Through co-op, graduate students gain work and research experience, apply their knowledge and skills across contexts. Students also participate 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.
Quick Facts
- 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 can take an additional graduate course while on co-op.
Eligibility
- 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 after completing one full semester of courses in their master’s program at Northeastern.
- 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. They must have a curricular requirement left in order to go on 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.
Coursework and Co-op Work Experience
- 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 course; 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.
Process
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 after completing one full semester of courses in their master’s program at Northeastern.
- Students meet with the graduate program director to discuss their interests and eligibility and to determine whether/how co-op fits within the curriculum.
- Students are required to attend a mandatory information session (offered at the beginning of each semester).
- Students are required to submit the Co-op Search and Work Agreement by the stated deadline. The Graduate Office will send a link to the Agreement and notification of deadlines.
- Students attend two mandatory workshops: one on resumé writing and the second on interviewing.
- After they attend the resumé writing workshop, students must schedule a meeting with their co-op coordinator to review their resumé. They can schedule a meeting in the advising section of the myNortheastern portal.
- Students get approval from the co-op coordinator to begin searching job postings on NUWorks.
- 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 students accept a position, they cannot renege on the offer and must commit to working the full 6-month co-op for the employer.
| Program | Graduate Program Director | Co-op Coordinator |
| MS Criminology & Criminal Justice | Greg Zimmerman | Michelle Zaff m.zaff@northeastern.edu |
| MS Economics | Jun Ma | Linnea Basu L.Basu@northeastern.edu |
| MA English | Ryan Cordell | Lisa Doherty L.Doherty@northeastern.edu |
| MA History | Heather Streets-Salter | Richard Conley r.conley@northeastern.edu |
| MA International Affairs | Gavin Shatkin | Jon Andrew j.andrew@northeastern.edu |
| MA Political Science | John Portz | Lisa Doherty L.Doherty@northeastern.edu |
| MPA Public Administration | Linda Kowalcky | Lisa Worsh L.Worsh@northeastern.edu |
| MPP Public Policy | Linda Kowalcky | Lisa Worsh L.Worsh@northeastern.edu |
| MS Security & Resilience Studies | Daniel Aldrich | Joani LaMachia J.Lamachia@northeastern.edu |
| MS Urban Planning and Policy | Gavin Shatkin | Lisa Worsh L.Worsh@northeastern.edu |
| MS Urban Informatics | Dan O’Brien | Lisa Worsh L.Worsh@northeastern.edu |