CPT for Weitzman Students

International students may undertake relevant internship or part-time employment opportunities during the fall and/or spring terms, within the parameters noted below. Because of curriculum variations within each Weitzman department, academic year policies are set by individual departments. Students in the MSD-AAD, MSD-RAS, MSD-HP, and MUSA degree programs are not eligible for academic year CPT due to the one-year timeline of those programs.

Academic year CPT must be completed within the official term dates. For this reason, unless students are participating in the Weitzman Externship Program, there is no option for CPT during the winter break.

Master of Architecture

During a fall or spring semester while students are taking classes towards completion of the M.Arch degree, they may wish to undertake opportunities to gain relevant professional experience, either through an internship (paid or unpaid) or part-time employment related to their field of study. Due to the intensity of the M.Arch degree, taking on work or internships during the academic year is strongly discouraged. However, with approval from the department chair, students may apply for one semester of academic year CPT as follows:

1. Students must be in their second or third year of the M.Arch degree (for advanced standing students, CPT eligibility is only in the final year of the degree program). Even if students are eligible for CPT through USCIS policies in their first year at Weitzman due to full-time enrollment in another degree program in the past year, the M.Arch program does not permit students to undertake CPT during the fall or spring of their first year.
2. Students may undertake CPT during one term of their second or third year. Academic year CPT may not be used more than once. (The opportunity to undertake academic year CPT is not impacted by completion of CPT in during the summer, or winter or spring breaks.
3. Students must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher to be considered for academic year CPT.
4. Academic year CPT requires concurrent enrollment in the 0.2 CU course, ARCH 6741. There is no additional tuition charge for this course, even if a student is already enrolled in 5 CUs. This 0.2 CU course does not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
5. Academic year CPT is limited to 20 hours per week.
6. The CPT opportunity cannot start before the first day of classes for the term and must end by the last day of the semester. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with ISSS.
7. Students must follow the CPT application and approval process outlined below, and receive approval from the ARCH department chair, the Weitzman Registrar, and ISSS.

Master of City Planning

Academic year CPT is permitted for City Planning students as follows:

1. Students must be in their second year of the MCP degree. Even if students are eligible for CPT through USCIS policies in their first year, due to full-time enrollment in another degree program in the past year, the MCP program does not permit students to undertake CPT during the fall or spring of their first year.
2. Students must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered for academic year CPT.
3. Academic year CPT requires concurrent enrollment in the 0.2 CU course, CPLN 6741. There is no additional tuition charge for this course, even if a student is already enrolled in 5 CUs. This 0.2 CU course does not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
4. Academic year CPT is limited to 20 hours per week
5. The CPT opportunity cannot start before the first day of classes for the term and must end by the last day of the semester. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with ISSS.
6. Students must follow the CPT application and approval process outlined below and receive approval from the CPLN department chair, the Weitzman Registrar, and ISSS.
7. Students may pursue CPT in the fall, spring, or both.

Master of Landscape Architecture

Academic year CPT is permitted for Landscape Architecture students as follows:

1. Students must be in their second or third year of the MLA degree (for advanced standing students, CPT eligibility is only in the final year of the degree program). Even if students are eligible for CPT through USCIS policies in their first year at Weitzman due to full-time enrollment in another degree program in the past year, the MLA program does not permit students to undertake CPT during the fall or spring of their first year.
2. Students are not permitted to undertake CPT in a term in which they have a Teaching Assistant (TA) role.
3. Students must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher to be considered for academic year CPT.
4. Academic year CPT requires concurrent enrollment in the 0.2 CU course, LARP 6741. There is no additional tuition charge for this course, even if a student is already enrolled in 5 CUs. This 0.2 CU course does not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
5. Academic year CPT is limited to 20 hours per week.
6. The CPT opportunity cannot start before the first day of classes for the term and must end by the last day of the semester. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with ISSS.
7. Students must follow the CPT application and approval process outlined below, and receive approval from the LARP department chair, the Weitzman Registrar, and ISSS.

