In Northeastern’s signature co-op ecosystem, students undertake six-month 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 experiential education prep course, in which a co-op coordinator guides students through career exploration, job search, networking, interviewing and other life-long professional skills. Next, students take their skills and experience from campus learning spaces, apply it to their work environments, and then bring that knowledge and those skills back to the classroom and other student experiences.
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. After completing their experiential education course they alternate between full-time academic classes and full-time co-op semesters. Students typically work two 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 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 Boston Planning & Development Agency, various state agencies for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the MBTA and many more. For more on co-op in our graduate programs, read this article.
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.
- Students must hold a minimum 3.00 GPA or above to begin the co-op search process.
- 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 one curricular requirement left in order to begin co-op. Depending on their program students take their final coursework after co-op or while on co-op as appropriate.
- Students may not apply to co-op position while on Academic Probation.
- Eligible Graduate students receive an email about completing the required Intent to Search form prior to their co-op search in the beginning of January or September. This form confirms your intent to participate in the co-op search process, which always takes place the semester prior to when you would begin working as a co-op student.
- Students meet with their graduate program director to review their academic planning worksheet and confirm whether co-op fits into their plan.
- Students who choose to go on co-op are required to complete the Intent to Search form and subsequently added to the mandatory CSSH Graduate Co-op Canvas Module.
- After the Intent to Search deadline passes, students receive an introductory email from their newly assigned coordinator and schedule a meeting to review their resume and goals for co-op, using Navigate on the myNortheastern portal.
- Students must get approval from their co-op coordinator in order to begin applying to job postings within the NUworks platform.
- Students select jobs for which to apply, and employers choose whom they want to interview and hire based on skills and qualifications necessary.
- Once a student accepts a position they must confirm it with their co-op coordinator and complete their NUworks placement. They cannot renege on a co-op offer and must commit to working the full co-op term for the employer.
- Registration for the required Co-op Work Experience (XXXX 6964) is handled by Registrar’s Office. It occurs 3 weeks prior to the start of the term after a co-op job has been secured. This course triggers full-time academic status.
- 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 completed by the student once the Registrar enrolls them in the course listed above. This is a co-curricular 1 sh course that is taken throughout 1 semester and 1 summer term for a typical 6-month co-op experience; students will be enrolled once a job is secured per the timeline below:
January – June “Spring” Co-op: Register for INSH 6864 in Spring and Summer 1
July – December “Fall” Co-op: Register for INSH 6864 in Summer 2 and Fall
Important Note: Students must complete all other curricular requirements associated with their program, so electing to add co-op to their program will increase the SH required for the degree by TWO* billable hours (*if a 6-month co-op experience is taken).
