Employment Options

Whitman College offers on-campus job opportunities to international and domestic students. Due to employment restrictions on F-1 and J-1 visa students, most international students at Whitman are given preference similar to work-study eligible domestic students.

The Study In The States website offers detailed information on F-1 student employment.

International students in F-1 or J-1 status may work in on-campus jobs without special authorization. When class is in session, international students may work up to 20 hours weekly; during academic breaks when class is not in session, international students may work up to 40 hours weekly. Unauthorized employment, such as working more than 20 hours a week while the school is in session, will violate your lawful status and may result in status termination.
Use Handshake, an online platform for on-campus jobs and internships, to find employment at Whitman College. If you need assistance with your Handshake profile, please contact Career and Community Engagement Center.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is a temporary work authorization for practical training that is available to eligible F-1 students. OPT provides F-1 students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience that is directly related to their major field of study.

F-1 students who wish to gain experience in their major through working off-campus may apply for OPT up to 90 days in advance. In order to be eligible to apply, F-1 students must:

Have current, valid F-1 status
Have completed one full academic year (two semesters) of full-time study prior to the start of OPT
Not have completed 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT); part-time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility
Not have completed 12 months of OPT at the same degree level (Bachelors)

Eligible F-1 students may apply for up to 12 months of full-time OPT, which may be used before (pre-completion OPT) or after (post-completion OPT) graduation, or a combination of both. The application fee for OPT is $470, which must be paid every time you apply for OPT. Check the International Students Canvas page for details and guides on how to apply.

F-1 students with majors on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List may apply for a 24-month extension no earlier than 90 days before the end of post-completion OPT.

OPT Requirements

Training opportunity must be directly related to the student's major field of study
For pre-completion OPT a student may work part-time when class is in session (no more than 20 hours weekly). For pre-completion OPT when class is not in session, as well as for post completion OPT (after graduation), a student may work full-time.
A student does not need to have a job offer to apply for OPT.
A student may not begin work until the first date of approved OPT as shown on their Employment Authorization Document (EAD, Form I-765).

Students seeking to apply for Optional Practical Training should make an appointment with the DSO.

Curricular Practical Training(CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary authorization for practical training directly related to your major field of study, whether paid or unpaid. CPT authorization may be part-time (20 hours or less weekly) or full-time (more than 20 hours weekly), and may take place when class is in session as well as during academic breaks. Check this StudyInTheStates website for more details.

To be eligible for CPT, F-1 students must:

Be in current, valid F-1 status
Have been enrolled in full-time study for at least one academic year (two semesters) prior to the start of CPT
Have a job or internship offer (CPT is specific to the training opportunity)

CPT Requirements

Training opportunity must be directly related to your major field of study
Training opportunity must be either:
- Required for all students in your degree program in order to graduate, OR
- Optional and credit-bearing, which means you must receive academic credit for participating in the training opportunity
If the training opportunity is for academic credit as a required component of a course, the course must be clearly listed in the College Catalog, along with the instructor from your major department who will be teaching the course
The best way to access CPT at Whitman College is to register for the Applied Liberal Arts and Sciences course (IDSC 125). This course is run in collaboration between your major advisor and CCEC. The core component of this course is a structured and supervised internship. Contact the CCEC office to learn more.
You may not engage in the training opportunity until the first date of approved CPT as shown on your Form I-20

Students seeking to apply for Curricular Practical Training should make an appointment with the DSO.