Master of Science in Design: Environmental Building Design

Academic year CPT is permitted for MSD-EBD students as follows:

1. Students must be in their final (third) semester of the MSD-EBD degree. Even if students are eligible for CPT through USCIS policies in their first year, due to full-time enrollment in another degree program in the past year, Weitzman does not permit students to undertake CPT during the fall or spring of their first year.
2. Students must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered for academic year CPT.
3. Academic year CPT requires concurrent enrollment in the 0.2 CU course, ARCH 6741. There is no additional tuition charge for this course, even if a student is already enrolled in 5 CUs. This 0.2 CU course does not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
4. Academic year CPT is limited to 20 hours per week
5. The CPT opportunity cannot start before the first day of classes for the term and must end by the last day of the semester. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with ISSS.
6. Students must follow the CPT application and approval process outlined below and receive approval from the MSD-EBD program director, the Weitzman Registrar, and ISSS.

Master of Science in Historic Preservation

Academic year CPT is permitted for HSPV students as follows:

1. Students must be in their second year of the HSPV degree. Even if students are eligible for CPT through USCIS policies in their first year, due to full-time enrollment in another degree program in the past year, Weitzman does not permit students to undertake CPT during the fall or spring of their first year.
2. Students must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered for academic year CPT.
3. Academic year CPT requires concurrent enrollment in the 0.2 CU course, HSPV 6741. There is no additional tuition charge for this course, even if a student is already enrolled in 5 CUs. This 0.2 CU course does not count towards the total credits required for the degree.
4. Academic year CPT is limited to 20 hours per week
5. The CPT opportunity cannot start before the first day of classes for the term and must end by the last day of the semester. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with ISSS.
6. Students must follow the CPT application and approval process outlined below and receive approval from the HSPV department chair, the Weitzman Registrar, and ISSS.

**Students who do summer CPT will not be approved for a Leave of Absence in the Fall semester immediately following summer CPT.**

For Summer 2024, CPT must begin on or after May 21 and must end on or before August 26.

Eligibility for 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.

4. 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.

5. Students may pursue full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (less than 20 hours per week) CPT during the summer. During the academic year, students are only eligible for part-time CPT.

6. 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.

The Weitzman Externship Program is coordinated by Weitzman’s Associate Director for Professional Development and Leadership. Externships are short-term opportunities to learn more about firms and organizations; some externships offer students the chance to work on projects, while other externships are purely informational and allow students to participate in presentations by the host. Externships take place during winter break and spring break and need to be completed within specified start and end dates. Students may work full-time on CPT while the academic term is not in session. All externship opportunities are carefully curated to ensure that they provide skills and knowledge in the design fields relevant to Weitzman students.

All international students participating in the externship program need to be aware of the following:

• CPT is required if the externship is paid, even if it is only for one day
• CPT is required if the externship lasts more than one day, whether or not it is paid
• CPT is not required for externships that are less than one day and unpaid

The externship application asks a series of questions about students’ CPT eligibility. Students should not apply for externship opportunities that require CPT if they are not eligible for CPT.

Students who are placed with an externship are registered for 6741: Externship CPT in accordance with the CPT guidelines outlined above.

CPT is required for all positions, paid or unpaid. The only time you do not need CPT is if the employer for your position (paid or unpaid) is Penn.

This section outlines the CPT application procedure for summer and academic year CPT. CPT that is for participation in Weitzman's Externship Program over winter break or spring break is coordinated on a case by case basis by Weitzman's Associate Director for Professional Development and Leadership.

Applying for Summer or Academic Year CPT at Weitzman

1. Obtain a copy of your official offer letter on company letterhead that is signed by the prospective employer. A photocopy is acceptable. The letter should include:

• Employer's name and full address
• Your dates of employment
• The number of hours to be worked per week
• Description of duties

The next step differs for Summer CPT and Academic Year CPT:

2. For Summer CPT only: Send the offer letter to your academic department Coordinator, along with the Summer CPT Request Form, who will review your request and forward your offer materials to the instructor of the summer CPT course. Be sure to note your Penn ID number, your degree program, and your expected graduation term in your email to your department coordinator. Once approved by the summer course instructor, you will receive an email welcoming you to the course. The Weitzman Registrar will be cc'd on this email and will then register you for the summer CPT course, pending academic eligibility for summer CPT. Note: students cannot be registered for the summer CPT course until summer registration opens in Path. This usually occurs in late March. Students will be billed $500 for the CPT course tuition, and will see this charge appear on their bill when they are registered.

