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When Nidhi Polekar was an undergraduate student, she was introduced to a subject that explored how the world functions: international relations. In an introductory course, she learned not to settle for the “how”, but to question the “why”. That penchant for thinking critically and learning why people and institutions functioned was an eye-opener for her.
“After working in the industry for a year, I realised the need for an advanced degree to specialise in my area of interest,” Polekar, originally from India, says. That need is what would lead her to the Master of Arts in Political Science (with a focus on International Relations) at Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities ,known for integrating academics with real-world global experience
While pursuing this two-year full-time programme at the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Polekar worked with her co-op coordinator to secure a policy research assistant position at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research. Her projects focused on the global governance of artificial intelligence, and she assisted her supervisor with organising panels and workshops discussing this topic with a diverse stakeholder group.
“My background in political science with a focus on international relations prepared me to be able to understand how the international system and the various organisations within it work,” she says. “It gave me the skills necessary to land the role which included research skills, writing, literature review, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis.”
That’s what pursuing a graduate degree at Northeastern is like — it’s holistic and prepares you to succeed in your professional career with a host of experiential learning opportunities all over the world.
At Northeastern University, students are “powered by experience.” Source: Northeastern University
Co-op is Northeastern’s signature experiential program. Students work for six months full-time at a company or organisation at one of Northeastern’s more than 3,800 employer partners worldwide.
“I think about some of my former students who were hired full-time by their co-op employers post-graduation,” Linnea Basu, Director of the College’s co-op program, says. “But transformation happens with every student, even if co-op helps them figure out what they don’t want in a position or industry.”
Co-op is a unique way for Northeastern students build real-world skills that go beyond classroom learning. Through co-op, students build confidence, more assertive communication, organisational skills, and valuable industry-specific knowledge. They sharpen their minds through projects that require technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Co-op is what places the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the forefront of liberal arts education. Our graduates have worked at the US Embassy in Paris, France, the Boston Consulting Group, the Centre for Urban Science and Engineering in Mumbai, India, and so much more.
In addition to co-op, graduate students can do project-based work for employers who are part of Norteastern’s Experiential Network (XN). The university works with employers and faculty to customize real-world projects for various courses while earning their degree. It’s a network-building opportunity that allows students to produce tangible deliverables for a company or organisation—individually or in a group. Students gain real-world skills within the context of their class, while the company meets business needs.
Another wonderful part of Northeastern is the connections that faculty have with local, regional, national, and global three-letter agencies, government departments, and NGOs,” adds Gregory Zimmerman, the college’s Director of Big Data and Quantitative Methods. “Faculty leverage these relationships to connect students with opportunities that align with their career aspirations.”
At Northeastern University, real-world opportunities pave the way for students to improve the world and succeed in their careers. Source: Northeastern University
In specific parts of CSSH, like the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, internship experiences are integrated into the capstone courses of their academic programmes. Not only are students exercising their research and practical skills in professional settings, but they’re also making small steps to improve the world through collaborative projects that support a community-led initiative.
“Classroom learning is vital, but practical experience grounds that classroom learning in the real world,” Zimmerman says. “Capstone courses and internships help to merge these two worlds and provide students with the context that is often missing in the classroom.”
For students interested in research, there’s no shortage of opportunities. CSSH hosts pioneering research centres where faculty and students challenge stereotypes, work on interdisciplinary projects, and benefit from community partnerships. Antonio Vázquez Brust, a Master of Science Urban Informatics graduate, collaborated with the Boston Area Research Initiative at the “intersection of urban science and public policy.” Joelle Maryzelle Juárez, a Master of Public Administration graduate, worked with the Kitty & Michael Dukakis Centre for Urban & Regional Policy to tackle critical urban development issues.
If you’d like to be a student thrust into real-world experiences as part of a high-quality education, then check out the College of Social Sciences and Humanities today.
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