College Student Programs and Internships at the National Security Agency (NSA)

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Co-operative Education Program

Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted February 1st - May 15th and September 7th - December 15th of each year.

About the Program
You will operate under a rotational program, alternating semesters of full-time work with full-time study from entry into the program until graduation. We require a minimum of 52 weeks of co-op work experience prior to graduation. During your work tour, you will work a regular 40-hour week. Each work tour is designed to reveal the specific areas you may want to focus on as a career.

Electrical or Computer Engineering Majors
Students in the Electrical or Computer Engineering fields will be involved in the design, development, testing, and evaluation of electronic communications systems. These multi-disciplinary assignments will reach to such rapidly advancing areas as optics, lasers, acoustics, and micro-processors.

Computer Science Majors
Computer Science majors will explore high-tech opportunities such as object-oriented methodology, multimedia, data warehousing/data mining, design/analysis development of software and systems, client/server development, networking, and Internet technology.

Salary
Salaries are highly competitive and determined by the percentage of credits completed toward a degree. Each 20 percent 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 equates to $30,747 - $42,209 annually. These salaries include a locality-based comparability payment.

Full-time salaries for those who return after 52 weeks of work experience at NSA range from approximately $67,945 - $72,100 for Electrical/Computer Engineers, and $63,854 - $68,006 for Computer Scientists.

Benefits

Students who attend out-of-state schools are eligible for a round trip airline ticket to and from school or mileage reimbursement up to the cost of a government airline ticket.
Tuition assistance
Housing accommodations can be arranged upon request.

Qualifications

Must be a U.S. citizen
Must be eligible to be granted a security clearance
Must be a second semester college freshman or sophomore
Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Must be majoring in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science
Must be enrolled in a four-year college or university

How to Apply
Applications are accepted February 1st - May 15th and September 7th - December 15th of each year.

Applications must be submitted online or postmarked on or before May 15th and/or December 15th. Applications received after the deadline, as well as incomplete packets, will not be considered.

To submit a resume online during open season, click any "Apply Online" link. Under "Basic Job Search", type in keywords "Cooperative Education" and click on "search." Select Cooperative Education and click "Apply Now." Follow directions as prompted.

To be considered for the co-op program students must submit a complete application packet that includes:

A resume
Unofficial and official transcripts*

*Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for application purposes to verify GPA. Official transcripts will be required prior to an official employment offer.

Submit your application package to:
National Security Agency
Office of Recruitment
9800 Savage Road, Suite: 6779
Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6779
Attn: Cooperative Education Program, MB3