Academic Credit (ENGI E4999) for Internships and Other Professional Work

Students in the MSAI program can engage in internships and professional opportunities during the academic program (part-time during the Fall and Spring, and full-time during the summer). Scheduling permitting, students may work up to 20 hours per week while enrolled in coursework.

Students may also engage in unpaid internships and volunteering; please consult with your Career Placement coach for guidance. 

Eligibility

• Applicants must be active MS students and not currently on a leave of absence.
• During the academic Fall or Spring semesters, employment is limited to 20 hours per week.
• During the Summer semester, if it is your final term, employment cannot be full-time and must not exceed 20 hours per week.
• Students enrolled in Fieldwork during their final term must be registered for at least 3 on-campus academic courses. s.
• International students requiring work authorization must confirm their eligibility. Please review guidance from the ISSO.

Academic Credit from ENGI E4999 Fieldwork

MSAI students may earn up to (3) three credits (letter graded) of ENGI E4999 Fieldwork towards their MS degree through internships or professional opportunities. ENGI E4999 Fieldwork only counts towards the MSAI degree elective requirements and cannot replace AI Core or any Concentration requirements. The student is responsible for the per-credit cost, charged at regular tuition rates. Students are required to submit a final report upon completion of the internship, and supervisors are expected to submit an evaluation form.

Application Process

All students must complete the following Fieldwork Request Form for review:

Internship Fieldwork Request Form (*International students requiring work authorization must confirm their eligibility.  Please review guidance from the ISSO.*)

Fieldwork Deadlines

This schedule also pertains to F-1 students requesting work authorization during the academic terms. J-1 students may submit their application for Fieldwork if they wish to obtain academic credits after obtaining approval from the J-1 Sponsor and ISSO. Please refer to ISSO for work eligibility: F-1 Students and J-1 Students.

Application Processing Timeline

Applications for Fieldwork will begin to be processed for each academic semester starting on the following dates: 

• Summer Fieldwork: The Monday after Spring Break
• Fall Fieldwork: The second week of July
• Spring Fieldwork: The Monday after Thanksgiving 

Employer Letter for Internships

The student must obtain an employer letter. The employer letter must include the following to be processed and follow the same formatting as this sample offer letter template:

1. Be on official company letterhead
2. Have a specific start date and a specific end date
3. Include the U.S. address of your employer. The letter should indicate if you are working remotely from your NY-area home.
4. Include the number of hours per week you will work
5. Include a detailed description or list of position duties
6. Be signed and dated by your employer

Your Fieldwork request will not be processed if any of the required items (Employer Letter, Internship Fieldwork Request Form) are missing or if the employer letter is not in the correct format. 

Post-Internship Requirements

In order to earn a grade for the internship performed, the following is required: 

• The employer must submit an MSAI Supervisor Internship Evaluation Report that states your responsibilities, performance, time frame, and number of hours worked.
• The student must submit an MSAI Student Internship Report that elaborates on the experience, projects, and their relevance to the degree program.

The letter and report must be received by the following deadlines: