Cooperative Education

Information for Students > Graduate Students

Cooperative education is one of Northeastern University's most unique opportunities, allowing students to gain full-time professional experience concurrently with academic learning.

• General Information and Goal of the Program
• Graduate co-op schedule
• Prerequisites and eligibility
• Application procedures
• The Process

General Information

Cooperative education opportunities are optional and limited for graduate students in the College of Computer and Information Science. There are several reasons for this. Graduate academic programs are both shorter and more intensive than undergraduate curricula. There is often little time for students to complete the extensive preparation, activity, and reflection required by the CCIS Co-op Program. In addition, experiences which are of an appropriate level of difficulty for graduate students are fewer in number.

Despite this, however, there are opportunities for those graduate students who are qualified and are accepted into the co-op program. For information on how to apply for the program, see below.

The Co-op Faculty member assigned to work with graduate students is Dr. Melvin Simms. Please see our Contact page for information on how to reach him.

College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS)
Graduate Cooperative Education Update for January 2008

Goal of the CCIS Cooperative Education Program:
Our goal is to provide students with educational opportunities which enhance their classroom learning and allow students to strengthen and/or develop their technical skills through a structured series of activities. With this purpose in mind our belief is that students who are able to participate in at least a 6 month or longer work experience will have a better opportunity to obtain and develop stronger professional skills. Our experience is that students do not acquire all these benefits in short term assignments. Therefore, our primary focus is to work with students and employers to obtain 6–8 month cooperative educations assignments.

The CCIS Established 6-8 Month Co-op Plans:
For CCIS students who successfully complete the CCIS Graduate Co-op Seminars,
Plan 1 or Plan 2will continue to be our focus.
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/co-op/forms/gradchecklist.pdf

Plan 1 or 2 with Summer Option:
Students having international status will continue to have the opportunity to receive Curricula Practical Training (CPT) under Plans 1 & 2. Students participating in Plan 1 or Plan 2 may also have the opportunity to use their one free summer as an additional experience. (Providing them with a possible total of 11 months non continuous (CPT)). Students will not have access to our co-op database for assignments less than 6 months.

Summer Only:
Students who successfully complete the CCIS Graduate Co-op Seminars and want to obtain an opportunity less than 6 months will not have access to our co-op database but may apply for special Curricula Practical Training through the CCIS Co-op Unit.

Those students wishing to work during summers only and will not be participating in our regularly structured program will miss out on all our opportunities. However, students who successfully complete the CCIS Graduate Co-op Seminars and are able to obtain a summer only internship may apply for special Curricula Practical Training through the CCIS Co-op Unit.

Students will not be able to switch back and forth between the Plans 1 & 2 and Summer Only. International students, who successfully complete the CCIS Graduate Co-op Seminars and are cleared by the co-op faculty member, must keep the co-op faculty member aware of their search efforts. Student to be considered for CPT coverage must clearly document that the selected job description for the short term assignment will enhance the student’s technical and academic skills at the graduate level.

As in the past, master’s degree candidates who do not participate or successfully complete the CCIS Graduate Co-op Seminars will not be eligible for Pre-OPT or CPT approval at anytime.

Only students following the established Plan 1 or Plan 2 will have access to our co-op database. Students must decide by the CCIS Clearance Day which program they will follow.

Graduate Co-op Schedule

Graduate students approved to participate in the co-op program follow either Plan 1 or Plan 2 which allows for a combined total of six to eleven months of co-op. During the work period, students are expected to work full time for their co-op employer.

Prerequisites and eligibility

In order to be considered for the CCIS Graduate Co-op Program, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must apply for the co-op program during the Fall semester of the academic year.
• Application for admission to the Graduate Co-op Program is open only to full-time students. Conntinuous full-time residency in the CCIS program, registering for at most 8 semesteer hours, is required.
• If you are accepted into the program, you may not begin working until you have completed certain courses and a minimum of credits in CCIS. Professor Simms will discuss this with you if you are accepted.
• Acceptance to Graduate Co-op is subject to the final approval of the CCIS Director of Graduate Studies and the CCIS Co-op Faculty Coordinator.
• Eligibility for international students must also be verified by the Graduate School and the International Student and Scholar Institute (ISSI). NOTE: Students on an F1 visa cannot work until after they have completed a full academic year in CCIS!
• Before beginning your work experience, you must have successfully completed at least two of the four core courses. See Professor Simms for a summary of these.
• If English is your second language, be aware that acceptance into the program is contingent upon your level of English proficiency, as this directly impacts your employability.
• The CCIS Graduate Co-op Program, unlike the Undergraduate Co-op Program, assumes that graduate students are seeking higher-level and more intensive work experiences, which are relevant to CCIS graduate study. Your chances for acceptance into the program are greatest if you have 1 to 1.5 years of professional experience before applying.

NOTE: Graduate students are not eligible for graduate assistantships while on co-op!

NOTE: Graduate students receiving support from the college and/or university are not eligible for participation in the co-op program!

Application procedures

APPLY IN THE FIRST SEMESTER YOU ATTEND THE COLLEGE OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE. NO COURSEWORK IS REQUIRED TO APPLY.

If planning to apply or only considering co-op, be sure to register for CSG001, Graduate Cooperative Educational Seminar (0 s.h.).

The following materials must be submitted as part of your application packet:

• Graduate Checklist for Eligibility.
• A cover letter stating your intentions to apply for co-op along with the time period you wish to work: May through December, or January through August.
• A one-page resume ("technical style").

A limited number of students are accepted, each year.

The Process

If your application for the CCIS Graduate Co-op Program is accepted, you must then begin preparing for co-op. This consists of:

• Attend and complete the co-op preparation course (CSG001). In this class Professor Simms will discuss the co-op application procedure.
• After completing the co-op preparation course, prepare and submit another new resume and cover letter to your co-op coordinator. These materials should be targeted at a potential employer, and should state your co-op and professional goals.
• Schedule and complete a First Formal Interview with your co-op coordinator during the first four weeks of the semester in which you wish to begin your job search.
• Attend the Group Meeting for Students Seeking A New Co-op Assignment during the semester you wish to begin job searching (see the Calendar for the next date and time).
• After completing all other steps, schedule a final meeting with your coordinator to ensure that you have met all qualifications and are ready to begin job searching.

Once your coordinator has "cleared" you to begin job searching, you may then use the co-op database to apply for positions. You may also arrange for employment through your own company affiliations or resources. However, you are required to make appropriate arrangements with your Coordinator to have the work experience accepted as a Cooperative Education assignment prior to beginning work.