In partnership with Babson’s International Student & Scholar Services, our goal is to support you in your internship experience.
Babson graduate students with F-1 visas are required to complete a course alongside your internship called Making Your Internship Matter as part of Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
Making Your Internship Matter
(EXP7501, EXP7502, or EXP7501)
Once you have received academic approval as part of the CPT Authorization Process you will be enrolled in the Make Your Internship Matter course.
This course is a career development course that helps F-1 graduate students maximize the value of their internship experiences through guided reflection, professional skill-building, and career planning. Students explore topics such as personal branding, networking, communication, feedback, AI in the workplace, and storytelling, while learning to articulate their strengths and accomplishments.
Through reflective assignments, updated career materials, and one-on-one advising, students connect their internship experiences to future career goals and opportunities. The course concludes with a reflection paper, and a required meeting with an advisor from Graduate CCD. This course must be completed alongside your internship.
(This course is a fully online asynchronous course, it is tuition free and zero credits. The course will appear on your transcript graded as a Pass/Fail.)
Course Sequence
EXP 7501 is completed during a student’s first internship experience.
EXP 7502 is completed during a student’s second internship experience or during a continuation of their first internship into a subsequent semester.
EXP 7503 is completed during a student’s third internship experience or during a continuation of an internship into a third semester.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if I am completing two internships back-to-back within the same semester?
If you are completing two internships within the same academic semester you will remain enrolled in EXP7501-Beyond the Classroom: Making Your Internship Matter. You do not need to enroll in a new course, but you must tell ISSS if your internship end date has been extended within the academic semester to update your I-20. You should also let your EXP professor know that you are completing a second internship in the same semester.
What if I am completing two internships simultaneously within the same semester?
As long as you are abiding by CPT requirements (maximum number of work hours per week) this is ok and you will only be enrolled for one EXP course during the semester.
What if I have completed EXP 7501 in a previous semester and now have a new internship offer during a new academic semester?
If you have secured an internship for an additional semester and have only completed EXP7501 you should follow the CPT process from the beginning, including completing the Graduate Internship Course Enrollment Form (Grad CCD) and the Semester CPT Authorization Request Form (ISSS). You will then be enrolled in EXP7502.
What if I have completed EXP7501 & EXP7502 and have received an offer for another internship during a new academic semester?
If you have secured an internship with start and ends dates during a new semester and have previously completed EXP7501 & EXP7502 you should follow the CPT process from the beginning, including completing the Graduate Internship Course Enrollment Form (Grad CCD) and the Semester CPT Authorization Request Form (ISSS). You will then be enrolled in EXP7503 for that semester.
What if my internship employer wants to extend my end date within the same semester?
If your internship end date has changed to a later date within the same academic semester you only need to update this information with ISSS and your EXP instructor. You do not need a new CPT authorization or a new course enrollment.
When do I need to complete the CPT authorization requirements?
If you are being offered a new internship, or an extension of your current internship into a new academic semester, you will need a new CPT authorization for that semester. Fourth Graduate Internship: Should you be completing a fourth internship, please email gradccd@babson.edu
Does my internship need to be related to my degree program?
Yes, the internship must be related to your degree/field of study.
