For international students, there are several restrictions. These restrictions are related to immigration rules and not due to academic requirements in the department. To understand things better refer to the CS department's Graduate Handbook and be conversant with the current Curricular Practical Training (CPT) policies of the Visa and Immigration Services (VIS) office. Generally speaking, an international student can go for internships in the summer as a part of their CPT only if certain reasonable conditions are satisfied (e.g., good academic standing, no incomplete courses, no outstanding proficiency courses requested at the admissions offer, at least two regular semesters in residence). Also, the CPT internships are meant to provide experience of industry practices in computing fields in a project of an appropriate scope (i.e., where a graduate education is needed). The student must concurrently register for the internship course (CS596). Note that the CS department does not approve part-time or full-time CPT requests in Fall or Spring semesters. CPT requests will be considered for summer only.
The internship is not a requirement. But the department and the university provide help to students interested in internships, including career center, job fairs, local advertisements over the graduate email list, contacts from the professors etc.
I want to go for an internship. What are the rules?
For international students, there are several restrictions. These restrictions are related to immigration rules and not due to academic requirements in the department. To understand things better refer to the CS department's Graduate Handbook and be conversant with the current Curricular Practical Training (CPT) policies of the Visa and Immigration Services (VIS) office. Generally speaking, an international student can go for internships in the summer as a part of their CPT only if certain reasonable conditions are satisfied (e.g., good academic standing, no incomplete courses, no outstanding proficiency courses requested at the admissions offer, at least two regular semesters in residence). Also, the CPT internships are meant to provide experience of industry practices in computing fields in a project of an appropriate scope (i.e., where a graduate education is needed). The student must concurrently register for the internship course (CS596). Note that the CS department does not approve part-time or full-time CPT requests in Fall or Spring semesters. CPT requests will be considered for summer only.
The internship is not a requirement. But the department and the university provide help to students interested in internships, including career center, job fairs, local advertisements over the graduate email list, contacts from the professors etc.