Minors, Options, Diplomas, Certificates

The Certificate in Experiential Education (EDGE certificate program) recognizes and supports work- and community-based experiential education. Through completion of the certificate program, students acquire essential career-seeking skills, learn to identify and articulate the skills gained through experiential education opportunities, and reflect on their interests, skills, goals, and experiences to identify post-graduation options. The certificate program is open to undergraduate students enrolled in regular (non co-operative) programs and is completed in tandem with their degree. The EDGE certificate program is managed by the Waterloo Professional Development Program (WatPD).

Requirements

The certificate consists of four components:

1. One skills identification and articulation workshop
2. One career development course
3. Three experiential education courses
4. One capstone component

1. Skills identification and articulation workshop – Students earn this milestone by attending a skills identification and articulation workshop offered by the Centre for Career Action or by successfully completing any course which offers the skills identification and articulation workshop as part of the course content.
2. Career development course – Students fulfil this component by successfully completing either PD 1: Career Fundamentals or an alternative from the career development courses list.
3. Experiential education (EE) courses – Students fulfil this component by successfully completing work- or community-based experiential education courses. Alternatively, students may pair a Professional Development (PD) course with an approved extra-curricular or co-curricular experiential education opportunity. For each of the experiences associated with the EE courses, students must submit a performance appraisal completed by their work- or community-based supervisor (or approved delegate). Upon completion of each experiential education opportunity, students produce a reflection assignment. Specific requirements follow: 
   • Students can complete any combination of three work- or community-based experiential education courses or PD courses paired with an approved experience.
   • Students must indicate their interest in counting work- or community-based experiential education courses towards the Certificate in Experiential Education by the end of the course add period.
   • Students pursuing co-curricular or extra-curricular opportunities must have their opportunities approved and must be registered in a PD course by the end of the course add period.
   • To qualify for the Certificate in Experiential Education, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities must involve a minimum of 36 hours in any given term.
   • With the exception of PD 1, PD courses can be taken only when paired with an approved co-curricular or extra-curricular opportunity.
   • Students wishing to take a work- or community-based experiential education course or PD course which would exceed their approved course load may do so with permission of their undergraduate advisor.
   • Work- or community-based experiential education courses may be double counted towards the Certificate in Experiential Education and one other credential.
   • Although PD courses carry credit weight, they cannot be counted towards a student’s primary degree.
   • There are many courses that provide optional opportunities for work- and community-based EE. With the approval of the WatPD Director or delegate, courses other than those on the approved work or community-based experiential education list may be used towards the course component of the certificate. Students are responsible for demonstrating the experiential nature of their course work.
4. EDGE capstone – students earn this milestone by completing an online module or by participating in an in-person EDGE capstone workshop. Students must have successfully completed a minimum of four milestones (one skills identification and articulation workshop, one career development course, and at least two work- or community-based experiential courses) before attempting the capstone component.

Students can learn more about, and register for, the EDGE certificate program on the EDGE website.