Internships

Internship Requirement for JSOM Students

Every JSOM student must complete a major-related internship as part of their degree plan. To meet this requirement, students must:

  1. Report their internship in Orion by submitting required employer-provided documentation, answering the internship questionnaire, and submitting the request.
  2. Complete the approval process, which includes reviews by the University Career Center, CIS Tech Program, and JSOM Advising.
  3. Be enrolled in an internship course (ITSS 4090) by JSOM Advising as final approval step.
  4. Receive credit in the internship course, which is a fully online course with simple assignments in eLearning.


Need help finding an internship? Contact CIS Tech Program at bscist@utdallas.edu.

Skip to Internship FAQs

Reporting & Approval Process

Check the Career Management Center’s Reporting & Timelines page for semester reporting deadlines.

STEP 1 — Submit Your Internship In Orion

Go to Orion → UTD Student Center → My Academics → Request Internship for Credit.
Select Create New Request and enter your internship details. You will need to upload two documents:

  1. Offer Letter (on company letterhead) including:
    • Company Name
    • Internship Title
    • Start & End Date
    • Hours Per Week
    • Pay Rate
    • Physical Work Location
    • Supervisor’s Name & Contact Info
    • Job Description (must include IT/analytical/technical skills will be used )
  2. Job Description (if not already included in the offer letter)
PLEASE NOTE:
  • If all required details are in one document, upload the same file twice.

Only employer-provided documents are accepted. Screenshots must include company email signatures.
After uploading, answer the required questions, then click Submit Internship Request.

STEP 2 — Career Center Review

The Career Center verifies the company’s legitimacy and work location. Allow at least two business days.

STEP 3 — CIS Tech Program Review

The CIS Tech Program confirms the job aligns with your major. Offer and request are reviewed for completion and accuracy. Allow at least two business days.

STEP 4 — Internship Course Enrollment

Once approved, JSOM Advising automatically enrolls you in ITSS 4090 and sends a confirmation email.

  • If eligible and interested in 1-3 credit hours, follow Advising’s instructions (available in FAQs below). Only students in the 2021 catalog or earlier can take the 3-credit course.

Next Steps: Once enrolled, check eLearning for course assignments and instructions when course section opens.

STEP 5 — CPT Request (JSOM CMC)

JSOM Career Management Center submits the CPT request to ISSO after your internship course enrollment is confirmed. Allow at least 1 business day.

STEP 6 — ISSO Approval

ISSO reviews CPT eligibility and issues an I-20. You cannot start work without this authorization. Allow at least 1 business day.

F-1 students may only enroll in the 0-credit internship course in Summer (or their final semester).

For detailed policies, visit the CMC’s CPT Internship Policies & Procedures.

Additional Information

  • You may be asked for more details at any step. Delays in response may result in denial.
  • You must press “Submit Internship Request” in Orion to report your internship.
  • You’ll receive email confirmation once successfully submitted.

FAQ

Before you begin working, you must be enrolled in an ITSS internship course while you are working. Retroactive internship credit is not allowed. Students must report their internship experiences by the internship reporting deadline of the semester in which the internship takes place. Reporting Timelines

Unfortunately, no. We do not approve retroactive internships. You must report your internship and be enrolled in the internship course in the same semester that you worked the internship. If you completed a relevant internship in the recent past but did not report it, you may reach out to the office of JSOMUGDean@utdallas.edu to discuss your options.

You must enroll in an ITSS internship course to satisfy the internship degree requirement. Advising will automatically enroll you in the 0-credit hour internship course after your internship is approved in Orion. You may pursue up to 3 credit hours if you choose, depending on your internship details and your catalog year.

  • 0 credit hours (minimum of 160 work hours)
  • 1 credit hour (minimum of 160 work hours)
  • 2 credit hours (161 – 239 work hours)
  • 3 credit hours (at least 240 work hours)*

*The 3-credit hour CIS Tech internship course, ITSS 4V90, can replace one ITSS upper-division guided elective, but only for students on the 2021 or an earlier ITS catalog year.

Internship course assignments are available on eLearning; the courses are pass/fail. Questions about the internship courses should be directed to bscist@utdallas.edu.

Yes! As long as you are eligible for the 0-credit hour course and your registration is completed during regular registration, no tuition or fees are charged for the course.

