Students sit on a sign at Northeastern's campus

Experiential Learning at Khoury College

Rigorous academics coupled with experiential learning opportunities set Khoury students apart

Northeastern’s Khoury College gives students the opportunity to take what they’re learning in the classroom and apply it to real-world problems right away — you don’t need to wait until graduation to make a difference and confirm your career choice.

#1

University for co-ops, U.S. News & World Report

149

countries where Northeastern has provided experiential learning opportunities

1,109

number of co-op partners
(academic year 2024-2025)

94%

Employers would choose to hire co-op student full time

Five Northeastern students walk toward a building with a Google sign above the entrance as the student second from left points at the building

Co-op: Find your future

Co-op is Northeastern’s most immersive experiential program — a full-time, months-long professional work experience within our ecosystem of hundreds of global partners that positions students not just for a job, but also for their futures. Many students go on to find job opportunities with their co-op companies at a wide range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, big and small. 

Research opportunities

Undergraduate and graduate students collaborate with leading researchers to advance discoveries and level up skill sets that prepare them for both industry and further academic study. Undergraduate students can take advantage of three distinct pathways: Honors in the Discipline program, paid research co-op, or independent study.

Graduate-level research opportunities such as project-based courses and master’s theses provide a curriculum-based format, and some campuses, such as Vancouver, include an industry-partnered research capstone.

Students and faculty detail their research for the CONNECT+ project, in which they worked to address issues of increased loneliness across Northeastern’s global campuses.

Co-op consultancy program

This new experiential learning program brings together a team of four to eight students who build custom solutions for an industry or community partner. This model gives students the opportunity to fully lead the design, development, and implementation of a product for clients with the support of faculty and their peers. This offers employers an innovative way to engage with new talent who can tackle projects from start to finish.  

Professional practicum

The professional practicum is a course that offers undergraduate students a high-level, challenging industry experience while under the mentorship and guidance of a faculty member. Over the semester, students gain practical skills and valuable industry insights and learn how to translate academic concepts into real-world contributions.

Undergraduate global learning experiences

Northeastern offers undergraduate students numerous options to study, work, and make connections across the US and around the globe, including: 

  • NUin: NUin students begin their first semester abroad — in locations that include Greece, Northern Ireland, Rome, and Spain — before transitioning to Boston in their second semester. 
  • Dialogue of Civilizations: Students spend a month abroad under the supervision of a faculty member while taking two classes, visiting regional tech companies, and engaging with international experts in CS and other fields.   
  • Semester Abroad:  Get to know a new city within Northeastern’s global network in a semester-long immersive experience.  
  • Summer/Semester In:  Discover one of Northeastern’s Global Network campuses in a semester-long immersive experience where you’ll engage in industry site visits, networking events with alumni, guest lectures, and regional co-ops — all while taking courses with exceptional faculty.
Khoury students Adityaa Chandna, Mathena Chan, and Rachel Kahn share their experiences studying abroad in Sydney, Australia as part of a Dialogue of Civilizations on Software Development and Innovation.

Student-led CS clubs

Khoury College is home to dozens of different undergraduate and graduate student clubs and organizations that provide students across the network varied opportunities to explore their passion, build their portfolio, and develop leadership skills in the company of similarly motivated peers.

Hear from Khoury students how student clubs have enabled them to build their network, learn what they want to do for co-op, form supportive friendships with like-minded peers, and more.

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