Explore the available placement courses in your program below. Placements are designed to help students develop competencies and skills learned in the classroom with hands-on work experience in an organizational setting.
These placements focus on career exploration, employability, and professional skill development, with an emphasis on achieving specific course learning outcomes. Since placements are tied to a course, students earn academic credit and are completed on a part-time basis to ensure students can balance their coursework and other commitments.
Benefits
Gain work experience related to your field of study prior to graduation
Grow your professional network and build references for future employment
Explore career paths in your field of study
Earn course credit for your placement experience
Faculty support throughout the placement process
Hear from our Students
Learn more about LA&PS Placements by hearing from three students as they share their unique experiences. Each student offers insights into their journey, the skills they've gained and the impact these placements have had on their academic and professional development.
Placement Search
Labour Studies Work Placement
SOSC 4240 6.00
The purpose of the course is to provide students with first-hand experience regarding the different ways organizations pursue workplace improvements and broader social and political change for all working people. The course has both seminar (in-class) and placement (cooperative learning) components. The placement component of the course involves work directed by a supervisor (usually a staff person or leader of a union, community-based or social justice organization).
Master of Social Work Practicum
SOWK 5310 6.00
The practicum is a degree requirement of the Master of Social Work program.
Master of Social Work Practicum
SOWK 5350 6.00
The practicum is a degree requirement of the Master of Social Work program.
Placement Option MA
ANTH 5040 3.00
In certain instances a Candidate for the Masters degree may elect to complete a placement in order to fulfill course requirements.
Placement Option PhD
ANTH 6040 3.00
Practicum in Public Administration
PPAS 4995 6.00
Public policy and administration students in their fourth year may register for this placement course, which combines volunteer work experience in an agency with an academic analysis of that experience. Enrolment is by permission only and permission will be granted only in September depending on the number of placements available and the competitiveness of the student pool.
Practicum in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TESL 3300 6.00
The course provides an experiential education opportunity to put theory into practice, integrating blended online and in-class instruction alongside placement at a variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction settings. Students complete 50 practicum hours (30 hours observation and 20 hours practice teaching).
Public History
HIST 4840 6.00
This course examines the forms, goals, and practices of making history in museums, archives, historic sites, and other institutions of public history. It enables students to learn the meaning and methods in the production of memory and introduces them to the practical skills for the public presentation of historical knowledge. The course combines analytical study with a part-time placement in a public-history site.
Social Economy Practicum
SOSC 4046 6.00
Take your studies out of the classroom and apply the skills you’ve learned in an real work situation! Typically taken in fourth year, the Social Economy Practicum course allows you to apply for a position within an organization and work part-time for course credit. Students receive hands-on experience, opportunities to network with people working in your chosen field, and insight into different career pathways.
Info for Students on Placement
As a requirement of placement, all students will access Experience York/Orbis to:
- Accept terms and conditions of placement
- Upload your completed health & safety checklist
FAQ
The answers in this section are general and apply to all placement courses. If you would like more information about the placement course specific to your program, please refer to the course listings above. The individual course webpages will provide detailed information relevant to your program(s) of interest.
How many hours do I need to complete for placement?
The number of required hours vary depending on the course. However, placements are part-time, generally unpaid, and normally do not exceed 8 hours a week.
What is the placement duration?
The length of placement varies depending on the course. If you’re enrolled in a 6.00 credit placement course, your placement can be anywhere between 4 to 7 months. For a 3.00 credit placement course, the placement duration will be 4 months or less.
Do I need to secure my own placement?
It depends on the design of the course. In some cases, you may need to contact external partners with your resume and cover letter to inquire about placement opportunities. For most courses, however, the Course Director will match you to a placement depending on availability.
How are placements graded?
Please review the course outline carefully at the start of the term. A significant portion of your grade depends on your performance during the placement, and your supervisor will also be asked to provide an evaluation.
Can I find my own placement?
Some courses allow students to find their own placements. However, final approval from the Course Director is required to ensure that the role and responsibilities align with the learning outcomes of the course.
What about health & safety?
Placement agreements must be signed before students begin their placements. These agreements outline insurance requirements and obligations for unpaid placements. The Experiential Education (EE) Office will work closely with your Course Director to facilitate this process.
Testimonials
The field placement course provided me with the practical knowledge and skills that I needed to both find employment in the emergency management field, but more importantly be successful within this field. Learning and understanding how an emergency management program operates first-hand is essential to making the transition from university into the workforce. Shortly after completing the field placement course, I was hired full-time by the organization I had completed my placement with. Now, two years later, I am responsible for coordinating and supervising the students that do their placements with our emergency management program. My experience has come full-circle.
— Ben Gallagher
Alumnus, Disaster & Emergency Management '19
I was supported by the entire team when it came to my goals and I was always allowed to attend events and different groups to expand my learning and knowledge.
— Brittni Harris
Student, Social Work
Questions?
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to the Experiential Education Office at eelaps@yorku.ca.