ASIP

Introduction

Arts & Science Internship Program

255 Beverley Street, 3rd floor.
asip@utoronto.ca

The Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) is a professional work-integrated learning program for Faculty of Arts & Science students enrolled in specific programs of study. Students enrolled in the ASIP stream of their program of study complete mandatory Professional Development programming plus a minimum of 12 and maximum of 20 months of paid, full-time, academically related work experience. The time to degree completion for students enrolled in ASIP is normally 5 years. ASIP is administered by the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Experiential Learning & Outreach Support (ELOS) Office.

The ASIP stream of each program is limited enrolment. Students will typically be admitted to the ASIP stream of their program for the Fall term of Year 2 of study; however, in exceptional circumstances, students, including transfer students, who enrolled in an eligible program in the Summer after Year 2, may be admitted to the ASIP stream of their program for the Fall of Year 3. Acceptance into an ASIP stream in Year 3 is dependent on space and requires approval of the student’s academic unit and the Faculty of Arts & Science Experiential Learning & Outreach Support (ELOS) Office. Please refer to the ASIP Eligibility page for further details.

The mandatory Professional Development programming will help students prepare for their work opportunities and maximize their learning while on their work terms. It will consist of 4 zero credit weight courses taken over 4 academic terms (Year 2 entry) or 2 academic terms (Year 3 entry). The completion of these courses is mandatory for the ASIP stream of each program, in addition to the regular academic requirements of the program.

The work experience component will consist of 12-20 months of paid, full-time work in the private, not-for-profit, and/or public sectors. For students enrolling in the ASIP stream of their program for the Fall term of Year 2, the first, 4-month work term will take place in the summer between Year 2 and 3, followed by a longer 8, 12 or 16-month work term following the completion of Year 3. Students enrolling in the ASIP stream of their program for the Fall term of Year 3 will complete 12 or 16 months of work experience after Year 3 over one or two work terms. Students completing all mandatory Professional Development requirements and a minimum of 12 months of work experience will graduate with the ASIP stream acknowledged on their transcript.

Students will be provided a wide range of professional development supports as they progress through the ASIP stream of their program, including workplace readiness and job search coaching, access to a dedicated co-op/internship job board, professional skill development training, access to Employer Relations and Student Development staff, industry information sessions, resources to support students facing barriers to employability, and community-building events. Acceptance into the ASIP stream of a program does not guarantee a student’s employment in each work term.

There are additional ancillary fees to participate in the ASIP stream. Fees are paid over a series of six installments, paid as ancillary fees which will be assessed on each Professional Development course, while the final two payments will be assessed on the first two work terms between Year 3 and Year 5. Refer to the mandatory Fees section below for further details.

Eligible Programs

Department of Computer Science:

• Data Science Specialist (ASSPE1687; joint program with Department of Statistical Sciences)
• Computer Science Specialist (ASSPE1689)
• Computer Science Major (ASMAJ1689)

Department of Statistical Sciences:

• Data Science Specialist (ASSPE1687; joint program with Department of Computer Science)
• Specialist in Statistical Science: Methods & Practice (ASSPE2270)
• Specialist in Statistical Science: Theory & Methods (ASSPE2290)

Department of Mathematics:

• Mathematics Specialist (ASSPE1165)
• Applied Mathematics Specialist (ASSPE2053)
• Mathematics & Physics Specialist (ASSPE0397; joint program with Department of Physics)
• Mathematics & Philosophy Specialist (ASSPE1361; joint program with Department of Philosophy)
• Mathematical Applications in Economics & Finance Specialist (ASSPE1700)
• Mathematics & its Applications Specialist (ASSPE1758, ASSPE1890; ASSPE1580)
• Mathematics Major (ASMAJ1165)

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology:

• Joint Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology Specialist (ASSPE2340)
• Biomedical Toxicology Specialist (ASSPE2573)
• Pharmacology Specialist (ASSPE2082)
• Environment & Toxicology Specialist (ASSPE0605)

Department of Chemistry:

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry Specialist (ASSPE1211)
• Chemistry Specialist (ASSPE1376)
• Biological Chemistry Specialist (ASSPE1995)
• Materials Science Specialist (ASSPE2424)
• Chemical Physics Specialist (ASSPE0600)
• Synthetic & Catalytic Chemistry Specialist (ASSPE1377)

Centre for Industrial Relations & Human Resources:

