Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for Undergraduate Students

As an F-1 international student you may qualify to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

CPT is employment that is an integral part of an established curriculum. CPT is defined to be alternative work-study, internship, or cooperative education arranged with the approval of your program, or any type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements. CPT may take place during the academic year and/or in the summer. CPT can only be completed prior to the completion of your course of study. Because USCIS uses a broad definition of employment— any activity for which a student receives a benefit, monetary or otherwise—even unpaid internships require CPT authorization.

For CPT, you must register for an internship course at Baruch College. To register, you must first obtain approval from the faculty advisor responsible for the course. You will receive credit(s) for the internship course and can be paid by the company. Undergraduate students are only eligible for part-time CPT (up to 20 hours per week) during the fall and spring semesters. Undergraduate students may choose to engage in full time CPT (more than 20 hours per week) when school is not in session or during your annual break.

A student who accrues more than 365 days of full-time CPT, becomes ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT). A student is then essentially forfeiting his/her OPT. Please Note: The “365-day rule” only applies to full-time CPT. You can accrue part-time CPT without affecting your eligibility for OTP.

If you are authorized to work on campus and also choose to engage in Practical Training (CPT or Pre-OPT), per ICE regulations the total number of hours for the Practical training and on-campus employment can NOT exceed 20 hours while school is in session. You may work full time during periods when school is not in session or during your annual break.

To qualify, the CPT course “must be an integral part of your established curriculum” ISSC must validate to USCIS that the CPT course represents satisfaction of the requirements for your particular degree.

Note that a course offered for the primary purpose of facilitating employment authorization does not qualify for CPT.

Acquiring CPT approval

The following three items are required to be completed and submitted to ISSC to process an application for CPT:

• Completed  Faculty Advisor Form
• Offer letter from employer on their official letterhead stating:
  • The starting and ending dates of the placement
  • The number of hours per week (maximum of 20 for part-time CPT)
  • A brief description of duties to be performed
• Proof that you have registered and paid for the internship course

Once the CPT application is complete, ISSC will update the SEVIS record and give you a copy of your SEVIS I-20, authorizing CPT with that employer only. You must be issued the SEVIS I-20 before commencing employment.

Students in F-1 status must have been lawfully enrolled in school on a full-time basis for at least one full academic year before becoming eligible for practical training. CPT must be undertaken prior to the completion of a course of study.

Undergraduate students must maintain good academic standing.

A selection of internship courses available at Baruch

Below are some internship options across Baruch’s three schools. If you cannot find an internship course within your field of study, contact your academic department.

Zicklin School of Business

Where provided, contact the professor listed for information.

BUS 3001-3003 Business Internship

• Hours: 1 credit pass/fail, 10-15 hours/week for unpaid internships, 10-20 hrs/week for paid internships, pt/ft in summer
• Prerequisites: Open to students admitted to the Zicklin School of Business with departmental permission

ACC 5100 Accounting Internship (see also BUS 3001-3)

• Credits: 1 credit
• Prerequisites: Admission to Zicklin and Accounting major, minimum GPA: 2.5
• Contact: Professor Joseph Weintrop
  • 646-312-3185
  • accounting.internship@baruch.cuny.edu
  • NVC 13-249
  • Office hours: Thursday 10-12

CIS 5900 (4680) Computer Information Systems Internship

• Credits: Minimum 1 credit/120 hours; Maximum 3 credits/180 hours (15 hours per week)
• Prerequisites: Departmental Permission; priority will be given to graduating seniors for 3 credit course.
• Department of Statistics and Computer Information Systems (see also BUS 3001-3)
• Contact: Professor Pai Chun Ma
  • 646-312-3369
  • pai-chun.ma@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 11-243

ECO 5010-5011 Training Program I & II

FIN 5610-5611 Training Program I & II (see also BUS 3001- 3)

• Department of Economics and Finance
• Contact: Professor Gayle DeLong, 646.312.3493, Gayle.DeLong@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 10-278
• Credits: 3 credits, visit http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/faculty/economics/resources/internships.html for forms.
• Prerequisites: Departmental Permission and Senior Status

MGT 5110 Management Internship (see also BUS 3001-3)

• Department of Management
• Contact: Professor Moshe Banai, 646.312.3631, Moshe.Banai@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 9-239
• Credits: 3 credits; visit http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/faculty/management/resources/intern/instructions/
• Prerequisites: 9 credits in MGMT beyond MGT 3120 & MGT 3121, & Departmental Permission

MKT 5100 Marketing Internship (see also BUS 3001-3)

• Department of Marketing
• Contact: Professor Gloria Thomas, 646.312.3349, Gloria.Thomas@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 12-256
• Credits: 3 credits
• Prerequisites: Senior Status and Departmental Permission

Internship in Real Estate (BUS 3001-3)

• Department of Real Estate
• Contact: Ms. Margo Weaker, 646.660.6937, Margo.Weaker@baruch.cuny.edu, 137 E. 22^nd St., Room 410
• Credits: 3 credits
• Prerequisites: Must be declared BBA Real Estate major, admitted to Zicklin.

