Day 1 CPT is not a formal term. Harrisburg University has master-level programs that offer CPT options starting the 1st semester after enrollment.
Harrisburg Day 1 CPT Policy
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There are 3 semesters in a year for Day 1 CPT Programs at Harrisburg University: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
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In each semester, international students must register for at least 2 courses (6 credits; including one online course and one hybrid course)
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Onsite frequency: newest on-site requirement see: https://covid.harrisburgu.edu/announcement-for-all-international-graduate-students/
Harrisburg Day 1 CPT Requirements
CPT Policy for F-1 Visa Holder
For F-1 visa students, it is mandatory to begin their CPT internship on the first day of the first semester, which is known as Day-1 CPT full-time job.
CPT Policy for status change students
If you have submitted an I-539 for status change or if you are a student with a B-1/B-2 visa or F-2 visa looking to transfer to an F-1 visa, you must successfully complete the first semester with a GPA of 3.0 or above in order to be eligible to apply for CPT.
Course Schedule
At Harrisburg University, CPT is a requirement for master's and doctoral programs.
If you are a master's programs student, you must complete a minimum of 2 semesters of CPT in order to be eligible for graduation. Additionally, each semester you should enroll in two courses - one online and one onsite.
The online course requires students to:
- Participate in group work or discussions
- Complete assignments
- Pass exams
The onsite course is conducted at the main campus in Harrisburg on:
- The first day of the semester
- One day in the middle of the semester
- The last day of the semester
On average, students spend about 6-8 hours per week to complete all coursework.
CPT Policy Details
Students who have not yet obtained a master's degree before being admitted to HU are advised to work full-time for no more than 364 days in a calendar year under CPT authorization. This allows them to apply for OPT (12 months) and OPT Extension (24 months) after graduation. Otherwise, these students are not eligible to apply for OPT Extension from their master's program.
The CPT internship must be related to the student's area of study, and they can work either full-time (21-40 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours or fewer per week).
CPT employer
Once the employer completes the CPT verification form and sends the offer letter to the International Student Office, the school will provide students with the I-20 containing the employer information after the offer letter has been approved.
If a student pre-registers for courses for the next semester, the CPT authorization will be extended to the start of the next semester. This allows students to work full-time legally and covers the gap between two semesters.
