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.

View the Undergraduate “CPT 101” Info Session Recording (Spring 2025)

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. Review the "Non-Professional Track CPT Information Dashboard" and then attend an independent study proposal info session. This step should be completed 2-3 months before the deadline.

2. Submit the CPT request in your OISSS Gateway portal so that your concentration advisor or Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and OISSS can review your internship/employment offer details. Your job must be directly related to your declared concentration. You will receive email notification from OISSS when your request has been reviewed. This step should be completed approximately one month prior to the deadline.

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. By the end of step 3, you are expected to have a draft of your Independent Study Proposal (ISP). This step should be completed at least two weeks before the deadline. 

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 one week before the deadline. You will receive feedback to revise your ISP within 2-3 business days.  

5. Once you have a polished version of your Independent Study Proposal (ISP), you will receive email instructions from OISSS to submit it through the OISSS Gateway portal for review by your faculty sponsor, OISSS and Dean Chia-Ying Pan. Students must obtain faculty sponsor approval at least two business days before the deadline. 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. 

View the Undergraduate “CPT 101” Info Session Recording (Spring 2025)

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