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INI Internship Process & Requirements

INI students may choose to complete an optional internship as a summer elective course. The following requirements apply:

  • The INI Internship is a 3-unit course graded as Pass/No Pass.
  • Registration is required.
  • International students must be CPT eligible to work off-campus in the U.S.
  • All internships must be approved by the INI to count as an elective.
  • Internships must be relevant to your program of study to be approved.
  • Internships must be completed in the first summer term (depending on your semester of entry and duration of program).
  • Successful completion of the internship requirement is determined by the INI.
  • Approved INI internships will appear on your final transcript.

INI Internship Canvas Course

To facilitate and manage the approval and completion of an internship, students who choose to do a summer internship will have access to the INI Internship course on Canvas.

Go to Canvas course

Questions?

For questions about the internship process, email the INI Internship team at ini-internship@andrew.cmu.edu

Internship Documents

Internship Timeline

Phase 1: Search Process

  1. Job Search
  2. Interview Preparation
  3. Interview
  4. Offer Selection

Phase 2: Approval Process

  1. Offer Letter Submission
  2. Department Approval
  3. Course Registration
  4. Work Authorization Approval

Phase 3: Completion Process

  1. Completion of Internship
  2. Company Summary Form Submission
  3. Student Summary Form Submission
  4. Grading

Considerations for International Students

Questions? Contact Lisa Currin, INI Foreign Student Coordinator

Curricular Practical Training, or CPT, is initially approved by the INI department and authorized through the Office of International Education (OIE). CPT forms must be signed by designated INI staff (Note: Academic Advisors are not designated staff and cannot approve CPT forms).

More information can be found on the Office of International Education’s website. 

Full resources and guidelines are available on the INI Internship Canvas course.

Essential Forms and Resources

INI Sample Offer Letter - Industry Positions: Satisfies internship and CPT requirements. Download Sample Letter

Sample Offer Letter - Unpaid Campus Positions: Please contact ini-internship@andrew.cmu.edu if you’ve received an offer for on-campus work at CMU. 

Internship Summary Form: to be completed and submitted by your internship supervisor or company secondary contact. Download Form

Student Summary Form: to be completed by the student. Access form via Canvas.

Connect with the INI Internship team

Visit the INI Internship Canvas course for announcements, resources, guidelines and more (only available to students in the Applied or Applied Advanced study options). Go to Canvas

Join the conversation on Slack through the #internship-todos channel (only available to students in the Applied or Applied Advanced study options). Go to Slack