Program Framework

The study program is "Co-op" internship-based, combining traditional academic studies with real world "Co-op" business and cultural internships (also called Curricular Practical Training - CPT ). This program not only teach students with the business and technical knowledge in a classroom setting, but also value the real world “hands-on” work experiences related to student's future careers. This program challenges students in many ways and will eventually put our students well ahead of their peers when they graduate from school. When compared with traditional students educated from textbook to textbook, NCU's students on average already have two years US work experience at the time they receive their Master's degree. In contrast to the students from traditional classroom only education program, NCU's students have strong communication and social skills, they are well adapted to the multi-cultural real world environment, demonstrate good time management ability and fluent in oral  English, plus years of international business "know-how" and cultural experience. Enriched resume and strong recommendation letters from American companies and organizations are sparkling extras. All these will help students prepare to meet the challenge of increasingly intensified competition in the global market. 

Specially approved by Department of Homeland Security regulations, international students can choose to start the off-campus "co-op" employment as soon as arriving, no need to wait for 9 months.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - Paid "Co-op" Employment

The knowledge that students have gained in the classroom can only be useful if it is applied in real world situations. "Co-op" employments (Curricular Practical Training - CPT), which integrate theory learned in the classroom with practical application in the real business and professional environment, will help students develop the “hands-on” skills on the job, provide them with an opportunity to explore many career options, interests and abilities, contribute to the development of personal and professional maturity and ethics. This "co-op" program is uniquely designed for international students to combine knowledge learned in the classroom setting with knowledge acquired from "hands-on" practical work experience in some American companies and organizations, consequently, brings classroom instruction to a new level of understanding. Meanwhile, the "co-op" employment can help international students finance their education. All net income can be kept by the students and used for their educational purposes in the US. 

The average earning through the "co-op" employment is estimated at about $15,000 - $25,000 per year or more, depending on the English ability and job skills of individual students. While most students start from the entry-level jobs ($8-$9 per hour), those students with more skills may have higher income. Students will be placed in some entry level positions initially, then, students are expected to switch to higher ($12 or more) level administration positions in the workplace. Students are always allowed and encouraged to find their own business internship companies and negotiate their salary with hiring managers directly, in addition that the university will provide "co-op" job placement.

Classes are offered in the selected evenings and/or weekends, international students can work at day time, evenings and weekends and take the class in the evening or weekend or on-line combination to accommodate the study schedule of individuals.

The university will do everything it can to help you find the best interview opportunities, but student's initiative can expedite this process. That means each student is encouraged to identify job locations, preparing for interviews, performing well on the job, and drawing on your workplace and classroom learning to sharpen your professional and academic goals.