Co-op program details

Software Engineering Technology

Program details

Credential: 3-Year Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Conestoga's Software Engineering Technology (Co-op) program is recognized as one of the top programs of its kind in Ontario. This dynamic three-year program provides students with the knowledge and skills to function effectively as a Software Developer.

Proper software design and development techniques are learned in order to prepare the student for work in a technical environment. A strong emphasis is made on learning from first principles - developing skills to adapt in an ever-changing industry.

Students develop a firm understanding of software design methodologies in application development, mobile development, embedded programming, systems programming, and database infrastructure.

Conceptual and practical knowledge of desktop development, web development, mobile smartphone/tablet development, database development, software quality, computer security, and embedded system programming is acquired.

Student availability & wage data

Conestoga College facilitates recruitment on an ongoing basis - there are no hard deadlines. Typical time frames for work terms are listed below.

Postings are accepted beginning four months before the start of a term until all students have secured employment provided the minimum 12 consecutive weeks of full-time work is met.

Work/Study Sequence

Year Fall (Sept - Dec) Winter (Jan - Apr) Spring (May - Aug)
Year 1 Classes Classes
Year 2 Classes Classes Work Term 1: $17-33
Year 3 Work Term 2: $17.50–34 Work Term 3: $18-34 Work Term 4: $18-34
Year 4 Classes Classes

Conestoga College collects data on hourly wages of co-operative education students and offers suggested ranges as a service to employers for the purpose of establishing fair and competitive compensation.

Our experience has been that employers increase wages as skills increase, particularly when employing students for more advanced work terms. The Co-operative Education Office can provide assistance to employers in establishing appropriate wage rates.

Work term capabilities

It is expected that due to the longer period of time with the employer, students will be given progressive responsibility and/or exposure to new challenges as their skills develop.

Work terms 1 - 4

Students are able to perform junior through intermediate level software engineering and development tasks, including: software prototyping, specification-based implementation and specification development. Topics covered in the program prior to the co-op terms include:

  • Traditional and Agile design and analysis methodologies as well as traditional project management styles
  • Full stack development
  • Source-code control
  • Unit-level, integration and system level testing - both manual and automated
  • C/C++, .NET (C#), Assembly Language (ARM and M68xx)
  • SQL (MySQL)
  • Database application development (desktop and web-based)
  • Windows Forms, Windows Presentation Foundation, Universal Windows Platform
  • Web development technologies
    • Client-side : JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery and HTML5
    • Server-side : MVC, ASP.NET, PHP, ASP and CGI
  • Android application development
  • Software troubleshooting and bug reporting

Sample job titles

  • Application Developer
  • Embedded Software Developer
  • Linux System Developer
  • Mobile Software Developer
  • Programmer
  • QA/QC Technologist
  • Software Developer
  • Web Administrator
  • Web Developer
  • Windows Developer

Program courses

To see a typical course list for this program, see the current program course information.

Post a co-op job now

Setup an account or login to Conestoga's MyCareer to post a job.

Contact information

Do you need help developing a recruitment plan or job posting, accessing wage information, or connecting with a talented co-op student? Contact:

Darren Pearson
Employer Relations Consultant
Dpearson@conestogac.on.ca