Graduate Practicum Track
Prepare for your career in engineering and applied sciences through industry-based practicum education.
The practicum track provides graduate students with the opportunity to complete an industry-embedded project for academic credit through a full-time internship. The project is guided by faculty.
Available to students enrolling at UB in Spring 2026 or later, the practicum track offers a distinct pathway for students to complete their required culminating experience.
Eligible Programs:
- Data Sciences and Applications MPS
- Engineering Science (AI and Data Innovation) MS
- Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS
- Engineering Science (Cybersecurity) MS
- Engineering Science (Data Science) MS
- Engineering Science (Robotics) MS
On This Page
While most academic departments may offer an option for students to complete an internship for credit, the practicum uniquely allows students to pursue an extended, full-time internship. The track allows students to pursue opportunities that are 20 hours or more per week. Internships may span winter/spring, spring/summer or summer/fall semesters—depending on the term a student enters their program
Students work directly with an employer on applied problems in data science, robotics, cybersecurity, AI, or related areas, while receiving faculty supervision and completing the required academic deliverables. Throughout the track, students gain hands-on professional experience, industry mentorship, and the opportunity to apply learning from their coursework.
International Students and CPT Eligibility
The practicum track allows international students to complete a full-time internship during their final fall or spring semester of study, offering opportunities beyond the traditional Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) limitations that restrict international students to part-time work during the fall or spring semester.
International students must follow the UB International Student Services (ISS) guidelines for CPT and review policies carefully before accepting an internship. Internships must be approved by the program director and academic coordinator. CPT eligibility is dependent on maintaining good academic standing and following the program’s recommended course plan.
To complete the practicum track, students must:
- Opt into the practicum track no later than add/drop during their second semester.
- Follow the prescribed course schedule plan based on term of entry (fall or spring).
- Secure an internship that aligns with their academic program.
- Enroll in 1–3 credits of their designated practicum course during the internship semester(s). Projects typically span 3–6 months, depending on scope.
- Credit enrollment is determined by the internship dates. If an internship offer is for one term, students will enroll in 3 credits. If an internship offer spans two semesters, enrollment in the practicum course will total 3 credits across both semesters.
- All students must take a minimum of 3 credits of internship to meet their degree requirements and maintain enrollment in the practicum track. Students cannot complete an internship unless the experience merits 3 credits of academic credit over the duration of the internship, and the project at the company must be directly related to the degree program they are enrolled in.
- Complete assignments for the practicum course (syllabus will be provided during the semester of enrollment).
- Work full-time for the host company during the practicum period (international students must have an approved CPT during this period).
- Learn about practicum options at New Student Orientation: CPT rules, credit requirements and scheduling expectations are reviewed in detail.
- Submit the Practicum Track Request Form: The form will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the academic coordinator.
- Follow the posted deadlines: The final deadline to opt into the practicum track is the add/drop deadline of the second semester.
- Maintain the required course load: Students must follow the program’s approved course plan for their term of entry to maintain eligibility.
Students must opt into the practicum track by the end of add/drop of their second semester. A qualifying internship must be secured by the add/drop deadlines of the semester the student is planning to pursue the internship.
Students will not receive retroactive credit for an internship experience. Students must be enrolled in their approved practicum course during all times that work is being completed for that company.
If an internship is extended for a second semester after the initial offer letter is received and CPT has been approved, the student will not be considered full-time in the practicum track and will be bound by standard CPT regulations. The student may extend their internship but will have to enroll in and pay for one additional credit of the practicum course and will be limited to part-time work (no more than 20 hours per week).
Practicum Coures:
- EAS 598: Engineering Science Internship (1-3 credits): For students enrolled in the Engineering Science MS programs.
- CDA 598: MPS Internship (1-3 credits): For students enrolled in the Data Sciences and Applications MPS program.
Course Plans
Fall Entry: Students who enroll in their degree program during the fall semester may complete a full-time internship that spans the summer only, fall only, or summer and fall.
| Plan | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Degree Conferral | OPT Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | 3 credit practicum course
| N/A | Degree conferral 8/31 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
| B | 12 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | 3 credits coursework | 3 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 2/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
| C | 12 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | No summer registration | 3 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 2/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
| D | 12 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | 2 credit practicum course
3 credit course | 1 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 2/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
| E | 12 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | 2 credit practicum course | 1 credit practicum course
3 credit course | Degree conferral 2/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
| F | 12 credits coursework | 15 credits coursework (approval required) | 2 credit practicum course | 1 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 2/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
| G | 12 credits coursework | 15 credits coursework (approval required) | 3 credit practicum course | N/A | Degree conferral 2/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT |
Spring Entry: Students who enroll in their degree program during the spring semester may complete a full-time internship that spans winter and spring, spring only, or spring and summer.
| Plan | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer | Degree Conferral | OPT Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12 credits coursework | 3 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | 3 credit practicum course | N/A | Degree conferral 6/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT after 6/1 |
| B | 12 credits coursework | 3 credits coursework | 12 credits coursework | 2 credit practicum course | 1 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 8/31 | Eligible for post completion OPT after 8/31 |
| C | 12 credits coursework | No summer registration | 12 credits coursework | 2 credit practicum course
3 credits coursework | 1 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 8/31 | Eligible for post completion OPT after 8/31 |
| D | 12 credits coursework | No summer registration | 15 credits coursework (approval required) | 3 credit practicum course | N/A | Degree conferral 6/1 | Eligible for post completion OPT after 6/1 |
| E | 12 credits coursework | No summer registration | 15 credits coursework (approval required) | 2 credit practicum course | 1 credit practicum course | Degree conferral 8/31 | Eligible for post completion OPT after 8/31 |
For questions about track selection, program requirements or practicum eligibility, students should contact their academic coordinator:
Kaileigh Kosicki
Email: cda-grad@buffalo.edu
Programs: Cybersecurity, Data Sciences and Applications MPS
Kaeleigh Peri
Email: eas-grad@buffalo.edu
Programs: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics
Megan Stewart
Email: engsci@buffalo.edu
Programs: AI and Data Innovation, Data Science