If you would like to expand your knowledge-base by accepting an engineering internship, you must complete a series of tasks prior to receiving Departmental approval for your internship. The Industrial Engineering (IE) Graduate Program has provided a list of steps below that are meant to help facilitate and expedite the approval process for graduate students.
With that in mind, we realize that not every situation is identical which means that this process might not present options for every student’s unique needs. In the event that you do have questions, please contact the IE Graduate Program Coordinator for clarification of this process.
Before you make the decision to go on an engineering internship, you must first speak with your major professor to ensure you are on track to completing your degree.
Step #1
Whether you are an international or domestic student, the approval process is almost identical, with one exception: international students must also work in conjunction with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) in order to obtain the necessary work authorization. Therefore, before you may proceed to the next step you must determine whether or not you are an international or domestic graduate student.
- YES: Proceed to Step #2
- NO: Proceed to Step #3
Step #2
If you said “YES” to Step #1, your next task is to enroll in ISSO’s Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshop (F-1 students only). This workshop is required and ISSO will not approve your request if you do not enroll in and complete this session. Please speak with the ISSO staff for further information regarding these workshops.
Step #3
Permission to add IE 6970 to your schedule is granted by the instructor of the course and in our department, the instructor is the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE). Before the DOGE will approve your request, you must complete and submit a form which will also serve as your syllabus for IE 6970.
For the beginning and end date of CPT, you must use the current semester dates, even if your internship will extend past the end of the semester. You must submit a new IE 6970 Syllabus Form before applying for CPT in a following semester.
At the completion of the internship experience you will be expected to summarize these learning outcomes in a final report.
**Please see item #3 in the “Special Notes” section at the end of this procedure for further information.
This form must be submitted to the IE Graduate Program Coordinator and DOGE.
Step #4
The DOGE will review the student’s syllabus and contact the student’s major professor to ensure they are aware of their student’s internship request. There is no set time frame for this stage of the process.
Step #5
Once the DOGE has completed the review process, they will notify the IE Graduate Program Coordinator and the student.
- If your request was approved: Proceed to Step #6
- If your request is denied you will also be told why it was denied. If you are still interested in participating in an internship you will have to begin this process again from either Step #2 or Step #3.
Step #6
If your request has been approved, you are then able to add IE 6970 to your schedule. Please contact the IE Graduate Program Coordinator for assistance if needed.
Step #7
If you are an international student: Proceed to Step #8.
If you are not an international student: The application process is complete. Proceed to Step #10 near the end of the semester.
Step #8
If you are an international student, you may now initiate a CPT request via CyStart. You will be required to upload a copy of your job offer letter in the CyStart e-forms.
As part of your CPT request you will be required to fill out two e-forms. When completing these forms you will be asked to enter your major professor’s name so the request can be routed to them; however, only one of these forms is routed to your major professor, the other is routed to the DOGE. If you are unsure of who the DOGE is, please contact the IE Graduate Program Coordinator for help.
Routing instructions
- Student Request e-form: route to the DOGE
- Verification of Academic Purpose e-form: route to your major professor
Step #9
Once your e-forms have been received by the DOGE and your major professor, they will either approve or decline your request. There are several factors that are considered when making this decision so please be aware that the review may take more than a day or two.
- Please note: Once your DOGE and major professor have approved your CPT CyStart e-forms, your request will be forwarded to an International Student Advisor (ISA). The ISA will review your application and, if approved, will issue a new I-20/DS-2019 with a CPT authorization. You may not begin working during the CPT authorization period until you receive your new I-20/DS-2019. Once you have received your new I-20/DS-2019 with CPT authorization, you have now arrived at the end of this procedure.
Step #10
This course requires the submission of a Final Report (IE 6970) which is due approximately two weeks prior to the end of the semester. The Graduate Program Coordinator will notify the student and provide them with a timeframe to submit their report. If a report is not submitted by the due date, a grade of F may be assigned.
**Please see item #3 in the “Special Notes” section at the end of this procedure for further information.
Special Notes
- Only IE 6970 will be permitted for use in conjunction with a full-time (21+ hours per week) internship and/or CPT request. If you are applying for a part-time (20 hours per week or less) internship, you must register for GRST 6980 instead.
- You may only request registration for IE 6970 for one Summer/Fall OR Spring/Summer combination per year. A Fall/Spring combination is not permitted.
- If you are requesting permission to add IE 6970 for any of the permitted combinations in #1 you must complete the request process for each semester you are registered. Further, you are not permitted to complete these requests simultaneously. Finally, if you are requesting one additional semester of IE 6970 you must submit your Final Report before the DOGE will review any additional IE 6970 requests. Failure to do so will cause a delay in this approval process.
- If you are a Systems Engineering (SYS E) or Engineering Management (ENG M) student interested in taking IE 6970 the process is the same with the exception of the following adjustments:
- Step #3: Email your syllabus to the IE Graduate Program Coordinator and DOGE.
- Step #4 & 5: The IE DOGE will approve/decline the syllabus and notify you regarding the decision.
- Step #6
- Instructor: DOGE
- Advisor: DOGE
- Step #8
- Student Request e-form: DOGE
- Verification of Academic Purpose e-form: DOGE
- This course is available as Satisfactory (S)/Fail (F) only. In order to obtain an S-grade, you must submit a one-page write-up at the end of the semester. The IE Graduate Program Coordinator will communicate with you throughout the semester regarding this report; please watch for those emails.
If you have any questions about this process please contact the IE Graduate Program Coordinator:
**The information on this page is current as of 8/18/2025