Educational Studies (Co-op)

A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Educational Studies, Co-op offers a number of career opportunities: 

• Instructional Designer
• Professional Trainer
• Multimedia & eLearning Specialist
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
• Educational Technology Analyst 
• College Professor: EDST students who maintain a competitive average and satisfy the entrance requirements for graduate studies at Ontario Tech will receive priority consideration for our Master of Education Program, providing the credential required to become a college professor.
• K-12 Teacher: EDST students who are accepted into our Concurrent Education program and satisfy the admission requirements will be automatically accepted into our 16-month Bachelor of Education Program, leading to Ontario teacher certification. 
  

Other Career Opportunities:

• Aboriginal child care programs
• Adult learning specialist
• Advertising, marketing and public relations managers
• Administrators – post-secondary education and vocational training 
• Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants
• E-Learning and Interactive Media 
• College and other vocational instructors
• Education counsellors 
• Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers 
• Human resources managers and professionals 
• Managers in public administration 
• Manager, child care centres
• Social policy researchers consultants and program officers 
• Web designers and developers

Students in the Educational Studies, Co-op program must complete all program requirements for both Educational Studies and Co-op. In addition to the courses required for the Educational Studies program, students must complete the following prior to their first work term: 

• EDST 2310C – Foundations for Success in Co-op

Furthermore, students are strongly encouraged to complete the following elective(s) before beginning their work terms: 

• EDST 2420U – Workplace Learning 

Preferred sequence

Students are encouraged to connect with an Academic Advisor to develop a tailored program map. The following represents the preferred sequencing of Co-op program elements, but timing is flexible! 

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Fall semester
EDST 1000U -  Foundations of Learning  EDST 1130U -  Writing & Information Literacy + 3 courses (see Program Map)	EDST 2310C - Foundations for Success in Co‑op		EDST 4320W - EDST Co‑op Work Term III
Winter semester
	EDST 2420U - Workplace Learning  Locating first (four-month) work placement
Spring/Summer semester
	EDST 3310W - EDST Co‑op Work Term I	EDST 4310W - EDST Co‑op Work Term II

 

 

If you have a particular career destination in mind, you may choose to refine your studies by enrolling in courses related to one of our five specializations: 

• Adult Learning with Technology
• Digital Technologies
• Early Childhood Studies
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Special Education

For a specialization to appear on your transcript, you must submit a Change of Specialization form and successfully complete a minimum of four courses in your desired specialization area.* 

Adult Learning with Technology specialization: 

• EDST 2420U – Workplace Learning
• EDST 3460U – Working with Clients and Partners
  and at least two of the following: 
• EDST 2410U – Foundations of Adult Learning
• EDST 3440U – Managing and Developing eLearning Projects
• EDST 4470U – Trends and Issues in Educational Technology

Digital Technologies specialization: 

• EDST 2120U – Culture and Digital Technologies
• EDST 2160U – Online Learning
• EDST 2180U – AI in Education [New!]
• EDST 3140U – Digital Communication Technologies
• EDST 3440U – Managing and Developing eLearning Projects
• EDST 4120U – Games and Simulations for Learning
• EDST 4130U – Pop Culture and Education  [New!]
• EDST 4190U – Developing your Educational Technology Portfolio [New!]
• EDST 4470U – Trends and Issues in Educational Technology [New!]

Early Childhood Studies Specialization: 

• EDST 2170U – Designing Inclusive Learning Environments
• EDST 3160U – Developing Literacy
• EDST 3170U – Developing Numeracy
• EDST 3610U – Child Development and Health
• EDST 4150U – Holistic Learning in Early Childhood
• EDST 4610U – Coding and Maker Pedagogies for Young Children
• EDST 4620U – Ecology of Learning: Play, Nature and Community in Education [New!]
• EDST 4670U – Developing Space and Spatial Reasoning [New!]

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Specialization: 

• EDST 2170U – Designing Inclusive Learning Environments
• EDST 3500U – Unlearning and the Inclusive Curriculum
• EDST 3520U – The Power of Art: Advancing Equity through the Creative Process [New!]
• EDST 3700U – Models of Inclusion
• EDST 4500U – Enabling Learning through Technology
• EDST 4530U – Social Justice Issues in Education
• EDST 4540U – Learning in Community [New!]
• EDST 4560U – Supporting Multilanguage Learners in Elementary Schools [New!]

Special Education 

• EDST 2700U – Foundations of Special Education
• EDST 3700U – Models of Inclusion
• EDST 3710U – Understanding the Diversity of Educational Needs
• EDST 4700U – Technology and Assistive Tools for Special Education

^*Note: Lists subject to change. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the most up-to-date course listings for specializations.

How long is the program? 

The EDST Co-op program takes a minimum of 11 semesters to complete. This includes 8 semesters of coursework (full course load - 5 courses per semester) plus a minimum of 3 co-op work terms. 

Since co-op placements are full-time, paid work experiences, they extend the overall length of the degree, but also provide practical experience, professional connections, and a stronger resume by graduation. 

How many work terms can I do?

Students must complete a minimum of 3 co-op work terms to earn the Co-operative Education designation on their degree, and can complete up to a maximum of 5 work terms. 

Can I take courses during a work term? 

