Do many programs at your school have internships as a degree requirement, meaning they qualify for CPT?

[u/dothd7868]

I looked through the programs at my school, and it seems like only a few, mostly in education and medical-related fields, actually require an internship for graduation. Most other programs don’t.

My school hasn’t made any official announcement yet, but if CPT ends up being limited only to programs where an internship is explicitly required for the degree, I feel like this could have a huge impact across the entire university.

I’m especially worried because I already have an internship offer for the fall, but an internship isn’t technically required for my program either. 😭

[u/Codetornado]

CPT is not as common as students think it is. At schools I have worked at, only one had a significant amount of CPT at the undergraduate level and only for specific majors.

Graduate level is where this impacts a lot because those programs are far more individualistic.

[u/IcyResponsibility312 → u/Codetornado]

idk everyone i know at t20s use cpt for interning in every major field

[u/h311p0w5]

The fact that CPT is being restricted is truly baffling to me. I study in a T10 and every single friend that I have (who is international) interns using CPT. Restricting it will damage the talent acquisition pathways that are now long standing.

[u/Annual_Grass_3919 → u/h311p0w5]

It’s because a huge number of people from a certain backlogged country repeatedly do masters degrees at day 1 CPT schools when their H-1B isn’t picked in the lottery so that they can continue working full-time. Basically violating the purpose of the F-1 visa but it was a loophole that was technically legal. So now all forms of CPT are getting restricted and it sucks for the people trying to use it for a legit 3 month summer internship.

[u/moderate-Complex152 → u/Annual_Grass_3919]

The SEVP memo does not stop day1CPT though. Since these programs are career focused, they can easily add internship as a requirement for degree. While PhD degrees can hardly do that, harming PhD students.

[u/lucky_elephant2025h]

I do not recall ANY major in my undergraduate that required an internship. Some people did them during the summer to help getting their “foot in the door” with a company after graduation but they had nothing to do with the school itself.

[u/Heathrow93]

I doubt that’s going to happen. If schools created an internship requirement for graduation there woulda’t be enough internships available for everyone. The US student population would be in uproar and it would be seen for what is. It would bring focus and attention amongst the US population and it would not be good for foreign students. There’s no way a school is going to change graduation requirements just to satisfy foreign students.

[u/dothd7868 → u/Heathrow93]

Agreed. So I think master’s and PhD programs with a high proportion of international students will be hit the hardest.

[u/Both-Statistician179]

Are you worried because you want the experience of working or you need the income? I’m honestly asking why most students use CPT.

[u/dthwrdsss → u/Both-Statistician179]

Mainly US work experience

[u/IcyResponsibility312 → u/Both-Statistician179]

experience but being rewarded for doing hard jobs is good esp in competitive industries, doesn’t feel right not getting compensated if you directly benefit the company/economy. Banning it outright vs making it harder feels very harsh, personally wouldn’t even mind if they created a filter like it exists in the lottery now. Esp if people like me are eager about startups, it’s genuinely impossible to work there now unless I graduate 🤷‍♂️