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Co-op

Co-ops for Graduate Students

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

  1. While on co-op, students maintain their status as a full-time student, which includes continued health insurance and access to NU facilities.
  2. Co-op can extend time-to-degree by 6 months.
  3. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. CSSH graduate students can take an additional graduate course while on co-op.

Eligibility

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  1. Students meet with the graduate program director to discuss their interests and eligibility and to determine whether/how co-op fits within the curriculum.
  2. Students are required to attend a mandatory information session (offered at the beginning of each semester).
  3. 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.
  4. Students attend two mandatory workshops: one on resumé writing and the second on interviewing.
  5. 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.
  6. Students get approval from the co-op coordinator to begin searching job postings on NUWorks.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
ProgramGraduate Program DirectorCo-op Coordinator
MS Criminology & Criminal JusticeGreg ZimmermanMichelle Zaff
m.zaff@northeastern.edu
MS EconomicsJun MaLinnea Basu
l.basu@northeastern.edu
MA EnglishRyan CordellLisa Doherty
l.doherty@northeastern.edu
MA HistoryHeather Streets-SalterRichard Conley
r.conley@northeastern.edu
MA International AffairsGavin Shatkin Jon Andrew
j.andrew@northeastern.edu
MA Political ScienceJohn PortzLisa Doherty
l.doherty@northeastern.edu
MPA Public AdministrationChris BossoLisa Worsh
l.worsh@northeastern.edu
MPP Public PolicyChris BossoLisa Worsh
l.worsh@northeastern.edu
MS Security & Resilience StudiesDaniel AldrichJoani LaMachia
J.Lamachia@northeastern.edu
MS Urban Planning and PolicyGavin Shatkin Eric Winter
e.winter@northeastern.edu
MS Urban InformaticsDan O’BrienEric Winter
e.winter@northeastern.edu