There could be many reasons, such as:

  • Company can’t be independently verified and/or has red flags with UT Dallas
  • Detailed position description doesn’t list the IT/analytical/technical skills that will be used in the position
  • Internship details were not provided by the employer. Employer-provided documentation means it is on company letterhead or is a complete screenshot of an email sent by an employee from the company’s email domain and has an identifying email signature
  • Student did not respond to a request for additional information in a timely manner
  • Student-provided information does not match employer-provided information
  • Student selected a number of credit hours that does not match the credit hour requirements or their eligibility
  • Student selected the incorrect semester

In-person internships are preferred, as the experience you gain from collaborating with co-workers in the office is valuable to your professional development. However, CIS Tech students may report internships when the company, department, team or position is fully remote.

Yes! As long as you are within the first six months of the position, it can satisfy your internship requirement.

If you’ve been in your position for longer than six months and want to use it to satisfy your internship requirement, you must follow the CMC’s directions on Special Projects.

A special project must be:

  • Related to your major
  • In addition to your current job responsibilities
  • Completed within the confines of the semester
  • Total at least 240 hours (if you plan on taking 3-credit hours) or 160 hours (if you plan on taking 0, 1, 2 credit hours)

    • Employer-provided documentation on company letterhead is required to report a special project and request approval. The letter must include:

  • A description of your current position and duties
  • A description of your new “Special Project” and an acknowledgement that you will be enrolling in an internship course for academic credit
  • Confirmation from your supervisor that he/she will complete your performance evaluation
  • Supervisor’s info: name, title, department and contact information
  • Supervisor’s signature

Use this letter and follow the internship approval request process detailed above.

There is no alternative. The only way to satisfy the internship requirement is by having an IT-related internship approved and passing ITSS 4040 (or ITSS 4V90 if it’s available to you). If you are struggling on the job market, there are many resources available to assist you in your search. The JSOM Career Management Center (CMC) has Career Development Specialists that can offer personal advising. The CMC also has extensive online resources on their website and via eLearning > Organizations > JSOM Career Management Center. The CMC provides résumé workshops in their eLearning resources and access to a Quinncia AI tool to update your résumé and practice video interviews.

Yes! If your offer letter or employer-provided documentation explains that you will work remotely from the US, then the internship documentation and approval would follow the same process as if the company were US-based.

Internships based outside of the US have an additional office looped in for approvals: The Office of International Education. There are additional steps in the approval process, and they have an earlier reporting deadline, so get in touch with them ASAP at EducationAbroad@utdallas.edu.

No, but you have flexible ways to meet it. The 0-credit hour internship course accepts:

  • Paid or unpaid work
  • Volunteer IT projects (separate from community engagement requirement)
  • Full-time jobs within six months of graduation
  • IT-related projects in your current job

If you are struggling to obtain and internship, pursue a volunteer IT project through your network connections.

No. Any work experience of at least 160 hours that involves IT, technical, or analytical skills from your ITSS coursework can fulfill the internship requirement.

Before or during your internship. You must be enrolled in an ITSS internship course while working and report your experience by the semester’s internship reporting deadline. Semester Reporting & Timelines

You must report your internship and enroll in the course in the same semester you worked. If you missed this, contact JSOMUGDean@utdallas.edu to discuss whether you may appeal for retroactive internship approval.

Advising will enroll you in the 0-credit hour course, ITSS 4090, once your internship is approved. If you want additional credit hours, options depend on your work hours and catalog year:

  • 0 or 1 credit hour: 160+ work hours
  • 2 credit hours: 161–239 work hours
  • 3 credit hours: 240+ work hours (qualifying internship may replace one guided elective in addition to satisfying the internship requirement on 2021 or earlier ITS catalogs)
Internship courses are pass/fail and have assignments in eLearning. For questions, email bscist@utdallas.edu.

  • 0-credit hour course: Requires 160+ hours of work with some IT/technical/analytical components.
  • 3-credit hour course: Requires 240+ hours and must be mostly technical. This can replace a guided elective for students on the 2021 or earlier ITS catalog in addition to satisfying the internship requirement.

Yes, if Advising registers you during regular enrollment.

Possible reasons include:

  • Missing or delayed responses to requests for additional information
  • Employer verification issues
  • Job description lacks IT/technical/analytical details
  • Incomplete employer-provided documentation (must be on company letterhead or an email screenshot with a signature showing sender’s full email address)
  • Mismatched details between student and employer submissions
  • Incorrect semester or credit hour selection
Contact bscist@utdallas.edu for inquiries.

