Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is eligible to participate in GET?

  The GET track is open to Master of Science students at Columbia Engineering, domestic and international.

• How does one apply for GET?

  Applications for GET 2026 will open in late Fall 2025.

• What if I'm interested in applying for GET 2027 or later?

  If you have questions about applying to a later cohort, please email [email protected].

• What does GET entail?

  GET students must complete both the required 3-credit ENGI E4200 Global Engineering Concepts course and a mandatory ENGI E4201 Global Engineering Fieldwork course. GET students must enroll in the ENGI E4200 course in the spring term before completing the ENGI E4201 fieldwork course in the summer.

• What type of fieldwork counts towards the GET requirement?

  Students who are enrolled in the GET specialization can choose to do a summer internship in industry (in the U.S. or globally), a research/academic internship, or an industry project supervised by faculty in partnership with organizations/corporations. 

• When will I complete GET Fieldwork?

  GET Fieldwork is completed in the summer term following the GET course and must end before the start of the following fall semester.

• Can I extend my summer fieldwork into the fall term?

  CPT for GET Fieldwork only covers experiences during the summer term. Students interested in fall internships must qualify separately for elective CPT. Although students may be eligible for elective CPT with the same employer following GET Fieldwork, the scope of work for a fall internship must be different than the work performed during the summer. For questions about elective CPT eligibility and extension into the fall term, please consult your academic department.

• Are GET students guaranteed a summer internship or research placement? Will I get assistance in finding an internship?

  Participation in GET does not guarantee summer internship placement. It is the responsibility of each student to seek out these opportunities. It is important to start your search early utilizing the many resources available to you, including: your career placement officer, your academic department, the Columbia Engineering Graduate Career Placement team, and the Professional Development & Leadership team.

• What requirements do I need to complete prior to starting GET Fieldwork?

  Students enrolled in the GET specialization must complete 12 credits towards their M.S. program prior to the start of GET Fieldwork.

  All students must also complete the GET Fieldwork Certification form to be sure their fieldwork is approved, prior to their intended start date. The GET Team will begin reviewing fieldwork requests in late March though we recommend students submit their requests as soon as possible. The GET Team requires 7-10 business days to review and process your fieldwork request. For F-1 visa holders, ISSO will require an additional 7-10 business days for processing CPT requests.

• I am an international student enrolled in the GET specialization. Am I eligible for CPT during summer 2026, even if I start my M.S. program in spring 2026?

  Yes. International students enrolled in the GET specialization may be eligible to use CPT for an internship during summer 2026, so long as they complete 12 credits towards their M.S. program prior to the start of the internship.

• How much does GET cost?

  Students will be required to pay tuition for the ENGI E4200 Global Engineering course (3 credits, tuition-bearing). ENGI E4201 GET Fieldwork is 1 credit, non-tuition-bearing. These 4 credits are in addition to a student's program requirements.

• What if I do not finish the GET requirements?

  If you are unable to finish the GET requirements (i.e. GET Fieldwork and GET Course), you may drop the specialization prior to March 26, 2026. However, once the deadline to drop has passed, you must complete the GET specialization requirements in order to obtain your MS degree.

  The last day to drop the GET specialization is March 26, 2026, for the GET 2026 cohort.

• What if I want to drop the GET specialization?

  Students admitted into GET 2026 can withdraw from the GET specialization anytime before March 26, 2026, by emailing [email protected]. You may not drop the GET 2026 specialization after this date; late requests to drop will not be accepted.