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Careers & Co-ops

Co-ops and Internships

The faculty is now offering co-op, or co-operative education, to students enrolled in the following arts programs: English, politics and governance, history and sociology.

Learn more about the Arts Coop Program  (opens in new window) 

Underrepresented communities continue to face barriers in accessing lucrative entrepreneurship opportunities created by Canada's burgeoning technology-driven innovation sector. Black entrepreneurs in particular encounter steep challenges when starting and growing a business - from accessing seed capital to having fewer publicly recognized role models.

This is why Ryerson DMZ has joined forces with a community of Founding Partners to develop the Black Innovation Programs (BIP). The first-in-Canada programs will provide startups led by Black entrepreneurs with the strengthening support of a top university-based incubator network, as well as additional programming, mentorship, events, and connections to industry, capital and an alumni network, to support their success and growth.

Learn more about Black Innovation Programs

Career Support

Race Forward (opens in new window) 

Race Forward is a career preparation program for Ryerson's Black undergraduate students that launched in Summer 2021. The program provides professional development training, networking opportunities, and mentors to help Black students make informed career choices and launch their careers. The initiative is organized by Ryerson Career and Co-op Centre and Tri-Mentoring Program.

The program takes place from May to August and will be open to students who are interested in discussing their identity, understanding their strengths, and meeting Black professionals from a variety of industries. Students must be willing to commit to five workshops and maintain a relationship with a career mentor over the summer.

If you have any questions, contact the Race Forward team at raceforward@torontomu.ca.

Career Builder (opens in new window) 

The Ryerson Career Builder Program is a three month transformative program for students from equity-seeking groups who are:

  • Looking for mentorship or exposure to professionals with real world experience Interested in learning more about what their degree can do for them
  • Curious about what the workforce is really like

 

For more information, visit Diversity & Inclusion Programs  (opens in new window) 

Networking

African Women Acting  (external link) 
Black Professional in Tech Network  (external link) 
Black Business and Professional Association  (external link) 
Black Female Accountants Network  (external link) 
Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals  (external link) 
Black Female Lawyers Network  (external link) 
Black Law Student Association of Canada  (external link) 
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers  (external link, opens in new window) 
Canadian Association of Black Journalists  (external link) 
National Society of Black Engineers  (external link) 
Black Medical Students’ Association of Canada  (external link) 
The Canadian Black Scientists Network  (external link) 

Organizations

The CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals (external link)  is a charity dedicated to addressing economic and social barriers affecting black youth ages 14 and over. Their activities are focused on youth workforce development, education, and advocacy to influence systems and policy.

ByBlacks.com (external link)  has a job board and industry experts contributing on a variety of topics.

Onyx Initiative’s (external link)  mission is to support the professional growth and development of Black Canadians as they launch their careers after university/college, helping them through access to placements, mentorship and professional development.

Nia Centre for the Arts (external link)  is a Toronto-based charitable organization that supports, showcases, and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the Afro-Diaspora.

Interactive Ontario Black Youth Action Plan (external link)  provides career initiatives for training, support and work placement opportunities to help Black youth secure high-quality employment and advance their careers in the Interactive Digital Media Industry.

A Different Booklist (external link)  is an African-Canadian owned bookstore showcasing the literature of the African and Caribbean diaspora, the Global South and all the major publishers and small presses.

Second Story Press has compiled a list of Black and Indigenous owned bookstores in Canada and the USA (external link) . They were inspired by various lists that have been compiled by others, including @blacklitbookclub,  @arielbissett, and @massybooks.

The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) (external link)  is a registered Canadian charity, dedicated to the study, preservation and promotion of Black History and heritage. The Society aims to encourage public interest in Black History through the:

  • Recognition and documentation of the contributions of peoples of African descent and their collective histories, past and present, through education, research and collaboration.
  • Development and support of educational initiatives and exhibits.
  • Inclusion of Black History material in school curricula.

The City’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism unit (CABR) (external link)  is responsible for rolling out the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. The action plan is SMART – strategic and specific; measurable; achievable; relevant and realistic; and timely. Most importantly, it responds to the priorities identified by Toronto’s diverse Black communities.

Thinking about Grad School?

If you will need additional qualifications or you just want to continue learning: