Northeastern University's cooperative education program, now over a century old, is decentralized; each of the University's seven colleges has its own co-op program, enabling each to tailor the program to the needs of the students in that particular college. Central Co-op advances this unique learning model by serving as the focal point for university-wide activities related to cooperative education, including employer relations, marketing and communications and co-op data analysis.
One of the University's top priorities is to expand co-op opportunities for student in areas of the world outside of the United States. Responsibility for the development of such opportunities and preparing students for international co-op lies with the Office of International Co-op within Central Co-op.