Difficulty: Foundational | Prerequisites: Familiarity with the CEN MS degree requirements and academic standing rules
Source: CEN MS Graduate Handbook 2024-2025, Arizona State University
Tags: CEN 584, CPT, OPT, internship, curricular practical training, ASU, international students, F-1, ISSC, GPA tiers, full-time part-time CPT
Internships are a significant part of the CEN MS experience, but the rules around them are more complex than most students expect. The programme uses Curricular Practical Training (CPT) via CEN 584 for internship credit, and the eligibility requirements vary by semester, GPA range, and whether you are a domestic or international student. Getting this wrong can mean losing your internship opportunity or, for international students, jeopardising your immigration status. This document lays out all the CPT and OPT rules in one place.
CPT internships (CEN 584) are available in summer, fall, and spring, but fall/spring eligibility depends on your GPA tier. Full-time CPT is 21+ hours per week; part-time is 20 or fewer. Internship credits do not count toward your 30-credit degree total. You must submit paperwork 2-3 weeks before the semester starts, and you cannot start work before the semester begins. A two-page final report is required. Reneging on an accepted offer has formal consequences.
CPT (Curricular Practical Training)
The formal mechanism for internship credit at ASU. Registered as CEN 584 (1 credit per enrolment, up to three total). In simple terms, it is how the university recognises your internship as part of your academic programme.
Full-time CPT
21 hours per week or more.
Part-time CPT
20 hours per week or less.
CEN 584
The course number for CPT internship credit. Up to three 1-credit enrolments. Does not count toward the 30-credit degree requirement.
OPT (Optional Practical Training)
Work authorisation available to international students, separate from CPT. Managed through the International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC). Students must be in good academic standing with an approved iPOS.
Pre-OPT
OPT taken before the degree is officially conferred. Done at the student's own risk: if graduation is delayed beyond the iPOS-indicated semester, advising will not issue a support letter.
ISSC (International Students and Scholars Center)
The ASU office that handles work authorisation, immigration documentation, and related matters for international students. Any international student planning CPT or OPT must consult with ISSC.
Renege policy
The programme's formal rule against accepting an internship offer and then backing out. Students who renege are prohibited from requesting future internship opportunities until they meet with the Assistant Director.
Must be in good academic standing (all GPAs at 3.0 or above)
CPT is available to both domestic and international students
Not available to students already employed full-time or part-time at the company proposing the internship
Up to three 1-credit CEN 584 enrolments, included as part of the iPOS
It is highly recommended to list CPT on the iPOS at initial submission in your first semester
CPT must occur before you complete the required 30 hours; it cannot be the only course remaining in your last semester
An internship course cannot be added to an approved iPOS once all coursework is completed (exceptions for thesis-relevant internships, determined by the Programme Chair)
Paperwork must be submitted to your concentration advising office 2-3 weeks before the semester starts
Late-add registration of CEN 584 after the drop/add deadline is not allowed
Internships cannot start before the first day of the semester in which you are enrolled in CEN 584
Summer semesters:
Minimum GPA: 3.0 (all GPAs)
Full-time or part-time: allowed
In-state or out-of-state: allowed
Fall and spring semesters, GPA 3.0 to 3.24:
In-state internships only (out-of-state not allowed)
Part-time only (full-time not allowed)
Fall and spring semesters, GPA above 3.25:
In-state and out-of-state: allowed
Part-time and full-time: allowed
Internship end dates can be the last day of classes, or continue until the day before classes start the following semester (unless it is your final semester)
In your last semester (non-thesis): end date is the conferral date
In your last semester (thesis): end date must be the thesis defence date or earlier
A minimum two-page typed final report is required before a grade and credit are given. Submit it to your internship supervisor for comments, then follow the CEN Forms website instructions for formal evaluation.
International students must consult with ISSC and submit required documentation for work authorisation
During fall and spring: F-1 students must register for a minimum of 9 credit hours to maintain full-time status
At least 6 of those credit hours must be in-person, on-campus coursework at an ASU campus
Maximum of 3 credit hours of online courses permitted
Regardless of GPA, fall/spring interns must follow ISSC campus presence policies and be registered for proper iPOS courses
Separate from CPT; managed through ISSC
Students must be in good academic standing with an approved iPOS
Pre-OPT is done at your own risk: if you do not graduate in the semester indicated on your iPOS, advising will not issue a support letter for a later graduation date (unless the delay is beyond your control)
Once you accept an internship offer, you must stop all other employment-seeking activity. Reneging on an accepted offer results in being prohibited from requesting future internship opportunities until you meet with the Assistant Director. The programme is explicit about this: it reflects badly on you, on ASU, and can damage opportunities for other students with the same employer.
"Internship credits count toward my 30 hours." They do not. CEN 584 is separate from the degree credit total.
"I can start my internship before the semester begins." You cannot. The start date must be on or after the first day of the semester in which you are enrolled in CEN 584. Exceptions require written justification from the employer.
"Any GPA above 3.0 qualifies me for any internship arrangement." During fall and spring, students with GPAs between 3.0 and 3.24 are restricted to in-state, part-time internships only. Full-time and out-of-state require a GPA above 3.25.
"I can add CEN 584 to my iPOS after I have finished all my other coursework." You cannot add it once all coursework is completed, unless the internship is relevant to thesis research.
⚠️ The GPA tier system for fall/spring internships is a common trip-up. Know your GPA before planning an out-of-state or full-time internship.
⚠️ Paperwork is due 2-3 weeks before the semester starts. Missing this deadline means you cannot register for CEN 584.
⚠️ Reneging on an accepted offer has formal consequences: you lose access to future CPT opportunities.
⚠️ International students: failing to register for 9 credit hours (with 6 in-person) during fall/spring can jeopardise your F-1 status.
⚠️ The two-page final report is required before you receive your grade. No report, no credit.
True or False: Full-time CPT is defined as 20 hours per week or more. (False, it is 21 hours or more)
Fill in the blank: During fall/spring, a student with a 3.1 GPA may only do _______ CPT _______ . (part-time, in-state)
True or False: CEN 584 credits count toward the 30-credit degree requirement. (False)
Q: How many 1-credit CEN 584 enrolments are allowed?
A: Up to three.
Q: What GPA is needed to do a full-time, out-of-state internship during the fall semester?
A: Above 3.25.
Q: What is the minimum report length required after completing an internship?
A: Two pages, typed.
Q: When is the earliest an internship can start relative to the semester?
A: On the first day of the semester in which the student is enrolled in CEN 584.
Q: What happens if a student accepts an internship offer and then reneges?
A: They are prohibited from requesting future internship opportunities pending a meeting with the Assistant Director.
Q: During fall/spring, how many credit hours must an F-1 student register for, and how many must be in-person?
A: 9 credit hours total, with at least 6 in-person on-campus. A maximum of 3 online credit hours is permitted.
CPT eligibility depends on the academic standing rules covered in the Admissions and Academic Standing study notes (all three GPAs must be at 3.0 or above). The degree requirements notes explain how CEN 584 interacts with your iPOS and why internship credits sit outside the 30-credit total. For international students, ISSC policies overlap with the continuous enrollment rules.
CEN 584, CPT, curricular practical training, OPT, optional practical training, ASU internship rules, GPA 3.25, full-time part-time CPT, ISSC, F-1 status, renege policy, internship report, iPOS, CEN MS internship