Graduates completing the co-operative education degree requirements will receive a "Co-operative" degree designation. These requirements, determined by the faculty, include completion of:
- Co-op work terms and receiving credit for the corresponding COOP courses. Work terms are administered by Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), with requirements developed in conjunction with each faculty.
- Professional Development (PD) courses that are administered by the Waterloo Professional Development Program (WatPD).
- Work reports and/or reflections that are administered by the degree-granting faculty.
The required number of work terms, professional development courses, and work reports/reflections for each program is detailed in each faculty's section of the Calendar.
To be eligible to count toward a co-operative degree designation, each work term must meet standard or flexible work-term requirements. These criteria are set jointly by CEE and the faculties, and allow for the degree designations to be eligible for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada accreditation.
Students must complete at least three work terms meeting standard work-term requirements and must complete additional work terms (standard or flexible work-term requirements) as specified by their program.
The University also offers credentials attached to co-op degree designations. These credentials are detailed under co-op certificates.