Co-op is an educational program in which you alternate terms of academic study with terms of full-time employment in positions related to your academic and/or career interests in the U.S. or globally.

• Meet with your academic advisor to communicate your interest in experiential learning and when it might fit into your course plan.
• Meet with the experiential learning team or your co-op advisor to go over the process of engaging in an experiential learning opportunity. This conversation should include eligibility requirements, upcoming programming, required courses, and important dates and deadlines.
• Enroll in INT6200/ INT2000 the Experiential Learning Prep Course in your first or second term.

• Full-time Co-op
  • A Co-op experience with an employer working between 32-40 hours a week.
• Part-time Co-op
  • A Co-op experience with an employer working between 16-31 hours a week.
• Global Co-op
  • A Co-op opportunity between 32-40 hours a week, located outside of the student’s current country of study.
• Co-op @ Work
  • Allows students to gain relevant practical experience through an independent project at their current full-time employer, outside of the scope of their current role.

All students must meet the eligibility requirements before engaging in an experiential learning opportunity. See below for more information.

Academic Eligibility Requirements

• Be a full-time degree seeking student.
• Complete 1 academic year in program of study.
• For graduate students that is the equivalent of 3 consecutive quarters of full-time study and for undergraduate students that is 2 consecutive semesters of full-time study.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Cannot complete co-op in your final term of study.

CPT Work Authorization Requirements (US Based International Students)

• Complete at least three academic quarters with full-time on-ground status, with an active SEVIS record.
• Students must always make satisfactory academic progress towards degree completion. CPT must not cause a delay in the completion of the student’s academic program
• CPT must be within current I-20 program dates

Work Permit Requirements for (Canadian Students)

• 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 for more information.
• You may not start your Co-op position without a valid Co-op work permit in any capacity. You also need a Social Insurance Number to work.
• 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).

General Requirements

• All Co-ops must be aligned the academic term start and end dates.
• All Co-ops must be aligned with your program of study.
• All Co-ops must meet the registrar’s length requirements in the term.

• Graduate Quarter full-term (Fall, Winter, Spring): Minimum of 9 weeks or 45 workdays
• Graduate Quarter full-term (Summer): minimum of 6 weeks or 30 working days.
• Undergraduate Semester, full-term (Fall, Spring, Summer): Minimum of 11 weeks or 55 workdays
• Undergraduate Semester (Summer 1 or summer 2 term): Minimum of 5 weeks or 25 workdays

CPS graduate students are permitted to complete a maximum of two quarters (approx. 6-months) of co-op, which is proportional to the length of the CPS graduate degree program and in line with federal regulations.

CPS undergraduate students are allowed to complete (2) 4-month Co-ops, (2) 6- Month co-ops, or (1) 8-Month Co-op. All students must return from their co-op experience and enroll in and complete 1 term of coursework before completing their next term of Co-op.

Yes, INT6200 / INT2000 The Experiential Project Preparation Course is available to all students who are interested in Experiential Learning.

The Experiential Project Preparation is a course designed to equip students with a wealth of skills and knowledge pertaining to various areas of professional development and career success. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their personal brand and begin to build their professional network throughout the duration of this course. This course offers students the opportunity to develop a job search strategy, gain greater understanding of their career field and the skills and traits required, and understand the key components of business professionalism. The goal is that the student should gain a great understanding of the College of Professional Studies cooperative education and academic internship policies, procedures, and expectations. Reach out to your academic advisor to enroll in INT6200 ( For Graduate Students) or INT2000 ( For Undergraduate Students).

NUworks is Northeastern’s online platform for co-op jobs. This system makes it easy to upload your resume and search for co-op jobs that best suit your skills. Some highlights of what you can do with NUworks include: search, sort, and select co-op positions based on your major, interests, and skills, as well as build a preference list of positions that interest you, and post and apply with your resume. If you have questions about the platform, talk with your co-op advisor.

Successful completion of INT6200 / INT2000 is required to gain access to apply for employment opportunities in NUworks- Northeastern University’s Internal Career Management Platform.

Students are welcome to develop their own opportunities with employers not affiliated with NUworks, as long as the position meets the Program Requirements. Ask your Co-op Advisor for more information on Student Developed opportunities.

Before accepting an offer from a co-op employer, schedule an appointment with your Co-op advisor. From there they will be able to guide you on the appropriate next steps for the Co-op approval process.

Please check out our Dates and Deadlines on the General Information page.

All students should submit their co-op offer letters and all additional supplemental materials to their co-op advisor at-least 3-4 weeks ahead of your desired start date. This time frame ensures that there is enough time for our team to review, process, and approve all co-ops and for you to start on time with your employer.

CPT- All F-1 International students who wish to engage in experiential learning will need to apply and be approved for CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING work authorization. For more information please visit OGS’s website here.

SSN- All F-1 International students who wish to engage in experiential learning will need to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) . For more information please visit OGS website here.

Students enrolled in COP 6945 (full-time Co-op Shell Course) and participating in a full-time co-op are strongly advised to prioritize their co-op work experience. The nature of co-op positions demands a significant time commitment of 32 or more hours per week, making it impractical for students to concurrently enroll in additional courses. While we discourage taking any courses during co-op, we recognize that certain circumstances may warrant exceptions. Consequently, students may request permission to enroll in a maximum of one course (4 credits) during their full-time co-op. Should a student wish to take additional courses beyond this limit, they must submit a petition form to their academic advisor for further consideration.

Students enrolled in COP 5002 (part time co-op shell course) must enroll in 4 additional credits which is 1-2 courses to maintain their full-time student status.

Students enrolled in and participating in a co-op are strongly advised to prioritize their co-op work experience. The nature of co-op positions demands a significant time commitment, making it impractical for students to work adjacent to their Co-op with an on-campus approve employer. If you have questions related to this please reach out to your Co-op advisor for more information.

The university’s expectation is that co-op is a supervised educational experience. Thus, Northeastern does not grant co-op credit for work performed as a consultant or an independent contractor and would not be an approved by your Co-op advisor . Such supervision is inconsistent with consultant / independent contractor status. Please check with your employer prior to accepting your role, that you will be receiving a W-2 tax form (not a 1099) at the end of the year.

The CPS Co-op program believes that all students should be paid for their work while out on Co-op. Any unpaid co-op opportunities should be carefully evaluated and discussed with your Co-op advisor before being considered. Your Advisor can guide you on how to navigate this with your employer.

Yes. However, if you are an F-1 International Student you will need to enroll in a university designated on-ground course to maintain full-time enrollment with on-ground presence, as required for CPT authorization. You can enroll in either:

• A college/department-approved on-ground course to be taken simultaneously during the 100% remote experience (the course must run for the duration of the academic term and be approved by the academic department. Some academic departments do not allow additional course registration coupled with full-time CPT).
• A newly developed 0-credit (no cost) course that will meet in-person weekly that enables F-1 students to maintain full-time enrollment with on-ground presence while authorized for 100% remote CPT, EXED 4945 for Undergraduate Students and EXED 5945 for Graduate Students.

All students must be enrolled in a 0 credit, tuition free co-op shell course for the duration of their co-op experience. This course will show up on your transcript. Please reach out to [email protected] for the specific requirements to receive a passing grade in the co-op shell courses.

Please contact your Co-op advisor or [email protected] if you encounter any issues while you are out on Co-op.