PLAN 5201.00 Work Term This course is supervised by the Director of the School, or the Graduate Officer, as designated by the School. It is normally completed during the summer semester. Each student is responsible to find an appropriate placement and request approval from the School for it to meet the work term requirement. The Faculty of Architecture and Planning provides assistance in that search but cannot find each student a placement. Students are advised to begin their job search early, and to explore all possible avenues to find a placement that suits their interests. Students may contact the Career Coordinator for addresses of potential employers, and for assistance with job searching strategies. Students who cannot find paid placements may apply to have the School consider a volunteer work placement. The work term is an employment experience within an academic learning context. Official Description The work term provides an opportunity for students to integrate practical work experience within the educational environment. A student must complete a work term of not fewer than 500 hours over not fewer than 12 weeks in an employment placement approved by the School of Planning. The student maintains a work journal during the work term, and prepares a synthesis paper at the end of the work term reflecting on the lessons learned during the work term. The student makes a presentation within the School upon completion of the work term. Restriction: Master of Planning students Grading system: pass/fail Requirements to pass • The student obtains a placement approved by the School of Planning. • The student completes 500 hours at that placement over not fewer than 12 weeks, as confirmed by the employer. • The student maintains a journal during the experience, and completes a log book per the Canadian Institute of Planners' form, signed by the employer, due no later than the second Monday after the next academic term begins. (The journal provides an opportunity for recording observations and questions that result from the work experience. Students are encouraged to reflect on their practice on an on-going basis. The journal need not be submitted for evaluation. The log book is submitted to the Coop Coordinator.) • The student completes a work term reflective paper, describing the work undertaken, reflecting on the lessons learned and considering the links between education and practice. The paper should consider how a year of planning education prepared the student for the work term, and what the student wants to learn more about because of the lessons of the work term. The paper is due no later than the second Monday after the next academic term begins. (Suggested length 3-6 pages.) It should be submitted to the Coop Coordinator. • The student gives a presentation on the work term during the subsequent semester, reflecting on the lessons learned. Suitable jobs for a work term placement include the wide range of employment opportunities that planners may pursue. This could include, for example, employers such as municipal planning departments, federal or provincial agencies, non-profit groups, universities, or development companies. The kinds of duties that may be acceptable include research, analysis, planning, design, advocacy, coordination, or writing. The Canadian Institute of Planning defines planning to mean "the planning of the scientific, aesthetic and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities." Thus the profession is highly inclusive, and reflects an approach as much as a body of knowledge.