The co-op experience

The co-op experience Opens in Modal

Cooperative education and experiential learning are central to the experience of every D'Amore-McKim student, providing them with the opportunity to apply classroom learning and life experiences in a professional context.

I have a much clearer vision of what I want and don't want in a full-time position, which was one of my original goals when enrolling here. Graduating with so much work experience will set me apart.

Lindis Barry BSIB'19

Student stories

Turning passion into career success: how a graduate co-op and networking opened doors

“I found my full-time role as a Strategic Finance Analyst at 1stDibs through networking, a skill I honed at D'Amore-McKim. Engaging with professionals and learning about their career paths helped me recognize that strategic finance was the right fit for me, as it blends financial analysis with business strategy.” – Harshita Bhambhani, MS in Quantitative Finance'24

D'Amore-McKim's differentiator

The D'Amore-McKim School of Business develops leaders who will shape business in domains not yet discovered. Three distinctive mindsets – global, entrepreneurial, and lifelong learning – coupled with a cultivated focus on humanics education – the integration of human, technological, and data literacies – are at the core of the D'Amore-McKim experience.

What's the value of engaging with D'Amore-McKim's co-op program?

  • Its value is a cost-effective strategy to recruit high-performing, self-aware, entrepreneurially minded undergraduate students as a talent pipeline for post-graduate hire. 
  • Students engage with your organization bringing innovative mindsets, a high level of professionalism, and cultural agility.
Learn more about hiring co-ops
graphic comparing 'data', 'human', and 'technology'

Having interviewed hundreds of people for full-time and co-op roles in the past eight years, you can always tell when someone went to Northeastern. There is a tangible difference in the way Northeastern's co-op preparation course equips students with professional skills.

Julien Levesque, DMSB'12, Senior Director of Global Product Development at Shark Ninja

Co-op FAQs

Co-op, short for cooperative education, is an experiential learning program that allows students to gain professional experience related to their academic or career interests. Students who participate in co-op alternate semesters of academic study with periods of full-time work. Most co-ops are 6 month work experiences aligned with academic terms (Spring/Summer I, Summer II/Fall), but can vary between 4-8 months. 

Undergraduate students have the option of completing up to two co-ops over a four-year plan, and can go on co-op after completing three academic terms as a Northeastern student and fulfilling the pre-co-op requirements.

Most graduate students complete one co-op experience after completing 16 in-person semester hours (24-27 quarter hours for CPS students) and fulfilling their respective pre-co-op requirements. International graduate students must complete one academic year of studies before going on co-op.

Co-op is optional for most college programs at Northeastern, with limited exceptions. Students are recommended to work with their co-op advisor to verify if co-op is a requirement for their college.  

Students begin the co-op process by registering for the mandatory co-op preparatory course or equivalent, where they are assigned a co-op coordinator/advisor*. The co-op prep course is a class taught by co-op coordinators/advisors that provides students with the tools, skills and values necessary to obtain and excel in a co-op position and in their future job searches and employment. More information about a co-op coordinator/advisor can be found below. 

After successfully completing the co-op preparatory course, students will be able to begin to apply for co-op positions, as long as all eligibility requirements (listed below) have been met, and their resume has been approved by their advisor/coordinator. Once approved,  students can search within Northeastern's job platform Nuworks or find co-op positions using other resources. Read on to learn more about NUworks.  

Students searching for their first co-op typically can begin applying for jobs at the beginning of their search cycle semester. The co-op search process mimics a typical job search; students will review and apply for jobs with their resume, complete applications, interview, and accept offers. A student's co-op coordinator/advisor will be able to provide guidance throughout the application and interview process.  

Once students have received a job offer, they should let their co-op coordinator/advisor know. All co-op jobs must be approved by a student's co-op coordinator/advisor. Note that reneging on an accepted job offer is not permitted and may result in consequences that affect co-op eligibility and  participation.  

* Coordinator/advisor assignment timing may vary depending on their status as a graduate or undergraduate student, and their degree program.  

Each student is assigned a co-op coordinator/advisor based on their chosen major and home college. Co-op coordinators/advisors provide 1:1 support for students throughout their co-op journey at Northeastern, and develop relevant co-op opportunities with employer partners 

In addition to teaching the co-op class that covers job searching skills like writing resumes/cover letters and preparing to interview, co-op coordinator/advisors work with students to: (1) identify career interests and long term goals; 2) apply for appropriate co-op positions; (3) develop individualized strategies for their co-op search; (4) assist students if any questions or concerns arise while they are on co-op; and (5) facilitate learning and reflection upon completion of a co-op. 

Students use NUworks to search for co-op positions. NUworks is Northeastern's online job search tool with more than 25,000 postings and 3,800+ employers and alumni networking programs worldwide. In addition to applying for positions on NUworks, students can track interviews, upload resumes, and add personalized information to aid their job search. 

After completing all pre-co-op requirements and an intent to search form with their college, students will be approved in NUworks to apply for positions.

Yes. In addition to co-op opportunities that are posted on NUworks, students can “self-develop” co-op positions that are listed outside of NUworks. Self-developed co-op jobs must follow the same standard cycle as other co-op opportunities and must be approved by a student's co-op coordinator/advisor. If a student would like to investigate self-developed co-op opportunities, it is recommended that they speak with their co-op coordinator/advisor.

International students are eligible to complete co-op positions. For detailed information on requirements, please refer to the International Students page.

As of the Fall 2025 semester, undergraduate students must meet the following requirements to be released to search for a co-op position: 

  • Completion of a minimum of three academic terms as a degree-seeking student 
  • Successful completion and passing grade of the Co-op Preparatory Course 
  • Maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 
  • Resolution of academic probation issues, or have cooperative education coordinator/advisor approve a plan to resolve these issues prior to applying for co-op jobs 
  • Minimum of one academic term remaining in degree program following completion of final co-op experience 
  • Enrollment in a full-time degree seeking program (not certificate) 

Graduate students must meet the following requirements: 

  • Maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 
  • Completion of Co-op Preparatory Course and a passing grade or approved equivalent 
  • Minimum of one academic term remaining in degree program following co-op completion, unless it is specified in the curriculum requirements of the program. 
  • Completion of minimum 16 in-person semester hours for all colleges (24-27 quarter hours for College of Professional Studies students).  
  • Resolution of academic probation issues or have cooperative education coordinator/advisor approve a plan to resolve these issues prior to applying for co-op jobs. 
  • Enrollment in a full-time degree seeking program (not certificate) 
  • International students must attend one academic year, or its equivalent, and obtain proper work authorization from the Office of Global Services before engaging in co-op. 

After completing the co-op preparatory class (or equivalent) and meeting the above eligibility requirements, students will be required to complete an intent to search form. Upon approval, students will be able to apply for positions in NUworks.

Find more answers to frequently asked questions