Why hire our Master of Information co-op students?  

The Faculty of Information’s talented Master of Information (MI) students come from a wide range of backgrounds and have diverse skill sets. With their expertise and deep understanding of society’s information needs, MI students are well suited for opportunities across all industries and sectors. 

Top students from all the MI concentrations participate in co-op.

The eight different MI concentrations all offer employers a unique set of skills

Archival theory, appraisal theories for diverse organizations, preservation principles, technology migration management.

Identify, critically describe and interpret all aspects of the information lifecycle within the full range of social contexts. Creation of beneficial policies, programs and strtegies.

Develop critical skills in the design, use, assessment, evaluation of complex information systems, training in intensive processes of cross-disciplinary peer review..

Complex large-scale data sets and information systems skills, user-centred visualization, ethics and policy. Design implementation and solutions, social implication assessment.

Computational thinking, data modelling, object and strategic modelling, automating existing processes. Data visualization tools.

Knowledge access management, metadata-enabled search and resource discovery, information systems platform designs, health informatics.

Information access, analysis, organization, evaluation, preservation, research, presentation. Librarian, Information Specialist, Metadata and Taxonomy Specialist.

App Design, Experiential and Affective Design, UX Assessment Metrics, Content Management, Digital Policies.

Sample roles MI Co-op students have successfully completed:

  • Archives and Records Management: Archivist, Conservator, Privacy Officer, Records Analyst, Digitization Manager, Data Analyst
  • Culture and Technology: Communications Specialist, Interactive Content Manager, Research & Communications Coordinator, Strategic Advisor
  • Critical Information Policy Studies: Information Policy Developed, Intellectual Privacy Officer, Research Analyst, Women’s and Human Rights Programs Officer
  • Human-Centred Data Science: Network Administrator, Geospatial Information Systems Analyst, Information Access Specialist, Information Architect 
  • Information Systems and Design: Web Developer, Data Scientist, Business Systems Consultant
  • Knowledge Management and Information Management: SAP Business Analyst, Governance Data Quality Steward, Fraud Business Analyst, Customer Data Analyst, Chief Knowledge Officer 
  • Library and Information Science: Clinical Librarian, Information Specialist, Digital Literacy Coordinator & Media Specialist, Metadata & Taxonomy Specialist 
  • User Experience Design: Digital Project Manager, Designer, Solution Developer, UX Designer, UX Analyst, UX Strategies, Web Developer 

Time and duration

Co-op work terms are typically four or eight months with full-time hours.  Work terms follow the academic calendar and start in May, September or January with recruitment typically beginning four months prior. 

MI Co-op employer expectations 

Students are contracted as an employee of the employer’s organization (must be on the employer’s payroll)  

Students are supervised by a full-time employee that is senior in experience to the student and can provide guidance and feedback 

Compensation

BI students are available for both paid and unpaid practicum placements.

FAQs

Typically, students are paid: $23 to $33 per hour and higher. 

There are funding programs available to support the hiring of co-op students.  The Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), is a great place to start. If you are an Ontario-based corporation, you are also eligible for the Ontario Co-operative Tax Credit.  

Employers can offer compensation as they see fit – given that it meets the legal minimum wage requirements. However, the competition for co-op is high so to attract talent, we recommend offering competitive compensation.  

If you cannot budget for the recommended rates and would rather offer an unpaid experience, then you may want to check out our MI Practicum page for more information [link] 

Yes. Once the work term is complete, the Faculty of Information careers office will send all employers the required letter to submit during tax season.

Yes

At a minimum, a student must work 30 hours a week over 12 weeks to complete 420 hours during one academic term.  If the position does not meet the minimum required hours, then employers may wish to consider hiring Bachelor of Information (BI) students for their BI Practicum program. Click here to view details. [link] 

Co-op terms can be four months or eight months in length.

Employers can also offer positions for 12 or 16 months. However, this would depend on the availability of the students as they might have to take a leave of absence from school to complete the remaining term of the contract. Any hours beyond the 8-month term will not be counted towards a student’s Co-op. 

For contracts longer than eight months in length, please consult with staff at the careers office at careers.ischool@utoronto.ca

Please get in touch. The Faculty of Information is interested in hearing from potential panel speakers, mentors, mock interviewers and employers willing to provide resume and portfolio feedback. Whatever the way your talents can be used to help the emerging information professionals at the Faculty of Information, we would love to hear from you! 

Need more information?   

Please get in touch. The Faculty of Information is interested in hearing from potential panel speakers, mentors, mock interviewers and employers willing to provide resume and portfolio feedback. Whatever the way your talents can be used to help the emerging information professionals at the Faculty of Information, we would love to hear from you! 

Staff

Headshot image of Molly Smith

Molly Smith

Employer Engagement Coordinator

Financial Services & Professional Services, Retail & Manufacturing, Technology

Staff

Sana Khan

Engagement Coordinator, Careers

Education, Government, Not for Profits, GLAM Sector (Gallery, Library, Archives, Museums)

Contact Details