1. Obtain an offer letter: Students must obtain an offer letter from the employer on company letterhead, signed by the employer (digital signature is acceptable), verifying the employment. The letter must include the number of hours the student will be working, the employment start and end dates, and the internship location (on-site or remote). The start date must be on or after the beginning of the term, and the end date must be before the start of the next term. For example, summer internships must begin after the last day of the Spring term and end before the first day of the Fall term.
2. Register for GSE CPT course: 
   1. Program-designated CPT course: If your program has a program designated CPT course, you must enroll in that course for CPT approval.
   2. Independent Study Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) course (EDUC9998): If your program does not offer a designated CPT course, you may use the independent study CPT course instead.
      1. Students must provide a written proposal that describes the tasks they will undertake, outlines the details of the position or internship, and explains how it relates to their degree program and constitutes an integral part of their students. The proposal must also state that the student will work with the faculty member to complete all academic assignments for the course and submit the Mid-Point and Final Progress reports.
      2. The faculty member will evaluate students' progress reports and assign an "S" (Satisfactory) or a "U" (Unsatisfactory) grade for the course.
      3. After the proposal is completed, students must submit the GSE CPT Intent to Apply form to register for an independent study CPT course.
      4. Once the GSE CPT application form is completed, students must register for the EDUC 9998 course on Slate. Visit the course registration link here.
3. Additional information for doctoral students: If a doctoral student is on dissertation status and plans to use the dissertation course as the CPT course, the faculty advisor must provide a signed letter explaining how the internship supports the student’s dissertation work, in addition to the internship offer letter.
   1. Doctoral students who receive a stipend may need to contact Jennifer Reese for guidance regarding how pursuing an internship may affect their stipend.
4. Apply for the CPT I-20 at ISSS: Once GSE CPT course registration is completed, students will receive a confirmation email. They may then submit the CPT I-20 application to ISSS.
   • View ISSS CPT guidance here
   • Processing may take up to 7 business days. Students may not begin any work until they have received CPT authorization from ISSS.

Timeline: Your CPT is reviewed by multiple offices and staff members at different stages. ISSS processing time is typically 3-5 business days, but may take up to 7 business days. Please allow yourself at least a three-week window before your start date to ensure all documents are submitted, reviewed, and approved on time.

For GSE CPT academic calendar and course registration deadlines,  please refer to the Academic Calendars under the Student Records Office section.

Final semester CPT: If a student has only 1 CU remaining in their final semester, they are not eligible for CPT. CPT is only permitted and approved as part-time when students have a minimum of 2 CUs remaining.

SSN application: If you do not have SSN and plan to apply for one using CPT, please note you may only apply within 30 days of your CPT I-20 start date.

Grading: Your independent study CPT course faculty member will evaluate your work through the mid-term and final reporting. They may require some additional academic work beyond what is completed during the internship. However, the evaluation must be substantially based on the training experience. The independent study CPT course (EDUC9998) will be issued an “S” (Satisfactory) grade or a “U” (Unsatisfactory) grade. No letter grades (which affect GPA) will be given. For any student who gets a “U” grade, sanctions may include forfeiture of post-graduation OPT eligibility and the possibility of being unable to work in the United States under any other visa category.

Tuition and Fees: The Independent Study Curriculum Practical Training course will be charged at the regular GSE thesis course rate.

Requirements to complete: All academic requirements for CPT must be satisfactorily completed within the term in which the student is registered. Failure to do so will render the employment "unauthorized" and constitute a violation of immigration status.

Types of CPT: When school is in session (i.e., during a regular academic term–and in some cases the summer term), students may only apply for part-time CPT. Students who accumulate 12 months of full-time CPT lose eligibility for OPT.

• Full time CPT: Usually permitted only during school breaks. Full-time CPT is not allowed when school is in session.
• Part time CPT: Typically used when school is in session, or when summer is the final term of study.

PhD and Master's students: Pre-Completion OPT may be available for certain part-time jobs that align with a student's degree program. Please consult your ISSS advisor if you are interested in learning more about this option.