If permitted by their placement supervisor, students may enroll in one course during a co-op work term. Students will be required to submit a course information form to the Co-op and Experiential Learning office, with signatures from both their placement supervisor and designated co-op officer, no later than 10 days into a semester to remain enrolled. 

Can all of my courses be completed online?

All EDST courses are available online, with select in-person options for core 1000- and 2000-level courses. However, students must complete a minimum of three 2000-level (or above) courses outside the Frazer Faculty of Education, and we cannot guarantee online course availability outside of our faculty. 

Students are encouraged to meet with their Academic Advisor in advance of course registration for assistance locating online breadth electives. 

What are your online classes like?

Online course delivery will vary across the university, but Education courses are designed to maximize interaction, collaboration, and community building. We use a flipped classroom model, where students review readings, videos, or short activities on their own, then use virtual or in-person class time for discussion, collaboration, and hands-on learning!  

Many courses also integrate an inquiry- or problem-based learning approach where "students, working in small teams, examine a problem situation and, through this exploration, are expected to locate the gaps in their own knowledge and skills in order to decide what information they need to acquire in order to resolve of manage the situation." 

To get the most out of the program, students are expected to participate actively in classes (using their webcam and microphone, if online). Seeing one another's facial expressions and body language makes discussions more engaging and helps everyone communicate more effectively! 

What technology do I need?

Students need access to a computer (ideally a laptop) with a combination headset and microphone, a webcam, and good quality internet access. Please refer to IT Services' Technology-Enriched Learning Environment (TELE) guidelines for students in the Frazer Faculty of Education. 

How do I participate in the online virtual classroom?

Classes will take place on Zoom or Google Meet; a link to the virtual classroom will be provided in the syllabus for each course. 

What computer skills do I need?

Some comfort with technology is needed for this program, but just as important is a growth mindset toward learning new digital technologies. If a specific tool is new to you, use the situation as the basis for an independent problem-based learning opportunity to try to figure it out for yourself or work collaboratively with your peers. Peers and instructors are great resources for learning technology, and Ontario Tech's Student Learning Centre can provide additional support! 

A full and current breakdown of tuition and fees is available from the Office of the Registrar, including a tuition calculator for your convenience! In the event of a discrepancy between this page and the Registrar, the Registrar should be considered the most correct source. 

In general, tuition consists of (a) program fees, and (b) ancillary fees. 

Program fees 

Program fees directly support the courses and program you are enrolled in. In the Frazer Faculty of Education, program fees are assessed by course, not by semester. Each Education course costs approximately $600. 

Students in a co-op program also incur the following: 

• Co-op entrance fee: A one-time fee charged at the time of registration in the co-op program. 
• Co-op preparation course fee: A one-time fee charged during the semester a student enrolls in EDST 2310C: Foundations for Success in Co-op. 
• Work term fee: Payable upon registering for each work term. 

Please refer to the Co-op and Experiential Learning website for more details. 

Mandatory ancillary fees

Ancillary fees support the various programs, resources, and services students can access during their time at Ontario Tech. These are charged by semester, and vary depending on your status (full-time or part-time) and semester (Fall and Winter or Spring/Summer). 

Ancillary fees are approved by both the Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU) and the Board of Governors. View the full ancillary fee breakdown, including when each fee is charged. 

Non-mandatory ancillary fees

These fees are only charged once per academic year, and you have the ability to opt-out under certain circumstances: 

• Health and dental: Provides coverage to supplement the provincial health plan. You can opt-out of a portion of the health and dental insurance fees by providing proof of pre-existing coverage. Find out more about the health and dental insurance opt-out process. 
• Legal protection: Provides access to legal representation for housing, employment, and academic discipline disputes and a legal hotline for all areas of law. Find out more about the legal protection opt-out process. 
• MyVirtualDoctor: Provides access to virtual health care for undergraduate and graduate students. Learn more about the MyVirtualDoctor opt-out process. 

For more information about fees and tuition, please see the Office of the Registrar's website. 

How can I fund my degree? 

Visit the Student Awards and Financial Aid website for information on scholarships, bursaries, student loans, and other sources of funding.

How do I apply to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Educational Studies, Co-op program?

Beginning in September 2025, students can apply directly to the co-op program (and their specialization of choice) on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website. 

1. Create an account, or log in to an existing OUAC account. 
2. Create an undergraduate program application. 
3. Fill in your Personal Details and Background, as requested by OUAC. 
4. Under Program Choices, navigate to Ontario Tech University. 
5. Under Frazer Faculty of Education, select one of the Educational Studies, Co-op program options. 

OUAC charges a flat application fee for up to three program choices (across institutions); additional program choices will incur an extra fee. 

For more information about admission requirements, including important application deadlines, English language proficiency requirements, and transfer credits, please refer to our digital viewbook. 

Documents

• Academic Calendar: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Educational Studies
• Academic Calendar: Educational Studies, Co-op
• Academic Calendar: Educational Studies Course Descriptions 

Websites

• Co-op & Experiential Learning at Ontario Tech 
• Meet Education Faculty and Staff
• Journal of Educational Informatics (JEI)
• Journal of Digital Life and Learning (JDLL)
• Ontario Tech Student Services: Learn more about mental health services, academic advising, accessibility and accommodations, student learning supports, library services, and more.