Applied Chemistry Internship Requirements and Program Information
* If the first day of the month falls on a weekend, submit your application on the first working day of the month.
Application and Admission Process:
Step 1: You must be registered as a full-time student in Chemistry.
Step 2: Meet GPA and course requirements (consult the Faculty/Department section of the Calendar). When Do I Apply?
Students in Applied Chemistry generally apply to Co-operative Education in the second year of their program. Students are urged to discuss their pre-admission course selection with their Department as early in their program as possible.
Step 3: Complete the Application Form by the appropriate date.
Step 4: When you apply:
A) Sign up for a New Student Internship Orientation session B) Sign up for the Career Development sessions
C) Should you receive notification from your faculty that you have not been accepted into the program, you will no longer need to attend this session
Step 5: Application deadline New Student Internship Orientation Workshop (Mandatory) Admission Notification Begin Applying for Jobs
Begin First Work Term
September 1 Mon, Sept. 11,2006 3rd week ofSeptember December 1 TBA 3rd week ofJanuary
May 1 TBA 3rd week ofMay
Immediately after academic admission and all requirements are met January May September Admission Notification:
Applications will be forwarded to your Faculty/Department for review and approval. Notification will be sent
A) Submit your resume and a soft copy of unofficial transcripts (registrars office) to Career Services within one week of acceptance notification from you faculty
B) Pay a $50 admission fee to the Fees Office ONLY once you have been admitted by your
Faculty/Department and completed the above four requirements. Once this fee has been paid, you will be activated to access the internship jobs.
Fees
Applied Chemistry internship students complete four or five work terms of approximately 13-16 weeks each. An optional fifth work term is available upon request. Each work term is registered as an academic course and a fee is
charged, payable only once a student has been placed. The first three work terms are assessed course fees of $408 each. Subsequent work terms are not
assessed the course fee. Student Union, health, and dental are charged as usual for all work term courses.
Department Representative
Your Internship representative can assist you with your co-op sequence plan, and will be responsible for reviewing and marking each work term report.
Dr. Scott Hinman can be reached in his office in Science B 431, or email ashinman@ucalgary.ca.
Work Term Sequence
• Typically you can start your first work term in the session following admission to the internship program
• You can do two or possibly three consecutive work terms
• Work terms can be with the same employer or different employers • maximum of two (2) summer work terms are permitted
• Students who are unplaced for a work term may change their sequence or revert to the regular program.
Option A Fall Winter Summer
YEAR 1 Study Study
YEAR 2 Study Study (apply) Work Term 1
YEAR 3 Study Work Term 2 Study
YEAR 4 Work Term 3 Study Work Term 4
Option B Fall Winter Summer
YEAR 1 Study Study
YEAR 2 Study Study Study (apply)
YEAR 3 Work Term 1 Work Term 2 Study
YEAR 4 Work Term 3 Study Work Term 4
YEAR 5 Study Study
Note: Courses should be planned carefully to ensure availability during scheduled study terms. It is the student's responsibility to plan work terms in relation to course availability. The University cannot guarantee that all courses will be available at all times.
Internship Jobs
Students work in a variety of private and public sector companies and departments including Nova Research, Synsorb and National Defense.
Note: Many positions are located outside of Calgary.
First work term positions tend to be administrative or routine in nature. As students gain experience and skills subsequent work terms may include more responsibility and challenge. Work terms can be with a variety of organizations or with the same organization. Don’t limit your opportunities; look at jobs listed under other Faculties and Departments and apply if you meet the job
qualifications.
Possible Internship positions, duties, and tasks may include:
Analytical Chemistry Quality/Process Control
Research/Technical
basic laboratory techniques (titration, dilutions, gravimetry, preparation of standard reagents)
sample preparation (dissolution,
distillations extractions, complex samples) instrument techniques
routine operation: spectrophotometers, UV/VIS, IR, A/AE, pH meters, GC procedure developments: calibration,
working-graphs interferences, trouble-shooting sampling procedure data correlation monitor physical properties literature survey experimental design data acquisition and analysis report preparation computer applications
Internship is an academic program and jobs are not guaranteed. The University works hard to find work term opportunities, but the number of jobs available depends on many factors. Please keep in mind you will be competing against other U. of C. students as well as students from other post-secondary institutions for employment opportunities. Students are also encouraged to conduct their own independent job search.
Pick up a Co-op/Internship application form and the "Checklist of Requirements" handout at Career Services.
What Are Employers Looking For?
Employers seek students who have relevant education, related work, volunteer experience, or extra-curricular activities and who take responsibility for the direction of their careers.
Employers also look for general skills such as written and oral communication skills, analytical skills, ability to learn, positive attitude, responsibility, adaptability and ability to work with others (from "The Critical Skills Required of the Canadian Workforce", prepared by the Conference Board of Canada). Setting and achieving appropriate learning objectives, both before entering the Co-op/Internship
Program and during the program, will help students achieve success in their careers.
Things That Can Advance Your Career
Research occupations and career areas of interest to you by talking to your Career Advisor, the Web, and by talking to people who work in those areas (find out what they do, what qualifications are required, and what
experience is valuable)
Get volunteer or related experience
Plan your courses carefully to develop appropriate skills and knowledge Talk to Career Services, the Co-op Representative in your Department, and
other professors
Attend appropriate professional association meetings and conferences, and network
Improve your confidence and communication skills through workshops offered by Career Services or join groups such as Toastmasters
For additional information on topics such as preparing for success in
Co-op/Internship, sample jobs, admission and program requirements, procedures, and learning objectives please refer to:
1. the U of C Calendar (either hard copy (PDF) or online)
2. Career Services (MacEwan Student Centre 188 or http://www.ucalgary.ca/careers/students)