The Co-op Difference

A hands-on, real-world experience for creative-minded students

Northeastern is a world leader in cooperative education (or, “co-op”), the university’s signature experiential learning program where students gain up to 18 months of hands-on, professional experience related to their academic major or career interests. Co-op provides CAMD students the opportunity to explore potential career paths, make valuable industry connections, broaden perspectives, and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as future leaders—all while learning and growing outside the comfort zone of the classroom.

Breadth and depth of opportunities

What makes the CAMD co-op so unique? It starts with the opportunity for students to work in a wide range of creative fields across industries and around the world. From animation to costume design to model making. From small theaters to major studios to prestigious architectural firms. From Amazon and Universal Music Group to NBC Nightly News and the Boston Globe. From New York and Los Angeles to Spain, Switzerland, England, and Brazil.

These opportunities are built on strong co-op partnerships developed over many years. Many of our co-op faculty coordinators have worked at CAMD for over a decade, building close relationships with a diverse set of local, national, and global employers.

How co-op shapes our students

At CAMD, co-op picks up where the classroom leaves off. Most co-op students are employed full-time, taking a break from coursework to dedicate themselves to a professional environment and schedule. In turn, the new skills students gain while spending six months in the field is integrated back into their academic studies. The experience also informs decisions moving forward at Northeastern, where to go on their second or third co-op, and what type of career to pursue.

For many CAMD majors, co-op reduces some of the uncertainties of majoring in an arts-related field. Rather than waiting until after graduation to discover how to turn university training into gainful employment, we offer students the chance to build that pathway themselves.

From preparation to reflection, co-op coordinators are there

Preparation is an important ingredient to a successful co-op. That’s why our co-op coordinators work closely with students to get them ready, starting with a required Professional Development course and preparatory workshops that outline the co-op process while providing the tools to secure a co-op position. Coordinators collaborate with each student to offer personalized advice on everything from identifying the right employer to acing an interview to accepting the job.

Coordinators also help guide the final part of the co-op experience: student reflection. Students perform reflection activities, including guided inquiries and self-assessments, during and after co-op. These evaluation periods are critical to determining how much students have learned and grown over six months—and what the next step in their student path should be.
Explore Co-op→

Your passions. Your CAMD Experience.

CO-OP Story

In my opinion, the biggest advantage to completing co-ops is that the program enables you to try out different industries and job functions for finite periods of time before committing to a career after graduation.

Julia Edgar

2018

NARS Cosmetics

Boston, MA

HIGHLIGHTS OF EXPERIENCE

Co-op responsibilities:

  • Assisted with organization and preparation of over 5 New York Fashion Week events and brand initiatives
  • Collaborated with 4 managers to build presentations on monthly and quarterly press highlights for senior executives
  • Analyzed performance data and completed competitive analyses to help further NARS’ social strategy
  • Executed facilitation of all digital media product mailings, including product launches and digital media influencers to secure coverage
  • Fulfilled all requests fielded for online press, bloggers, and international media; tracked requests through databases

Influential Courses:

  • Media, Culture, and Society
  • Evolution of Fashion and Costume

After becoming undeclared, CAMD welcomed me with open arms, and the college permitted me the freedom to explore different avenues of storytelling. In my third year, I declared a major in theatre and a minor in journalism.

Liam Hofmeister

2019

Directorship Co-op at Huntington Theatre Company

Boston, MA

HIGHLIGHTS OF EXPERIENCE

Co-op responsibilities:

  • Marketing: Collaborated with playwrights and directors to curate marketing material. Generated social media content. Wrote press releases regarding performances and company events. Wrote an article for the Huntington’s Spotlight magazine, a collection of research materials for audiences.
  • Assistant Directing: Assisted Tony-nominated Actor Colman Domingo in directing. Advised on staging, stage images, and character actions. Contributed ideas to script edits. Oversaw preview performances and delivered notes to make final adjustments before opening.

Co-op projects:

  • Research: We attended performances of ArtsEmerson’s The White Card and documented audience responses during performance and in talkback sessions to evaluate this play’s efficacy as an intervention in white supremacy.
  • https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/about/history/2017-2018/a-guide-for-the-homesick/
  • https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/Spotlight/ Pg. 17

Influential Courses:

  • Journalism 2
  • Playwrighting
  • Viewpoints