In Northeastern’s signature co-op ecosystem, students undertake six-month research and work experiences with businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in Boston, across the United States, and around the world.
In the co-op model, students are constantly preparing, acting, and reflecting. This cycle begins with a one-credit prep course, in which a co-op coordinator teaches students to build an experiential approach to learning, with the goal of mindfully connecting their co-op positions to their courses of study and their professional aspirations. Next, students take their work from campus learning spaces, apply it outside of the classroom in a variety of environments, and then bring that knowledge and those skills back to our campus learning spaces.
Integrating Co-op with Academic Planning
Northeastern students begin by working with their academic advisors to plan how co-op fits best into their Northeastern pathway. Students take a one-credit prep course taught by a co-op coordinator and then begin to alternate between full-time academic classes and full-time co-op semesters. Students typically work six-month assignments. The exact start and end dates are determined by the employer in collaboration with the co-op coordinator.
- Spring co-op: beginning of January through the last day of June
- Fall co-op: beginning of July through the last day of December
Northeastern students begin by working with their academic advisor to plan how co-op fits best into their Northeastern pathway. Students take a one-credit prep course, and then begin to alternate between full-time academic and full-time co-op semesters. Students typically work six-month assignments. The exact start and end dates are determined by the employer in collaboration with the co-op coordinator. CSSH Co-op coordinator offices are located in 180 Renaissance Park.
Through co-op, graduate students gain work and research experience and apply their knowledge and skills across contexts. Students who participate in co-op also engage in a co-curricular, interdisciplinary experiential integration course. Master’s students have participated in co-op at the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, Indigo Agriculture, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and many more.
For general questions about the Graduate Co-op Search process, contact csshcoop@northeastern.edu.
- While on co-op, students maintain their status as a full-time student, which includes continued health insurance and access to NU facilities.
- Co-op can extend time-to-degree by 6 months.
- CSSH master’s co-op requires that students commit to full-time employment for 6 months. The two co-op cycles run from January-June or July-December.
- Students prepare for co-op beginning early in the semester before they plan to go on co-op (in early September for spring co-ops and in early January for fall co-ops).
- CSSH graduate students may choose to take one additional graduate course while on co-op.
- Graduate students can only go on co-op after they have completed two semesters of coursework. They may search and apply for co-op positions during their second semester of coursework if they meet eligibility requirements.
- GPA requirements vary by program: 3.000 is the college minimum, however, some departments require a higher GPA for eligibility to participate in co-op.
- International students can participate in co-op as curricular practical training (CPT), but may do so only after they have completed their first full academic year. This means they may only go on co-op in year 2.
- Students cannot go on co-op once they have completed all of their required graduate courses in their degree program. They must have a curricular requirement left in order to begin co-op.They may take their last curricular requirement (online or on ground) while they are on co-op or when they return to campus after completing their co-op.
- Students may not apply to co-op position while on Academic Probation.
- Eligible Graduate students recieve an email about the Intent to Co-op process for the upcoming term.
- Students meet with the graduate program director to discuss their interests and review an academic planning worksheet to confirm that co-op fits into their plan.
- Students are required to complete mandatory Graduate Co-op modules in Canvas.
- After completing the Graduate Co-op Canvas modules, students will be prompted to submit the Co-op Search and Work Agreement/Intent form.
- After the Intent form and Canvas module deadlines, students recieve an introductory email from their assigned coordinators and chedule a meeting to review their resume and goals for co-op. They can schedule a meeting via Navigate in the myNortheastern portal.
- Students get approval from the co-op coordinator to begin searching job postings.
- Students select jobs for which to apply, and employers choose whom they want to interview and hire based on skills and qualifications necessary for the job.
- Once a student accept a position, they cannot renege on the offer and must commit to working the full 6-month co-op for the employer.
- Registration for the Co-op Work Experience (XXXX 6964) is handled by Registrar’s Office. It occurs 3 weeks prior to the start of the term and a co-op job has to have been secured. This course triggers full-time academic status. Note: all policy school programs will be registered for PPUA 6964.
- Co-op work experience is graded on a pass/fail basis by the co-op coordinator.
- Registration for the required Experiential Integration course (INSH 6864) is handled by the Graduate Office. This is a co-curricular 1 sh course that is taken twice; and students will be enrolled once a job is secured and as per the timeline below:
January – June Co-op: Register for INSH 6864 in Spring and Summer 1
July – December Co-op: Register for INSH 6864 in Summer 2 and Fall
Important Note: Students must still complete all other curricular requirements associated with their program, so electing to add co-op to the program will increase the SH required for the degree by TWO billable hours.
