U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residence are not required to submit any paperwork to pursue an internship. However, domestic students may register their internship through the UH CO-OP Office if they prefer. You will need to prepare and submit the Academic Advisor Support Form. Please visit the UH CO-OP Office for the process.

Before Submitting the CPT Application Form to the COSC Department:

1. Self-check your eligiblity and review the requirements on the ISSSO website and ISSSO CPT guidelines
   • You must be in a degree-seeking program
   • The information on your current form I-20 must match your current degree level and major
   • You must have always maintined your F-1 status
   • You must have completed one full academic year (2 long semesters) of full-time study as an F-1 student.
   • You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
2. Internship Offer Letter (ATTACHMENT 1). This letter must be addressed to you (the student) on official company letterhead and include, at minimum, the following.
   1. Job title
   2. Job duties/responsibilities
   3. If part-time or full-time and number of hours per week
   4. Job location
   5. Dates of employment (start date and end date). Your start date must be anytime AFTER the end of the current semester and must end anytime BEFORE the start of the subsequent long semester.
3. Enroll in courses.
   1. SUMMER Internship - if your internship occurs during the summer semester, you must be enrolled full-time (at least 9 hours) during the subsequent long semester (i.e. Fall) unless it is 1) your final/graduating semester and need less than 9 hours to complete your degree OR 2) the summer semester is your final/graduating semester.
      • If FALL is your final/graduating semester and need less than 9 hours to complete your degree, you must enroll in at least 3 hours during the fall and complete step #4 below.
      • If SUMMER is your final/graduating semester and need less than 9 hours to complete your degree, you must enroll in at least 3 hours during the summer and complete step #4 below.
   2. FALL or SPRING Internship - if your internship occurs during a long semester (i.e. fall or spring), you must be enrolled full-time (at least 9 hours) during that same semester unless it is your final/graduating semester. If it is your final/graduating semester and need less than 9 hours to complete your degree, you must enroll in at least 3 hours during the semester of your internship and complete step #4 below
4. If applicable, prepare a petition requesting to add the experience track to your record. If you were approved for a previous CPT, you may skip this.
   • For the explanation of request, put [if PhD] "I request to add the CMPSPHDCPT experience track subplan" [or if MS] "I request to add the CMPSCMSCPT experience track subplan"
5. If applicable, apply for graduation if you are graduating in the fall semester after your summer internship OR are graduating in the semester you are on internship. Additionally, prepare a Reduced Course Load form if you will be enrolled less than 9 hours during your final/graduating semester.
   • Disclaimer: do not apply for graduation yet if you are requesting the experience track subplan (#4 above) as it will delay the processing of your CPT. Your advisor will contact you when the subplan has been added so that you may apply for graduation.
6. If applicable, proof of on-campus employment termination OR short work break (ATTACHMENT 2). If you are employed on-campus, your "last day worked" MUST end before the start date listed on your internship offer letter. If your on-campus employer plans to employ you again in the semester after your internship, then they may place you on a "short work break" or "summer work break".
   • Your on-campus employer must provide a copy of the ePAR showing your "last day worked". If a copy of the ePAR cannot be provided, then a letter from the on-campus employer must be provided specifying your last working day.
   • Students who are employed inside the Department of Computer Science need not submit this. After submitting your CPT paperwork to the department, please email your staff academic advisor to let them know you submitted the CPT paperwork and inform them that you are employed inside COSC. Your staff academic advisor will work with the COSC business services staff to obtain a copy of your ePAR.

CPT Application Steps

1. Complete the Graduate CPT Application (scroll to "Off-Campus" then select "Graduate CPT Application")
   1. Complete Step 1 Student Information and Statement
   2. Complete Step 2 Student Request. Note that "Option 1" CPT required for the academic curriculum is the most common option for computer science majors.
   3. Send the CPT form to your internship employer to complete Step 3 Employer Statement of Understanding
   4. Submit the form to the COSC Graduate Advising Team (requires Microsoft365 CougarNet credentials) for Step 4 Academic Certifying Signatures
      • Your CPT pdf must include the following
        1. ATTACHMENT 1 Internship Offer Letter
        2. ATTACHMENT 2 (if applicable) Proof of On-Campus Termination
      • Processing time: Step 4 can take up to 3 weeks to process.
   5. When Step 4 is complete, your staff academic advisor will email you a copy of the signed form so that you can complete Step 5 with the UH CO-OP Office.
      • Processing time: Step 5 can take 3-5 business days to process.
   6. After Step 5 is complete, you will need to submit the final CPT form and documents to ISSSO
      • Processing time: Final Step can take 1 week to process.
2. If applicable, complete a petition requesting to add the experience track subplan
   • Submit the form to the COSC Graduate Advising Team (requires Microsoft365 CougarNet credentials)
3. If applicable, complete the Reduced Course Load (RCL) for Graduate Students
   • Submit the form to the COSC Graduate Advising Team (requires Microsoft365 CougarNet credentials)