Opportunities for Professional Experience

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT allows international students to gain experience related to their major(s) via internships while studying at F&M ALL internships, paid or unpaid, must be authorized by ISS as CPT and must go through the Internship for Credit process with the Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development (OSPGD) . In order to be approved for CPT, students must first

• Complete one full year of academic study

• Declare a major

• Complete the OSPGD Internship for Credit application

• Enroll in and pay for the credit(s) for the internship

As per federal law, CPT must always be related to a student’s major(s) For more information about the CPT process, contact the ISS office .

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization . Students generally choose to use their OPT authorization after graduation (post-completion) ISS assists seniors in applying for this benefit, but applications are approved by USCIS and the approval process can take around 90 days

The OPT STEM Extension

F&M graduates with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) approved majors (not minors) may qualify for a 24-month STEM extension of their post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) Students may file for this extension after their first year on OPT

The F&M majors that qualify for the OPT STEM Extension are*:

• Astrophysics

• Biological Foundations of Behavior: Animal Behavior

• Biological Foundations of Behavior: Neuroscience

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Cognitive Science

• Computer Science

• Data Science

• Environmental Science

• Environmental Studies

• Geosciences

• Mathematics

• Physics

• Computational Physics

• Psychology

*Joint majors, Special Studies Majors, and minors in these fields do not qualify for the STEM OPT extension.

The Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development (OSPGD)

Do you have questions about employment at and beyond F&M? Are you considering graduate school in the future?

The Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development helps F-1 international students explore and identify career paths, learn about the job market in the U S and abroad, develop effective job search tools, and prepare for graduate school OSPGD is located in Harwood Commons, just off Hartman Green