Work-Study / "Co-op" Program Overview

The option of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to students enrolled in any of its master's degree programs.  CPT is authorized by the U.S. Homeland Security Department for F-1 international students and is equivalent to the co-op option for American students.

This option is designed to give students practical work experience in curriculum-related employment with local corporations and businesses.  For those who select this option at graduate program paid internship employment is mandatory, beginning in the first academic year of the student's program. Along with the mandatory internship employment, students will need to take a total of 15 to 19 courses, depending on the program you enroll into. 

Immigration Service regulations allow international students who are enrolled in an "internship" or "co-op" program to work in internship positions for as many months as the duration of the program will allow. Through the co-op program, international students may work up to 40 hours per week. 

F-1 students wishing to participate in an off-campus training program that is “an integral part of an established curriculum” must first obtain work authorization for Curricular Practical Training (CPT).  The training, which must be directly related to the student’s major field of study, is defined as ”alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum, which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school” (Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 214.2 (f)(10).

The purpose of a CPT program is to integrate real-life training with a student's education. 

At most universities the applicant can not start their CPT until he/she has been in school for at least one academic year (9 months). 

There are a few graduate schools that have curriculum set up so that the internships are mandatory and therefore, a student must begin his/her curricular training immediately upon registration and securing his/her social security number.

The practical training that students receive by working in an American Company gives them skills and experience that cannot be obtained in a normal classroom-only education format, thus giving an advantage in achieving life goals after graduation.

The wages that are paid to the students for their CPT employment are equal to the wages paid to American employees in the same kind of employment.  Net earnings are retained by the students and used for their personal or educational needs.

Students can choose either part-time (20 hours or less per week) or full-time (20 to 40 hours per week) employment.  This can continue for the entire duration of the master's program, as each student may choose. 

Where possible, class schedules will be arranged so as to facilitate this option.  The co-op program offers daytime, evening, and weekend courses.

The master's co-op program consists of 15 to 18 courses over a period of two to two and 1/2 years, depending on the students course load.  The internship employment is required for at least eleven months of a student's master's degree program.  However, if the student chooses to be employed for longer than eleven months, he/she may continue CPT employment for as long as he/she chooses.  Please note, that if full-time CPT employment lasts more than twelve months, the student may lose the right to the Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is allowed to students after graduation. 

Students are allowed to obtain any employment which is related to an integral part of the curriculum in the student's major field of study.  The wages paid for the internship employment depends upon the kind of position found.

Students at undergraduate program need to stay in school for 9 months before they are allowed to engage in the CPT.