Summer CPT

1. Students must have completed two semesters of full-time study with an active SEVIS record to be eligible for CPT.

Exception: USCIS offers an exception for graduate students whose programs require immediate participation in an internship, a practicum, or other employment. CPLN and HSPV students are required to complete an internship in order to meet the degree requirements, and therefore may be eligible for CPT upon arrival. However, because internships in these programs are scheduled to be completed in the summer, this exception will likely be relevant only in rare cases or during the COVID-19 pandemic when continuing students have been completing coursework remotely during the academic year but are able to arrive in the U.S. at the start of summer 2021 to immediately begin an internship. Because ARCH, LARP, FNAR, MSD, and MUSA do not require internships as a component of academic study, students in these programs are not eligible for “day one” CPT.

2. All students applying for CPT must be in good academic standing. Student on probation will not be approved for summer CPT until spring term grades are submitted and reviewed for academic standing and the probation status is cleared.

3. Students must have a confirmed offer before applying for CPT. You may not apply for CPT before receiving an official offer letter. However, your application for CPT must then be approved before you begin your internship. Note: The employment must relate to the student’s major and the experience must be part of the program of study.  Employment and opportunities unrelated to your academic program are not eligible for CPT.

Students must complete the application process, receive CPT approval, and begin work by the following deadlines in order to ensure they have enough time during the summer to meet the minimum time commitment required for CPT:

• ARCH and LARP: CPT must be approved by and the position must start no later than June 14, 2024 in order to fit in the 10 weeks required for CPT.
• CPLN and HSPV: CPT must be approved and the position must start no later than July 12, 2024 in order to fit in the six weeks required for CPT.

During the summer, students may pursue full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (less than 20 hours per week).

PhD students on dissertation status are eligible for CPT provided the chair of their graduate group writes a letter to student services and ISSS confirming that the work experience is benefitting the student's PhD course of study. Dissertation status replaces the required CPT course that masters degree students must take.

All students doing CPT are registered for the summer CPT course (ARCH/CPLN/HSPV/LARP), which carries a credit value of .20 CU, but these course units do not count towards the total CUs required by the program for degree completion.

This course consists of online readings and assignments that focus on the work experience. The grade type for CPT courses Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and does not factor into a student’s GPA.

The course fee for the summer CPT course is $500.

CPT summer courses carry a credit value of .20 CU, but these course units do not count towards the total CUs required by the program for degree completion. This course consists of online readings and assignments that focus on the work experience. The grade type for CPT courses is Pass/Fail.

This course provides international Master of Architecture students the opportunity for practical training in architecture in the United States (CPT). The course develops critical thinking about the organization, operation, and ethics of professional practice in architecture.  Coursework includes on-line readings and assignments that focus on the work experience.  It also allows students to begin accumulating the training units required for professional licensure following the definitions developed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NACARB) Intern Development Program (IDP). This course will allow international Master of Architecture students to work in an internship with an architecture firm in the United States without shortening their limited OPT time.  The course is offered for .20 course units during the summer.  The employment must relate to the major and the experience must be part of the program of study.  The course may be taken multiple times after completing at least two terms of coursework; students are not eligible after graduation. Eligible students must work a minimum of 35 hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks. 

This course provides international City Planning students the opportunity for practical training in planning the United States (CPT).  The course develops critical thinking about the organization, operation, and ethics of professional practice in planning.  Coursework includes on-line readings and assignments that focus on the work experience.  This course will allow international City Planning students to work in an internship with a planning firm in the United States without shortening their limited OPT time.  The course is offered for .20 course units during the summer.  The employment must relate to the major and the experience must be part of the program of study.  The course may be taken multiple times after completing at least two terms of coursework; students are not eligible after graduation.  Eligible students must work a minimum of 6 consecutive weeks. 

This course will allow international Landscape Architecture students to work in an internship with a landscape architecture firm in the United States.  The course develops critical thinking about the organization, operation, and ethics of professional practice in landscape architecture.  Coursework includes on-line readings and assignments that focus on the work experience. This course will allow international Landscape Architecture students to work in an internship with a landscape architecture firm in the United States without shortening their OPT time.  The course is offered for .20 course units during the summer.  The employment must relate to the major and the experience must be part of the program of study. The course may be taken multiple times after completing at least two terms of coursework; students are not eligible after graduation.  Eligible students must work a minimum of 35 hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks. 

This course provides international Historic Preservation students the opportunity for practical training in preservation in the United States (CPT). The course develops critical thinking about the organization, operation, and ethics of professional practice in preservation. Coursework includes on-line readings and assignments that focus on the work experience. This course will allow international Historic Preservation students to work in an internship with a preservation organization in the United States without shortening their limited OPT time. The course is offered for .20 course units during the summer. The employment must relate to the major and the experience must be part of the program of study. The course may be taken multiple times after completing at least two terms of coursework; students are not eligible after graduation. Eligible students must work a minimum of 6 consecutive weeks.