• Industrial Relations & Human Resources Specialist (ASSPE1536)
• Industrial Relations & Human Resources Major (ASMAJ1536)

University of St. Michael’s College:

• Book & Media Studies Major (ASMAJ1300)

Department of Cell & Systems Biology:

• Cell & Molecular Biology Major (ASMAJ1003)
• Genome Biology Major (ASMAJ2655)
• Animal Physiology Major (ASMAJ1538)
• Cell & Molecular Biology Specialist (ASSPE1003)
• Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Specialist (ASSPE1868)

Department of Economics:

• Economics Major (ASMAJ1478)
• Economics Specialist (ASSPE1478)
• Financial Economics Specialist (ASSPE2722)
• Economics & Mathematics Specialist (ASSPE2599)

School of the Environment:

• Environmental Science Major (ASMAJ1076)
• Environmental Studies Major (ASMAJ1254)
• Environment & Health Specialist (ASSPE0365)
• Environment & Health Major (ASMAJ0365)
• Environmental Ethics Major (ASMAJ1107)
• Environment and Toxicology Specialist (ASSPE0605; joint program with Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology)

Department of History:

• History Specialist (ASSPE0652)
• History Major (ASMAJ0652)

Human Biology:

• Health & Disease Specialist (ASSPE2013)
• Neuroscience Specialist (ASSPE1472)
• Fundamental Genetics & its Applications Specialist (ASSPE1050)
• Global Health Specialist (ASSPE2575)

Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology:

• Pathobiology Specialist (ASSPE2025)

Department of Physics:

• Biological Physics Specialist: Advanced Physics Stream (ASSPE2739)
• Biological Physics Specialist: Biochemistry Stream (ASSPE2737)
• Biological Physics Specialist: Immunology Stream (ASSPE2740)
• Biological Physics Specialist: Physiology Stream (ASSPE2738)
• Physics Specialist (ASSPE1944)
• Physics Major (ASMAJ1944)

Department of Political Science:

• Political Science Specialist (ASSPE2015)
• Political Science Major (ASMAJ2015)

Department of Psychology:

• Psychology Major (ASMAJ1160)
• Psychology Specialist (ASSPE1160)

Department of Sociology:

• Sociology Specialist (ASSPE1013)
• Sociology Major (ASMAJ1013)

Department for the Study of Religion:

• Religion Major (ASMAJ0151)
• Religion Specialist (ASSPE0151)

Student Eligibility

Students will apply to the ASIP stream of their program in the spring term after Year 1 (for Year-2 entry) or Year 2 (for Year 3 entry). To be eligible for admission to ASIP, students must meet the following core requirements:

• Be enrolled in an academic program that is participating in ASIP.
• Year 2 Entry: Entering Year 2 (4.0-8.5 credits completed) as a full-time student in the upcoming Fall/Winter session. Year 2 students who exceed the 8.5 credit limit due to transfer credits (whether from secondary school or postsecondary studies), with up to 10 credits at the time of entry, will also be considered.
• Year 3 Entry: Full-time students entering Year 3 (up to 13.5 credits completed) in the upcoming Fall/Winter session, and who enrolled in an eligible program in the summer after Year 2, may also be considered. Year 3 entry to ASIP, however, will be dependent on space and will require approval of both the student’s academic unit and the Experiential Learning & Outreach Support (ELOS) office. Refer to Year 3 Entry Eligibility for further details.
• Be in good academic standing or on probation at the time of application and must remain in good academic standing or on probation to continue in ASIP and apply for a work term.
• Be returning to full-time studies after completion of all work term requirements. Students returning for only one term must be enrolled in at least 1.5 credits in that term.
• Not currently part of another co-op program at the University of Toronto.
• Both domestic and international students from eligible programs may participate. All international students require a valid work permit to participate in a work term. The International Student Immigration Advisors at the Centre for International Experience (CIE) can provide guidance and support for those that require it. Students are encouraged to apply for any required work permit as soon as possible after being admitted to the ASIP stream of their program.
• Students with part-time status may be considered for the program if they have received accommodation from the University. Examples of accommodation include, but are not limited to, being registered with Accessibility Services. Students with accommodation needs should first contact asip@utoronto.ca.

Student Selection and Enrolment

The ASIP stream of each program is limited enrolment. All students who meet the eligibility requirements stated above, and who submit a completed ASIP application package, will be considered for admission.

