Internships & Co-Ops for Credit

Announcements


Spring 2025 Internship Registration

The Spring 2025 Internship Course for Credit Application is open.  To start your application process, please log in to myviterbi.usc.edu.  You can also view the following guides on submitting your application on our new process. 

Application Info Sessions

Would you like an overview of obtaining Internships and Co-Ops for Credit? These sessions are ideal for students seeking an overview of the entire application process for an internship course for Summer 2025 and will cover all internship courses (395/596/597/598). 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE SESSIONS WILL NOT PROVIDE STATUS UPDATES ON CURRENT APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS.

 

In-Person Learning Requirements 

All International Students must adhere to In-Person Learning Requirements.

Please review the In-Person Learning Requirements for Viterbi Students Participating in CPT. Viterbi will only approve fall or spring CPT applications for out-of-area internship opportunities after students agree to the conditions identified in the memo.  In addition, job offer letters for out-of-area full-time internships must state hybrid or remote to get approval. Offer letters must indicate a minimum of one remote day for out-of-the-area internships. Offer letters for out-of-area in-person internships will not be approved.

Internship Course/D-Clearance Drop-In (Spring 2025)

Do you have quick questions about one of our Internship courses 395, 596, 597, 598/ or D-Clearance? We offer drop-in two days per week.

Mondays & Wednesdays 1pm-2pm PST join Virtual Drop-in hours.

You can also email engrinternshipcourses@usc.edu  your question, however they may re-direct you to attend a drop-in session if it is not a frequently asked question.

Drop-In will NOT be available on the following dates:

  • Monday, February 10, 2025 - No replacement session
  • Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - Replacement session Thursday, February 13, 2025
  • Monday, February 17, 2025 - No replacement session
  • Monday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 12 - No replacement session (Stop by our Application Info Sessions)

Dates & Deadlines

Spring 2025

Summer 2025

Fall 2025

Application Start Date

November 4, 2024

April 7, 2025

July 14, 2025

Application Deadline

March 25, 2025

July 2, 2025

October 24, 2025

Internship duration: (If it is your final semester)

Jan 13 - May 16

May 19 - Aug 12

Aug 25 - Dec 17

Internship duration: (If it is NOT your final semester)

Jan 13 - May 16

May 19 - Aug 22

Aug 25 - Jan 9

*The Application deadline - Students must submit their Internship Course Request (ICR) Application in myViterbi by this deadline.  You will not be able to submit a new application in myViterbi after this date.  The system will automatically close after this date.

Internship Courses

Please click on the appropriate section below to obtain information based on your academic level.


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International Student Resources


CPT/OPT & Work Authorization

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 international students to participate in paid off-campus academic internships during their degree program. The purpose of CPT is academic, not just for employment purposes, and the internship must be considered an integral part of a student’s degree program. For more information about CPT please visit the website for the Office of International Students (OIS).

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of work authorization that permits F-1 students to gain work experience in their field of study while in the United States (US). OPT is not a visa; rather, it is a type of employment benefit for F-1 students who are maintaining their visa status. For more information about OPT please visit the website for the Office of International Students (OIS).
Work Authorization
U.S. employers must check to make sure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are allowed to work in the United States. Having an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is one way to prove that you are allowed to work in the United States for a specific time period. For more information about work authorization please visit the F-1 Student Employment Page.
Department Support
Viterbi Career Connections (VCC) Office assists with:
  • Career & Internship Advising
  • Navigating the US Job Search
  • Interview Preparation
  • Internship Course Management (Offer Letter Review, D-Clearance, Grading)

Website

The Viterbi Graduate Academic Services and Programs (VGASP) Office assists with:
  • General USC or Viterbi-wide questions
  • DEN D-clearance
  • Ph.D. Exam/Defense
  • Grad School Fellowship
  • Leave of Absence (domestic and international)
  • Academic Eligibility for: Internship Courses for Credit (Curricular Practical Training (CPT))
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  • Program Extension (PE)
  • Academic Difficulty Reduced Course Load (RCL)
  • Leave of Absence (LOA)

Website 

The Office of International Services assists with:
  • Immigration Services & Advising
  • Providing Resources Related to Visa Status
  • Obtaining US Work Authorization
  • Providing Final Approval for CPT/OPT
  • Issuing I-20 Documents

Website

Career Resources


Finding Jobs/Internships

Handshake - Handshake is a career-related resource that allows you to search for engineering internship/co-op and full-time jobs and gives you access to information about Viterbi-specific events and resources.

Job & Internship Tool Kit - Use the online toolkit for job search quick tips and additional internship and career resources.

Career Advising - Not sure how to answer questions about your status during an interview? Attend Drop-in Advising by joining the waitlist or log in to Viterbi Gateway to make an appointment.

Interstride  - It is an interactive career platform for international students to enhance their career exploration and job-search experience. Students can access Interstride through by logging in with their USC NetID and password.

USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub - Provides information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers. The data hub allows the public to search for H-1B petitioners by fiscal year (back to FY 2009), NAICS code, employer name, city, state, or ZIP code.

Online Resources

Accessible through Handshake

  • Going Global
  • Career Beam
  • Candid Career
  • Career Access Resource Library (CARL)
  • Versatile Ph.D.
  • Viterbi Link

External Resources:

Check Out Where Viterbi Students Interned Over Summer…

Published on March 7th, 2024Last updated on February 10th, 2025