Cooperative
Education
Founded over a century ago, our co-op program is one of the largest and most innovative of its kind in the world. Through cooperative education, students are able to develop professional skills, meet valuable contacts, and explore one or more career paths.
For over 100 years, Northeastern has been a world leader in cooperative education (co-op), the University’s cornerstone experiential learning program.
By alternating semesters of academic study with periods of full-time work, students are able to transform work across academic and professional contexts. Co-op provides students the opportunity to explore or refine potential career paths, make valuable industry connections, broaden perspectives, and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed —all while learning and growing outside the comfort zone of the classroom.
All Northeastern students can participate in the co-op program. Undergraduates must first complete three academic semesters and alternate periods of academic study with six-month periods of work experience in their field(s) of interest. Transfer students are eligible to start co-op after completing at least one academic semester at Northeastern.
Co-op advisors help students plan up to three co-ops while staying on track for graduation in 4-5 years.
The program starts with a mandatory preparation course and required reflections, both during and post co-op, to help reinforce learning. Reflections can be completed as part of an expo, poster presentation, essay, video, or meeting.
Students gain up to 18 months of professional experience and may work in world-renowned health care institutions, neighborhood health clinics, with multinational biotechnology companies, as well as nonprofit research labs. Students develop impressive resumes and many receive offers of employment from their co-op employer.
Most co-ops are full-time, paid positions with the co-op employer. Students do not pay tuition while on co-op, although they are still considered full-time students with no change in benefits. Students who complete the co-op program also receive a notation on their college transcript.
Northeastern works with more than 3,100 employers across the United States and in 136 countries around the world.
Discover our co-op employers
Co-op Advising
Students are supported by their discipline-specific co-op advisor throughout the process and meet their co-op advisor in the Co-op Preparation Course their sophomore year. The course focuses on career exploration, employer research, resume development, and interview preparation. In addition, co-op advisors meet with each student individually prior to initiating a co-op job search to discuss the student’s interests and goals, polish their resume, and address job-search strategies.
You can learn by visiting the Northeastern Co-op page .
Kristen Crovo
Katie Dioli
Kelly Harrington
The Basics of Co-Op
136 countries around the world.
Co-op News
How a Northeastern co-op’s research is advancing early detection of psychosis
Become a Co-op Employer
Cooperative education, also known as co-op, is an educational model that allows students to alternate periods of full-time academic study with periods of full-time work in their areas of interest. Students gain valuable work experience, explore new interests, learn about career options, develop a professional network, and enhance their classroom experience. Northeastern University co-op students work in a variety of settings including research, clinical, education, business, government, and non-profits.
The Northeastern Co-op program offers employers a gateway to enthusiastic employees seeking to develop skills and talents and opportunities to connect and network with future colleagues.
Additionally, the program provides a simple, cost-effective way to meet hiring needs.
Interested in becoming a Co-op employer? Contact [email protected]
Interested in hiring a PhD co-op? Contact Vanecia Harrison, [email protected]
Become A Co-op Employer
Information for Employers
Through the co-op program, employers have the opportunity to
- Expand your capacity for long and short-term projects
- Build a potential, future pipeline
- Evaluate potential candidates’ skills, company fit, and workplace readiness over several months
- Get access to temporary employees without agency costs
- Expand your brand to the future workforce
When you become an employer partner of Northeastern University, you work with a dedicated co-op coordinator to assist you throughout the process. This team member works within the co-op program to support you and the students.
Generally, there are two six-month co-op cycle for both undergraduate and graduate students (Master’s and PhD*).
These cycles are as follows:
Spring Co-op: January – June
- Post your job: August – December
- Interview candidates: mid-October – December
Fall Co-op: July – December
- Post your job: January – June
- Interview candidates: mid-February – June
*Alternative cycle and timeline options may be allowed for graduate co-ops. To discuss these options, please email [email protected] and a cooperative education team member will reach out to you.
Hired students are onboarded as employees within your organization and are paid for their contributions. For more information regarding pay please refer to the Co-op Employer Handbook.
In order to attract ideal candidates, consider including the following in your job description:
- A list of the job responsibilities illustrating the experience/skills the student will gain
- What skills are necessary to be successful in the position
- A comprehensive overview of your company including unique highlights that appeal to applicants
- Professional development opportunities
- Mission
- Access to public transit or parking
- Facilities
- Paid holidays
- Complimentary snacks or lunch
- Other
- A salary range
When posting your job opportunity, please select all relevant majors and degree level (Undergraduate, Graduate, and PhD).
Your organization selects the students it wants to interview and hire from the resumes you receive from your co-op program coordinator. We refer students to you that match your specified job qualified, however you are not required to hire a student if you do not find a good fit.
Your organization
- facilitates all hiring decisions.
- provides supervision and training/mentorship throughout the co-op.
- completes an evaluation of each co-op student at the end of the work period.
- Northeastern University’s co-op program has a long history of success with its employers.
- Employers are encouraged to resolve issues with co-op students as they would with permanent employees.
- A co-op student is an employee of your organization and should expect to be treated as a staff member.
- Should a problem arise reach out to your Northeastern contact as soon as possible.
In addition to your dedicated co-op coordinator, please reference the following resources to assist you in hiring and employing a student:
Ready to hire a student today?
Northeastern utilizes NUWorks, powered by Simplicity, as its recruiting platform for all co-op, full-time, and internship work opportunities.
Get started today by creating an account. From your account you can post a new role, review resumes, print documents, update statuses, copy existing job posts, and more.
