Ah, Sharon, you've caught me out! I was forgetting about co-op programs.
You're right, in the sense that they help to give people markeatble
experience. However, the tradeoff is that there tends to be less academic
content in the overall program. Sometimes (computer science, for example)
this is probably a good thing; in other cases, it may not be. I am afraid I
have no personal experience in co-op programs and should probably keep my
mouth shut. However, co-op programs DO have one very useful advantage - that
of showcasing participants to potential employers and, given the current job
market and the difficulties new graduates face in finding jobs, that can be
one HELL of an advantage.

Harry Needham
Special Advisor - Programme Development
Canadian War Museum
330 Sussex Drive,
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0M8
Voice: (819) 776-8612  Fax (819) 776-8623
Email: [log in to unmask]

> ----------
> From:         Sharon McCartney[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Wednesday, November 18, 1998 11:20 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Advanced Degrees
>
> But Harry, what about co-operative education programs?  Our Arts Co-op
> program here at the University of Victoria regularly places undergrad
> students (majoring in History, History in Art, English, etc...) in museum
> positions.  These students are highly employable on graduation; in
> addition
> to their academic backgrounds, they also have curatorial skills, public
> programming skills, administrative skills, fundraising skills, volunteer
> recruitment and supervisory skills--I could go on but I won't.
>
> --Sharon
>
>
> >Well said Vanessa. I have but a small quibble. Twenty (in my case, 35
> years)
> >ago, undergraduate programs weren't doing anything more to prepare people
> >for employment than they are now!
> >
> >Harry
>
>
> _______________________________
>
> Sharon McCartney
> Coordinator
>
> Arts & Writing Co-operative Education Program
> University of Victoria
> P.O. Box 3025 STN CSC
> Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3P2
>
> URL: http://www.coop.uvic.ca/arwrcoop/
> tel: 250/721-8836
> fax: 250/721-6615
> email: [log in to unmask]
>