2a : a definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisionsb : a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body.
1 The work may be paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, which take place off-campus. 2  CPT is granted for a specific position, employer, and period.  You are not required to obtain work authorization to engage in bona fide (legitimate) volunteer activities or unpaid internships. However, if possible, we recommend that you apply for CPT if you are engaging in an unpaid internship. Please see our page on âVolunteering and Unpaid Internshipsâ for more information.
The internship has to be in the declared major field of study. The internship cannot be for more than 20 hours a week during school. F-1 students cannot be retroactively compensated in any way for work done in an unpaid internship if they obtain work authorization later.