--or--

2. For Academic Year CPT only: Send the offer letter, 1-2 page description of the internship and the Academic Year CPT Request Form to your department chair for their approval. Once the department chair has approved your request for academic year CPT, forward all materials to the Weitzman Registrar at des-studentservices@design.upenn.edu. Once received, the Weitzman Registrar will confirm the student's eligibility for course and register the student for the academic year CPT course. Students cannot be registered for Fall CPT until they have received their grades from the spring semester. Students cannot be registered for Spring CPT until advance registration for spring courses opens (usually in late October).

3. Login to iPenn to access the CPT electronic request form. As part of your iPenn eform submission, you will be asked to scan and upload the following:

• Copy of your current I-20
• Copy of your passport
• Photocopy of your I-94 card (front and back if issued paper I-94) or U.S. entry/admission stamp in passport (if issued electronic I-94). Details about the I-94 can be found at https://global.upenn.edu/isss/i94
• Copy of your official offer letter as described in Step 1 (above)

4. Your CPT request e-form will be sent to the Weitzman Registrar (des-studentservices@design.upenn.edu) for review and recommendation. The Weitzman Registrar will not approve an e-form until a student is registered in the corresponding CPT course. If the Registrar's Office recommends your CPT request, it will be forwarded to an ISSS advisor for final approval. Without this recommendation, ISSS is unable to process this request.

5. If you are eligible and have the documentation required for CPT, an ISSS advisor will authorize CPT by issuing an updated I-20, and you will receive an email when this is complete.  ISSS processing time is normally 3-5 business days from receipt of the Weitzman Registrar’s review/recommendation, although it can take longer during ISSS' peak periods of high volume processing.

6. You may engage in CPT employment only after you have received the I-20 with your CPT authorization from ISSS. This work authorization is valid only for the specific employer, location, time period and on a part-time or full-time basis as approved and recorded by an ISSS advisor as evidenced on your I-20 issued for CPT.

7. Students must have their CPT I-20 and may ONLY work during the dates listed for the CPT period. You must not continue employment beyond the date authorized unless you apply and are granted an extension of your permission to work from ISSS. To do so would be a violation of your nonimmigrant student status, and such violation would jeopardize your ability to remain in the U.S.

I have been offered an unpaid position this summer. Do I still need CPT?
Yes – CPT is required for all positions, paid and unpaid. The only exception is that CPT is not needed for paid (or unpaid) positions if the employer is Penn.

I am an MFA student and don’t see information above for MFA students who want to do CPT. Is it allowed?
Yes, MFA students are eligible for CPT with qualifying positions, similar to their peers in Weitzman’s other degree programs. MFA students don’t usually pursue CPT so the School doesn’t roster a routine course for MFA students in the summer, but Student Services can assist MFA students with CPT registration on a case-by-case basis.

Is there a minimum number of days that I need to work during the summer in order to be eligible for CPT?
Yes, but this varies by department. Because departments may have different goals or expectations for what a student will learn from their internship, each program has set a minimum amount of time that students must work during the summer in order to qualify for CPT. Those minimum durations are as follows:

• ARCH: students must work a minimum of 35 hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks
• CPLN: students must work a minimum of 6 consecutive weeks
• HSPV: students must work a minimum of 6 consecutive weeks
• LARP: students must work a minimum of 35 hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks

I see that the CPT course rostered for my department starts on May 24, but my employer has set up a start date for me later in the summer. Is that OK?
Yes. As long as your internship is for the minimum amount of time required by your department, you may complete it at any time between the start and end dates listed for Weitzman’s summer CPT course. Please note that you must also adhere to the employment authorization dates listed on your CPT application/approval through ISSS.

I received a job offer for the summer, but it is for a position that doesn’t relate to my field of study. My financial situation requires that I work this summer, so I would still like to apply for CPT. Is this permissible?
Unfortunately, no. Only internships and summer employment that are directly related to your degree and course of study are eligible for CPT authorization. You may not undertake work opportunities that are not related to your program and have not been approved by ISSS.

I am a Weitzman PhD student on dissertation status. Can I do CPT?
Yes, if the chair of your graduate group approves, PhD students on dissertation may apply for CPT. The Graduate Group Chair must provide a letter to Student Services and ISSS confirming that the work experience is benefitting their PhD.

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.

ARCH 6740-920: 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. 

CPLN 6740-920: 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. 

LARP 6740-920: 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. 

HSPV 6740-920: 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.