The ASIP program’s mission is to help students prepare for professional life through work-integrated learning. We strive to provide inclusive services that enable all students to thrive and succeed in the program, including those from equity-deserving groups. We encourage all interested students to apply to the program.

Holistic admissions criteria will form the basis for admission, with the following criteria being considered:

• demonstrated leadership, communication, teamwork, and community-building qualities
• evidence of motivation to learn and develop
• resilience and ability to overcome challenges
• sense of self and sense of responsibility, ability to learn from mistakes

The application package will consist of the student’s resume and responses to a series of non-cognitive questions exploring the above qualities. Further details about applying to ASIP and program requirements can be found here.

Program Details

Students will typically be admitted to the ASIP stream of their program for the Fall term of Year 2 of study. However, in exceptional circumstances students, including transfer students, who enrolled in an eligible program in the Summer after Year 2, can be admitted to the ASIP stream for the Fall term of Year 3. Acceptance into an ASIP stream in Year 3 is dependent on space and requires approval of the student’s academic unit and the Faculty of Arts & Science Experiential Learning & Outreach Support (ELOS) Office. Refer to the eligibility page for further details. Enrolment is limited and requires a supplemental application.  

The work experience component will consist of 12 to 20 months of paid, full-time work in the private, not-for-profit, and/or public sectors. To help students prepare for their work opportunities and maximize their learning while on their work terms, students will also complete mandatory professional development training.  

Students completing all mandatory professional development requirements and a minimum of 12 months of work experience will graduate from the ASIP stream of their program. This will be identified on their transcript with the notation “A&S Internship Program”.  

Completion Requirements

Year 2 Entry

• Second Year: PDC220H1, PDC221H1, and INT200H1 (optional)
• Third Year: PDC320H1, PDC321H1, and INT300H1 (optional)
• Fourth Year: INT300H1 (mandatory if not previously completed), INT400H1, INT450H1 (mandatory if INT200H1 not previously completed), INT470H1 (optional)

Year 3 Entry

• Third Year: PDC230H1, PDC231H1, PDC330H1, PDC331H1, INT301H1 (optional)
• Fourth Year: INT301H1 (mandatory if not previously completed), INT401H1, INT451H1, INT471H1 (optional)

Students must abide by the following guidelines and restrictions: 

• Year 2 Entry: Students can complete one short (4-month) work term and one work term of 8, 12 or 16 months with two separate employers; or one long immersive work term with one employer to a maximum of 16 months. 
• Year 3 Entry: Students can complete one short (4-month) work term and one work term of 8 or 12 months with two separate employers; or one long immersive work term to a maximum of 16 months with one employer.
• Students must return to full-time study after their final work term. Students returning for only one term must be enrolled in at least 1.5 credits in that term.
• Students will only be allowed to complete a 4-month work term in the summer term.
• Students will not be able to compete for additional jobs through the ASIP job board after 12 months of work experience has been completed. 
• Students will be able to compete for a maximum of two work term opportunities through the ASIP job board. 
• New work terms will begin in the Summer or Fall terms only. 

Students are not normally eligible to enrol in courses while participating in their work terms. Students who wish to take courses must request the approval of their employer and the ELOS office, and approval may be granted for no more than one 0.5 credit course for each of the Fall term, Winter term, or Summer session.

Students will be considered full-time students while completing their work terms. The expectation is that all students joining ASIP in Year 2 will attempt to secure a 4-month work term in the summer between Year 2 and Year 3. Students who are unsuccessful in securing a work term will still be able to remain in the program and compete for work terms in the year between Year 3 and Year 5. During the summer between Year 2 and Year 3, these students may choose to take additional courses to accelerate their time to graduation, or work in jobs that would not otherwise be eligible for ASIP (i.e., part-time and/or unpaid). 

Mandatory Professional Development Courses

Work Terms

Students must complete a minimum of 12 months of work experience. Each 4-month work block will be coded as follows:

Mandatory Fees

There is a supplemental fee to participate in ASIP. The total cost to participate will be paid over six installments, which will be assessed on each Professional Development course, while the final two payments will be assessed on the first two work terms between Year 3 and Year 5. Refer to the chart below for the 2024-25 ancillary fees. There is no work term fee for the INT200H1 4-month work term taken between Year 2 and 3 and students will not be required to pay the work term fee if they are unable to secure a work term. Year 3 entry students do not take the INT200H1 work term course. Ancillary fees will be linked to the following course codes to facilitate payment: