Current Professional Master's Students
Requirements for International students seeking co-op and internship opportunities:
OPT (Optional Practical Training) it is a 12-month work authorization available to F-1 Visa International students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to see employment in the US in their fields of study. Apply for this 90 days or less prior to employment.
CPT (Curricular Practical Training) a type of practical training that allows F-1 Visa International students to work while studying in the US. CPT is a temporary work authorization that allow students to gain practical experience in their field of study—internship, co-op.
When you are participating in the co-op, you will need to register for MSE 69600, which is Graduate Professional Practice. This course does not have a tuition fee. If you choose to take a distance class during our co-op term, please ensure that you can also take the exams remotely. While we have had students do this in the past, you need to confirm with the instructor that they are comfortable with administering exams remotely.
Students have to have an offer letter in order to apply for these options and in case of CPT—the student needs to be registered for the Graduate Internship course MSE 69600.
Courses, Registration & Plan of Study
- How to Register for Courses (Video)
- What are Account Holds and How to Resolve Them
- Registration Deadlines
- MSE Course Catalogue
- Course Schedule
- Electronic Plan of Study Guide (PDF)
Graduation & OPT Information
- Purdue Commencement Website
- Commencement FAQs
- Returnee Participation Information Commencement (Applicable to students who would like to participate in commencement at a later date.)
- Candidate Checklist – will be provided by the Program Manager to eligible candidates
- OPT Information
- OPT Timeline
- Eligibility Timeline for Co-op Opportunity: Domestic Students can go to work after one semester of study. International students must have 2 semesters of study prior to going to work for an internship (1 academic period of work). Summer does not count as one of these 2 semesters. For international students, if they are part of a co-op program, meaning their offer meets the criteria of grad co-op described here, they may work after one semester of study.
Career Resources
- Purdue Center for Career Opportunities (CCO)
- Career Success Handbook
- Industrial Roundtable (Biggest annual job fair). This event is typically held in September. Please refer to the link for the latest information on upcoming career events.
- Professional Development Workshop and Resources
Additional Resources