Cooperative Education Program Language (Maryland)
Job Location:
Fort Meade, MD - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
NSAs Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program offers students exciting impactful professional work opportunities (with pay and benefits!) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSAs two primary missions: 1) Collecting analyzing and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure.
NSAs Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program at Fort Meade MD offers students exciting impactful and professional work opportunities (with pay and benefits!) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSAs two primary missions: 1) Collecting analyzing and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure. This Co-op opportunity is open to students who are pursuing a Chinese or Farsi language-focused major ONLY.
Right from the start you will be involved in real life projects and will have full use of NSA labs equipment and advanced technologies. These areas will offer you increasing challenges and satisfying learning experiences since our mission demands that we work on the cutting edge of technology. The full listing of each Co-op description and details can be found by visiting: (If unable to open this link please copy and paste into your browser).
Program Details:
- 52 weeks of alternating semesters of school and work at NSA
- During work tours students work a 40-hour week
- Subsidized student housing and travel entitlements during work tours if over 75 miles from Fort Meade MD
- Tuition reimbursement for one technical course per semester (up to $2500)
- Potentially eligible for full time employment following successful completion of the program
***PLEASE NOTE: As this program requires students to rotate between semesters of work and study applicants are encouraged to discuss the possibility of participating in this type of program with their school (Academic Advisor Co-Op Advisor Registrar and/or Financial Aid Office etc.) to determine the effect it may have on their full time student status during scheduled work tours as well as any effects it may have on scholarships and financial aid.
- All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.
Only applicants that meet the following qualifications will be considered:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be pursuing a Chinese or Farsi language-focused major
- Must be a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore
- Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college work completed
- Must be eligible to be granted a TS/SCI security clearance after successfully completing a background investigation a Full-scope Polygraph and a Psychological Evaluation
- Must be available and in the U.S. for operational and technical interviews and other applicable processing both in-person and via telephone/internet between the months of November 2026 and March 2027
- Must be pursuing a Chinese or Farsi language-focused major
- Must be a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore
- Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college work completed
Salaries are determined by the percentage of credits completed toward a degree. Each 20% block of credits completed with at least a 3.0 GPA will allow you to be promoted to the next grade. Grades range from GGD-03/05 to GGD-07/01 (which can be found at ) annually. Due to the rotational nature of the Co-op program students are paid proportionate to the number of weeks worked in a year and are authorized Leave without Pay during scheduled school rotations. The salaries aforementioned include a locality based comparability payment.
Students will receive annual leave sick leave and paid federal holidays.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
