Although most questions about F1 visa, I20s, and other considerations for international students go through the International Center, we frequently receive questions about CPT/OPT and financial aid. This webpage contains helpful information for F1 Students majoring in Cognitive Science at U-M.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and COGSCI
Students applying for CPT, should first a) consult with an International Center advisor and b) enroll in a class such as ALA 225 for internship credit. The Weinberg Institute does not have its own internship class. Please bear in mind that the International Center ultimately has the final say on CPT requests. The role of the Weinberg Institute is simply to assess whether we believe, based on the information you provided to us, the internship is Cog Sci relevant and to provide feedback and supporting documentation about that assessment to the International Center.
As outlined by the Department of State and the International Center, “CPT is defined as employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, including: ‘alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.’” Source: [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)] However, because Cognitive Science is so multidisciplinary, it can be a little harder to pin down exactly what a Cog Sci internship is. Below are some examples of content and methods/skills that we will look for when determining if an internship is appropriate for students in the Cog Sci major across all tracks:
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
User Experience (UX)/User Interface (UI) design
Human Computer Interaction (HCI)
Data Analytics/Data Engineering/Computational modeling
Linguistics
Speech Recognition
Natural language processing
Speech language pathology/therapy
Second language acquisition
Sound Patterns
Marketing, Economics, & Business
Consumer Psychology & Behavior
Strategy
Psychology
Cognitive Development
Perception
Altruism
Emotion
Language
Attention
Decision Processes
Learning and Memory
Please note: you are not necessarily limited to just these examples. If you have any internship that you believe has relevant Cog Sci content that you would like us to evaluate for providing supporting documentation, and/or if the International Center has asked you for supporting documentation, you may submit a request using the link below. Please include the following information:
A copy of your offer letter
The job description, including specific tasks and responsibilities your role requires
A short paragraph describing the ways in which you feel this internship connects to your CogSci studies
Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT Extension
The CIP Code for the Cognitive Science major is 30.2501 (Sources: NCES.ed.gov, ice.gov). All tracks within the Cognitive Science major are STEM OPT eligible. Tracks are sub-plans internal to U-M and do not have any bearing on OPT designation.
If your OPT application requires a letter from a CogSci advisor, you may submit a request using the link below. Please provide the following in your request:
A copy of your offer letter
The job description, including specific tasks and responsibilities your role requires
We can then create a letter including your anticipated graduation date and verify that you are in good academic standing. We will use this template provided by the international center.
Transfer Student Resources
If you are a transfer student and you have questions about transfer credit and other resources, check out our Transfer Student Webpage here.
The Weinberg Institute does not provide any tuition assistance for international students. We do have funding opportunities for students conducting research, attending conferences, or pursuing professional development opportunities. You can view our funding opportunities here.
