Concentrators in Applied Math, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, and International and Public Affairs can opt into the Professional Track. After declaring and being approved for “Professional Track” within your concentration in ASK, you will need to obtain approval for your summer internship to count toward the track requirement.

Please note that professional track summer internships must be full-time (35-40 hours per week) and at least one month in length. Students can use a minimum of two and a maximum of six months of CPT for professional track summer internships.

Click here to access the “CPT 101” info session for undergraduate students

For concentrators without a professional track option, or professional track concentrators with a job offer during the academic year or which otherwise does not meet the professional track internship requirements, enrollment in a related independent study is required to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

After obtaining an offer of employment, you will work with a faculty sponsor to plan an independent study course related to your internship and concentration by following the steps below:
 

1. Schedule an appointment with Kelsey Dennis, ISSS advisor for undergraduate students. The appointment must take place at least two weeks before the start of the semester (for internships during the academic year) or three weeks before the start of a summer internship. 

2. Submit the CPT request in your ISSS Gateway portal so that your concentration advisor or Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) can review your internship/employment offer details. Your CPT request should be submitted in the portal before you meet with Kelsey.

3. Identify a faculty member to approve and supervise an independent study course in your concentration. A Faculty Sponsor must hold a teaching appointment at Brown and have applicable knowledge of the proposed topic. The Faculty Sponsor assesses the proposal, advises the independent study, meets regularly with the student, and is responsible for evaluating each student's work. In cooperation with your Faculty Sponsor, define the topic and primary reading material of your independent study course, and how the course relates to your proposed internship. Use the Independent Study Proposal (ISP) Template to plan out and draft your proposal. 

4. Email a draft of your Independent Study Proposal (ISP) for initial review and feedback to the International Student Academic Advising team at internationaladvising@brown.edu. This step should be completed at least 10 days before the semester begins or the start of a summer internship. You will receive feedback to revise your ISP within 2-3 business days.  

5. Submit a polished version of your Independent Study Proposal (ISP) through the ISSS Gateway portal for review by your faculty sponsor, ISSS and Dean Chia-Ying Pan. Dean Chia-Ying Pan will review your ISP after it is approved by your faculty sponsor and email all involved parties with the final approval in 3-5 business days. 

Click here to access the “CPT 101” info session for undergraduate students

Discuss the employment offer with your faculty or thesis advisor as they will need to confirm that your employment is an integral part of your program curriculum.

For employment that is not a requirement of your academic program or track, your faculty advisor will need to provide the following on their approval form:

• description of the training (1-2 paragraphs)
• employer’s name and address; the specific dates of the recommended training; and whether the employment is full-time (over 20 hours) or part-time (up to 20 hours).
• verification that the work is an integral part of your program of study, and
  • that you have enrolled in (specify course title and course number) and will receive academic credits for the experience
  • OR that the employment is required as part of your academic program for all students

Graduate students with thesis / dissertation requirements: CPT may be authorized if the employment is integral to the completion of the thesis or dissertation requirement. Integral in this context means that the employment is needed to ensure completion of the thesis or dissertation. If the employment is not integral, CPT may not be authorized. In addition, CPT may not be authorized following the thesis / dissertation defense.