Co-op and Experiential Learning

Boston Campus

Email contact: [email protected]

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
In-Person		1pm – 3pm	1pm – 3pm
Virtual	1pm – 3pm			1pm – 3pm

Toronto Campus

Email contact: [email protected]

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
In-Person (FCP)	1 pm – 2 pm – 52 Collab 2			11 am – 12 noon – 52 Collab 2
In-person QSW		2pm – 3pm – QSW – 609	2pm – 3pm – QSW – 609	1pm – 2pm – QSW – 609
Virtual Drop			11 am – 12 noon		11 am – 12 noon

Seattle Campus

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
In-Person (225 Building, 3rd floor games area)		3-5pm		12-2pm

Bay Area (San Francisco/Silicon Valley) Campus

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
In-Person			1-2:30pm (Room 300-F)	1-2:30pm (Room 300-D)

The Roux Institute (Portland) Campus

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
In-Person			2-4pm

Vancouver

Contact Your Co-op Support Team: [email protected]
Book an Appointment: Students can book appointments with Yuki Miao directly by emailing her or [email protected] directly.

Opportunities at CPS

In the College of Professional Studies, experiential learning can meet your academic, professional, and personal needs. Through varied, flexible options, integrating experiential learning into your degree plan is a breeze.  

Co-op, Part-Time Co-op, and Experiential Learning at Work are all optional experiential learning activities offered in CPS. Students in CPS can also complete Experiential Network (XN) projects. These projects can be completed both in your classes and as an extracurricular activity. For more information on (XN) projects, visit the XN project website. 

Eligibility Requirements

If you are interested in engaging in a Co-op, or other experiential learning options, be sure you meet all the eligibility requirements.

Undergraduate Co-ops	Graduate Co-ops
• Complete 24 semester hours in your current program of study at CPS • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher • Complete 1 academic year or 2 semesters of full-time enrollment in your program of study	• Complete 24-27 credits in your current program of study at CPS • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher • Complete 1 academic year or 3 quarters of full-time enrollment in your program of study

• International students must meet additional eligibility requirements for CPT (Curricular Practical Training). All US Based International Students must complete at least one academic year as a full-time, degree-seeking with an active SEVIS record. One academic year is defined as two semesters for undergraduate students or three quarters for graduate students.
• A Co-op cannot take place in a student’s final term. Students must have at least one graduation-required course left to complete in the term after the Co-op.

Get Started

Understand Where and How Experiential Learning Can Fit into your Program: 

Meet with your Academic Advisor to: 

• Communicate your interest in experiential learning and discuss the various options 
• Discuss your course plan and where experiential learning can fit it considering the academic and other eligibility requirements for experiential learning and your program requirements 

Meet with your Co-op Advisor to: 

• Go over the process of engaging in an experiential learning opportunity and learn important deadlines and dates 
• Learn about the required courses to get credit and registrations to maintain status 
• Learn about the database of positions currently available to CPS students. Students are welcome to develop their own opportunities with employers not affiliated with our database, as long as the position meets the criteria for a Part-Time Co-op or Co-op and falls within the appropriate academic term timeframe. 

Enroll in INT2000/INT6200: Preparing for Experiential Learning (optional) 

Your academic advisor can assist you in enrolling in the INT 6200 – Preparing for Experiential Learning- course if you are a graduate student or INT 2000 -Preparation for Experiential Learning – if you are an undergraduate student. This 1 credit course is not required for students who expect to self-develop their Co-op, but it is encouraged. For those students that will be searching for jobs through our Northeastern developed opportunities (including access to NUworks) and for those wishing to participate in an extracurricular XN project, there continues to be a requirement to successfully complete the INT course. 

International Students (US)

As an international student, you have the option to incorporate a Co-op or XN Project in your program. We recommend you begin at the start of your degree to ensure it is integrated into your course of study—helping you take advantage of as many opportunities as possible while you are at Northeastern. 

Before you can participate in a Co-op or XN project you must: 

• Enroll in INT 6200 (Graduate)/INT 2000 (Undergrad): Preparing for Experiential Learning (1 credit) to increase your likelihood of success (optional but recommended). 
• Obtain approval from your Co-op Advisor once you have an offer letter in hand 
• Apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization with your Co-op Advisor. See below for more details:
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as alternative work/study, Part-Time or Full-time Co-op, cooperative education, or any other type of required practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.
    • A student must complete one academic year (two semesters/three quarters) of full-time study in the US before being eligible for CPT.
    • CPT authorization is required for all unpaid and paid Co-op/Part-Time Co-op positions.
    • No final term CPT is authorized – must have at least one degree required course left to take in the term after Co-op/Part-Time Co-op.
    • If you have already completed your degree requirements, you cannot receive CPT authorization.
  • Students should submit their CPT Work Authorization Request at least 3 weeks before your desired start date, to ensure that there is enough time for their approval.
  • Students should submit their CPT E-form Request through the OGS office, after their Co-op is approved by the CPS Co-op Team. Students should use [email protected] as the Secondary Approver Email when prompted.

