Internships and Career opportunities

Experience—in the form of internships, leadership, research, or volunteerism—will help make you a more competitive applicant for other career experiences, post-graduation jobs, and advanced-degree programs, and can help you build the network and confidence to take other paths, including entrepreneurship. Please review the programs available at Texas Career Engagement. 

They can advise students about internships in detail: https://careerengagement.utexas.edu/undergraduate-students/get-experience/internships/

International students should apply for CPT or OPT through the International office in order to remain compliant with visa requirements.  CPT requires registration in a class to cover the internship: https://global.utexas.edu/isss/immigration/f-1/employment/cpt

Most students take the free, Zero-Credit Internships & Career Experiences Course: EXP 080

• For more details and to apply for EXP 080, please see this page.

Hours and Weeks Requirement for EXP 080

Students must participate in the internship for a minimum of 120 total hours over a minimum of 5 weeks between the first and last class day of the semester of enrollment.

Enrolling in this course is beneficial because it:

• Allows your internship experience(s) to appear on your official transcript
• Meets the course enrollment requirement often set by employers for internships
• Requires no minimum GPA or credit hours completed to be eligible to enroll, which means that you can take the course at any point during your time at UT Austin
• Does not have any tuition or fees
• Grants you access to career resources that will enable you to enhance your internship or career experience, and helps you become career ready.
• International students must register for a course during the internship in order to remain in visa compliance. 
  Students will need to coordinate with their faculty academic advisor to complete all necessary work authorization forms.
  You will be asked to list this faculty member to approve the EXP 080 registration (which will be sent to them through an email from Handshake registration system).
• International students must apply through My IO for ISSS CPT approval of the internship and related course (EXP 080).
  For specific questions regarding the use of CPT in coordination with this course, visit the International Student and Scholar Services Office.
  EXP 080 is the course to use for CPT for CAEE international students.
  For more details and to apply for EXP 080, please see this page.
  
• To request a graduation letter from the Graduate Coordinator, please route the Docusign request: 
  Master's Graduation Letter
  PhD Graduation Letter
• Who is the Department Contact for CPT approval needed from the International Office?  Faculty advisor, research supervisor or Graduate Coordinator. 
• Who is the contact to list for OPT approval?  OPT must be approved by a faculty member: your research or academic supervisor.
  
  

  In unusual situations where the dates of your internship cannot fit in the requirements for EXP 080, students can obtain permission from their advisor to instead take CE 197Q Special Studies in Engineering.