Weissman School of Arts and Sciences

ART 5010-5011 Graphic Communication Internship / Department of Fine and Performing Arts

• Contact: Professor Terry Berkowitz, 646.312.4059, artifice@pipeline.com, NVC 7-228
• Credits/Hours: 8-14 hours, 3 credits
• Prerequisites: ART 2050, 3050, 3058, and Permission from the Internship Coordinator

COM 5010 Internship in Business & Public Communication

• Department of Communication Studies
• Contact: Professor Jana O’Keefe Bazzoni, 646.312.3720, communication.studies@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 8-240
• Credits/Hours: Min. 140 hours/ semester, plus online and campus meetings with internship coordinator, 3 credits
• Visit http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/academics/communication/Internships.htm
• Prerequisites: Departmental permission and internship site approval; upper division Corp. Comm. majors only.

ECO 5010-5011 Training Program I & II

• Department of Economics and Finance
• To download forms: http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/faculty/economics/resources/internships.html
• Credits/Hours: 1 class hour, 20 work hours, 3 credits each             
• Prerequisites: Economics major, Departmental Permission and Senior Status

 JRN 5050-5051 Media Internship

• Department of Journalism
• Contact: Professor Joshua Mills, 646.312.3937, Joshua.Mills@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 7-262
• Credits/Hours: 8-10 hours per week, 4 credits
• Prerequisites: JRN 2500, 3050 (additional 3000-level course in JRN or creative writing for permission from Journalism Faculty

 FPA 5070-5071 Arts Administration Internship

• Department of Fine and Performing Arts
• Contact: Professor Leonard Sussman, 646.312.4058, Leonard.Sussman@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 7-228
• Credits/Hours: 8-10 hours per week, 3 credits
• Prerequisites: Departmental Permission

MSC 5050 – 5051 Internship in Music Management

• Department of Fine and Performing Arts
• Contact: Professor Andrew Tomasello, 646.312.4064, tomasello1@aol.com, NVC 7-235
• Hours: Minimum of 10 hours per week, 3 credits (Summer Session: at least 140 hours over 6 weeks)
• Visit http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/departments/arts/intern/index.html
• Prerequisites: Departmental Permission

MTH 3901 – 3904 Actuarial Science Internship

• Department of Mathematics
• Contact: Professor Sarah Patterson, 646.312.4163, Sarah.Patterson@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 6-286
• Credits/Hours: 1 credit per semester. Minimum of 10 hours per week at the internship.
• Prerequisites: Declared Actuarial Science major; internship must be related to Actuarial Science, in approved organization.

MTH 3905 – 3908 Mathematics Internship

• Department of Mathematics
• Contact: Professor Sarah Patterson, 646.312.4163, Sarah.Patterson@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 6-286
• Credits/Hours: 1 credit per semester. Minimum of 10 hours per week at the internship.
• Prerequisites: Declared Mathematics major; internship must be related to Mathematics, in approved organization.

POL 5452 Field Work in Government and Politics

Department of Political Science

• Contact: Professor Susan Tenenbaum, 646.312.4420, Susan.Tenenbaum@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 5-283
• Credits: 3 credits – students can take the course up to two times (varying the internship) for a total of 6 credits.
• www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/academics/political_science/PoliticalScienceInternships.htm
• Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors in good standing

PSY 4035 Practicum in Community Psychological Services

• Department of Psychology
• Contact: Professor Harvey Barocas, 646.312.3814, Harvey.Barocas@baruch.cuny.edu, NVC 8-275
• Credits/Hours: 1 seminar hour; 6 field hours; 4 credits
• Prerequisites: PSY 1001, 6 additional credits in psychology, and permission from the psychology fieldwork coordinator

Marxe School of Public and International Affairs

PAF 5452 City Hall Internship in Public Affairs

• School of Public Affairs (with Professor DiBrienza)
• Contact: Melissa Sultana, Melissa.Sultana@baruch.cuny.edu, 1 Bernard Baruch Way, Box D-0901
• Cesar Garrido, Cesar.Garrido@baruch.cuny.edu
• Credits/Hours: 150 hours/semester, 3 credits
• Prerequisites: Dept. Permission; open to all Baruch undergraduates in good academic standing with at least 60 credits completed

PAF 5452 Hagedorn Non Profit Internship in Public Affairs

• Contact: Professor Michael Feller, Michael.Feller@baruch.cuny.edu, 1 Bernard Baruch Way, Box D-0901
• Credits/Hours: 150 hours per semester, 3 credits
• Prerequisites: Departmental permission; open only to official Public Affairs majors with at least a 3.0 GPA

PAF 5452 Non Profit Leadership Alliance in Public Affairs

• Contact: Professor Stan Altman, Stan.Altman@baruch.cuny.edu, 1 Bernard Baruch Way, Box D-0901
• Credits/Hours: 150 hours/semester, 3 credits
• Prerequisites: Dept. permission; open to all Baruch undergraduates in good academic standing with at least 45 credits completed