US based students who receive a paid position and do not have a social security number (SSN) must apply for an SSN once they have received CPT authorization. 

The OGS website will provide you with additional important information on procedures and forms to ensure legal authorization.

International Students (Canada)

How do I apply for a Co-op work permit and SIN Social Insurance Number?

• Please review the Co-op and work permit eligibility before applying: Co-op Work Permit – Office of Global Services
• If you haven’t received your Co-op work permit you may apply 3-4 months prior to your Co-op work term contact OGS Canada
• You may not start your Co-op position without a valid Co-op work permit in any capacity. In Canada, you also need a Social Insurance Number to work. 

Other Co-op Requirements

• Your Co-op duration must be less than 50% of your total program timeline with a maximum of six months
• You must be registered in an official Co-op course
• Your Co-op position must be full time (30+ hours per week)
• Summer Co-op positions must meet the requirements above, if you choose to work full time on your study permit in the summer, the position will not be considered as Co-op creditable work

Part-time work guidelines for international students in Canada

• During your study term, you may also work on your study permit for up to 20 hours per week
• During your Co-op term, legally, you may also work on your study permit for non-Co-op creditable work for up to 20 hours/week off-campus

Co-op Student Handbook

Click here to view the student handbook

Graduate Student Important Dates and Deadlines for Co-op

CPS Co-op Dates and Deadlines, Academic Year 2024-2025

Winter Quarter 2024-2025 – Important Dates and Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 12/30/24 – 1/20/25
End Date: 4/4/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
12/30/24	11/29/24
1/6/25	11/29/24
1/13/25	12/6/24
1/20/25	12/13/24

Spring Quarter 2025 – Important Dates and Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 4/1/25 – 4/21/25
End Date: 7/4/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
4/1/25	3/7/25
4/7/25	3/14/25
4/14/25	3/21/25
4/21/25	3/28/25

Summer Quarter 2025 – Important Dates and Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 7/1/25 – 7/14/25
End Date: TBD

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
7/1/25	6/6/25
7/7/25	6/13/25
7/14/25	6/20/25

All Co-op and CPT applications should be submitted 3 weeks prior to the Co-op start date to ensure there is enough time for the approval process. All deadlines are FINAL. We will not be accepting late requests or submissions. All Dates are subject to change.

Undergraduate Student Important Dates and Deadlines for Co-op

CPS Co-op Dates and Deadlines, Academic Year 2024-2025

Fall Semester (4 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 8/19/24 – 9/16/24
End Date: 1/3/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
8/19/24	7/26/24
8/26/24	8/2/24
9/2/24	8/9/24
9/9/24	8/16/24
9/16/24	8/23/24

Fall/Spring Semester (8 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 8/19/24 – 9/16/24
End Date: 5/2/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
8/19/24	7/26/24
8/26/24	8/2/24
9/2/24	8/9/24
9/9/24	8/16/24
9/16/24	8/23/24

Spring Semester (4 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 12/30/24 – 1/20/25
End Date: 5/2/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
12/30/24	11/29/24
1/6/25	11/29/24
1/13/25	12/6/24
1/20/25	12/13/24

Spring/Summer 1 Semester (6 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 12/30/24-1/20/25
End Date: 6/24/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
12/30/24	11/29/24
1/6/25	11/29/24
1/13/25	12/6/24
1/20/25	12/13/24

Spring/Summer Semester (8 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 12/30/24-1/20/25
End Date: 8/11/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
12/30/24	11/29/24
1/6/25	11/29/24
1/13/25	12/6/24
1/20/25	12/13/24

Summer Semester (4 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 4/28/25-5/19/25
End Date: 8/11/25

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
4/28/25	4/4/25
5/5/25	4/11/25
5/12/25	4/18/25
5/19/25	4/25/25

Summer 2/Fall Semester (6 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 6/23/25-6/30/25
End Date: TBD

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
6/23/25	5/30/25
6/30/25	6/6/25

Summer/Fall Semester (8 Month) Important Dates & Deadlines

Co-op Start Date Range: 4/29/25-5/19/25
End Date: TBD

Application Deadlines

Start Date	Deadline to Apply
4/28/25	4/4/25
5/5/25	4/11/25
5/12/25	4/18/25
5/19/25	4/25/25

All Co-op and CPT applications should be submitted 3 weeks prior to the Co-op start date to ensure there is enough time for the approval process. All deadlines are FINAL. We will not be accepting late requests or submissions. Dates are subject to change.

US (Boston, Seattle, Bay Area, and Roux Institute)

The review process can take about 3 weeks. Please submit the request for Co-op at least 3 weeks before your desired start date.

• Boston based students please email [email protected] for application instructions.
• Seattle based students please email [email protected] for application instructions.
• Bay Area based students please email [email protected] for application instructions.
• Roux Institute based students please email [email protected] for application instructions.

Canada

The review process can take about 3 weeks. Please submit the request for Co-op at least 3 weeks before your desired start date.

• Toronto based students please email [email protected] for application instructions.
• Vancouver based students please email [email protected] for application instructions.