Yes! Your first six months in a new full-time role can fulfill the requirement.

If you’ve worked in your job for over six months, follow the CMC’s Special Projects process:

  • The project must be IT-related and separate from your regular duties
  • It must be completed within the semester and meet the hour requirements (160+ for 0–2 credits, 240+ for 3 credits if applicable)
  • Employer documentation on company letterhead is required, including:
    • Current job duties
    • Special project description, including timeframe to be worked and hours needed to complete the project, and an acknowledgement that you will seek academic credit
    • Supervisor confirmation and agreement to provide an evaluation
    • Supervisor’s name, title, contact info, and signature
    • Supervisor’s signature
Use this letter and follow the internship approval request process detailed above.

If your job isn’t IT-related but includes an IT project, follow the CMC’s Special Projects process:

  • The project must be IT-related and separate from your regular duties
  • It must be completed within the semester and meet the hour requirements (160+ for 0–2 credits, 240+ for 3 credits if applicable)
  • Employer documentation on company letterhead is required, including:
    • Current job duties
    • Special project description, including timeframe to be worked and hours needed to complete the project, and an acknowledgement that you will seek academic credit
    • Supervisor confirmation and agreement to provide an evaluation
    • Supervisor’s name, title, contact info, and signature
    • Supervisor’s signature
Use this letter and follow the internship approval request process detailed above.

Yes, if you’re a domestic student and your employer-provided documentation confirms that you’ll be working from within the U.S. If you’re an international student, eligibility may be different. Please check with ISSO before accepting a remote role with an overseas company.

Internships outside of the US have an additional office looped in for approvals: The Office of International Education. There are additional steps in the approval process, and they have an earlier reporting deadline, so get in touch with them ASAP at OIE@utdallas.edu

F-1 & CPT FAQs

All international students on F1-Visas must also meet the CPT requirements for work authorization to be approved. CPT requirements can be found on the ISSO’s website. F-1 students must receive CPT approval before starting work.

F-1 students* request internship approval the same way as everyone else, but you must do it at least a few weeks in advance of your start date so that you will receive your CPT I-20 ahead of your start date. Keep in mind that you cannot begin working until you receive your updated I-20 with CPT approval. Contact your Program Manager at bscist@utdallas.edu for questions or guidance through the request process.

*International students on F1-Visas must also meet the CPT requirements for work authorization to be approved. CPT requirements can be found on the ISSO’s website. F-1 students must receive CPT approval before starting work.

The 0-credit hour internship course is only available to F-1 students* in Summer semesters or in their graduating semester. If your internship continues into a Fall or Spring semester, you should enroll in the 1-credit hour version of the variable internship course.

NOTE: Students on the 2021 or earlier ITS catalog are allowed to take a 3-credit hour internship course that can serve as a guided elective if their internship meets the requirements. However, F-1 students are limited to no more than 3-credit hours’ worth of internship credit total. Meaning, if you are on a catalog that allows the 3-credit hour course, only choose it if you will not have another internship or if any future internship would be in a Summer or your graduating semester when you are allowed to take the 0-credit hour course.

*International students on F1-Visas must also meet the CPT requirements for work authorization to be approved. CPT requirements can be found on the ISSO’s website. F-1 students must receive CPT approval before starting work.

Yes. CPT is granted per semester, so an internship approval request is required each semester. This means that if your internship extends into the next semester, you’d need to submit a new internship approval request, which results in an updated CPT I-20. (NOTE: Only one CPT experience is allowed per semester.) Contact your Program Manager at bscist@utdallas.edu for questions or guidance through the request process.

*International students on F1-Visas must also meet the CPT requirements for work authorization to be approved. CPT requirements can be found on the ISSO’s website. F-1 students must receive CPT approval before starting work.

Request internship approval at least a few weeks before your start date. You must receive an updated I-20 with CPT approval before starting work. Contact bscist@utdallas.edu for guidance.

  • The 0-credit hour course is available only in Summer or your graduating semester.
  • If your internship extends into Fall or Spring (not your final semester), enroll in the 1-credit hour course.
  • If eligible (2021 or earlier ITS catalog), you can take the 3-credit hour course, but F-1 students are limited to 3 total internship credit hours, so be sure you will not have another internship unless it will be in a Summer or your graduating semester.

Yes. CPT is granted per semester, so you must submit a new internship approval request for an extension, which will generate an updated CPT I-20.