic | Academic |
Our Disciplines
Accounting
The Accounting program provides students with all undergraduate courses required for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). In addition to courses in accounting, students have the opportunity to develop a secondary area of focus such as leadership,
corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship and innovation, or human resources management.
Food and Agricultural Business
The Food and Agricultural Business program prepares students to work successfully in the multi-billion-dollar agricultural sector. Students are well-positioned for opportunities related to banking, commodities, and within the public sector.
Hospitality and Tourism Management
The Hospitality and Tourism Management major prepares students for professional management-oriented careers in the hotel, resort, restaurant, food service, tourism and related industries. In addition to core programming, case studies are utilized to enhance student
development in the application of managerial concepts and the practical challenges within the hospitality and tourism industry.
Management
Within this major, students gain strategic leadership and management skills, enabling them to work as an organizational leader in a wide range of industries. Students will explore topics such as project management, decision making, team motivation, negotiation and conflict management. This program also allows for students to minor in a variety of disciplines from Computing and Information Science to International Development, or the option to complete all required courses for the Canadian Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation.
Management Economics and Finance
The Management Economics and Finance program integrates the analytical orientation of economics with the practical tools of business management, marketing, and finance/accounting. This major is designed to help students develop advanced problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Marketing Management
Marketing Management focuses on understanding customers and competition, in addition to managing local and global marketing operations. Key areas of study include consumer behaviour, market research, advertising and communications, and product development strategies.
Government, Economics and Management
Within this major, the core business curriculum is supplemented by a specific emphasis on public policy and administration, and business-government relations. Students and graduates in this program are well suited to opportunities in municipal, provincial and federal levels of
government, the legal system and various other academic, health-care and public services.
Real Estate
Real Estate is one of the oldest undergraduate programs in Canada that specializes in the real estate sector. Students in this program are well positioned for opportunities in appraisal, real estate finance, real estate law, property management, urban economics, real estate market analysis, planning and development.
Sport and Event Management
Sport and Event Management combines business education with unique management practices, our strong focus on community engagement, and the vision to develop leaders for a sustainable world. This program provides students with diverse experience and the business skills needed to make an immediate impact in this dynamic sector. Students are well prepared to excel in managing sport and events from grassroots to a global level, with direction from our academic and industry leaders.
About Us
The Experiential Learning Hub is home to experiential learning opportunities on and off-campus, co-op, career education and community engaged learning.