CUSP Internship Info for Employers

A collective of students striving to build better cities

At CUSP, we believe that the future of our cities rests on the shoulders of talented individuals with a passion for urban science and progress. CUSP involves a collective of dedicated students, faculty, and researchers who are committed to developing innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing cities around the world.

By supporting CUSP's internship program, employers are directly investing in the future of their workforce. Our students graduate with a robust understanding of urban systems, cutting-edge analytical skills, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact. They are ready to tackle the challenges you face today and shape the cities of tomorrow.

Partnering with CUSP allows employers to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in urban science on cutting-edge research projects. This collaboration can lead to innovative solutions for urban challenges, while providing them with valuable insights and access to a talented pool of future employees.

Starting in 2024, CUSP will award a select number of master’s students with scholarship funds to cover the tuition cost of up to 3-credit internship or guided research. Our goal is to encourage and enable students to utilize their urban science skills in professional roles and consider how they can contribute to a city’s development in their future careers. Experiential learning also allows students to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world and the communities in which they engage. 

Cutting-Edge Knowledge and Skills:

• Interdisciplinary Expertise: CUSP offers interdisciplinary programs integrating urban science, data analytics, and social science, preparing students to address complex urban challenges.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Students are trained to handle large datasets, employ advanced analytics, and apply machine learning techniques to solve urban problems.

Problem-Solving Skills:

• Real-World Problem Solving: The curriculum at CUSP often includes hands-on projects and internships where students work on real-world urban issues, developing strong problem-solving skills.
• Innovative Thinking: Exposure to various disciplines encourages students to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions.

Strong Technical Proficiency:

• Advanced Technical Skills: Students acquire advanced skills in programming, data visualization, geospatial analysis, and more.
• Familiarity with Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard tools and software for urban science and data analysis.

Commitment to Social Impact:

• Social Responsibility: CUSP’s focus on urban challenges means that students are likely to be motivated by a desire to impact society positively.
• Community Engagement: Skills in community engagement and understanding of urban issues from a social perspective

We encourage NYC agencies, nonprofits, urban-focused consulting firms, startups within and beyond NYU, and more to recruit CUSP students for open roles. Internships aligned with the following skillset are applicable:

• Data analysis
• Python
• Machine learning
• Project management
• Policy analysis
• Consulting
• Network analysis
• Predictive modeling
• Machine learning
• Spatial analytics

The requirements listed below apply to all internship positions held by NYU students:

1. During the summer, internships must be at least 8 weeks long. The work experience must also be at least 240 hours for the summer period. Start and end dates can be different from the first and last day of the semester but must fit within the semester to ensure that final reports and grades may be submitted promptly. Please refer to the academic calendar.
2. Students can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year while classes are in session. 
3. An internship that requires more than 20 hours of participation per week is deemed full-time. Students in their last semester of study must complete at most 3 non-internship credits plus 1.5 internship credits, for a total of 4.5 credits. Students may be approved for a full-time internship.
4. Students can work full-time during the summer, provided they are not taking more than 3 non-internship credits for the summer term. Work hours must be consistent with the organization’s regular work schedule.
5. Work experiences must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act. As such, students must be paid at least minimum wage unless specific exceptions apply. The Department of Labor outlines a test regarding unpaid internships. Employers should consult their legal counsel for more information.
6. Students must be hired as employees of the participating organization and paid directly by the organization using a W-2 form. Employers cannot pay students as independent contractors using an IRS 1099 form.
7. Employers must agree to assign a responsible, ranking employee as the student’s supervisor. This individual will provide appropriate supervision and mentoring, including establishing clear goals and expectations regarding tasks and projects. Employers must be willing to submit written midterm and final evaluations of the student’s work. Experiences will not be approved for companies not permitted to submit written evaluations. Employer supervisors must review the student’s final report so that proprietary and/or confidential information can be removed.
8. International students who want to take an internship must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, which includes registering for an internship course. Students must contact the NYU Office of Global Services for CPT/OPT processing.

The dates below are important for be aware of since students will have to submit documentation and course selections accordingly. 

• January 16, 2024 - Summer Classes Published
• February 1, 2024 - CUSP Experiential Scholarship Application Opens
• February 12, 2024 - Summer Registration
• March 8, 2024 - CUSP Experiential Scholarship Application Closes at 11:59 PM EST
• April 17, 2024 - NYU Bursar’s Billing Date
• May 14, 2024 - NYU Bursar’s Payment Due Date
• May 20, 2024 - Summer Classes Begin
• May 23, 2024 - Summer Add/Drop
• July 29, 2024 - Withdrawal Deadline: 12-Week and Special Sessions
• August 15, 2024 - Last Day of Summer Classes

Please refer to the NYU Academic Calendar and NYU Bursar’s Office for official dates.

The CUSP Experiential Scholarship provides financial support for a select number of students who have secured a for-credit summer internship or guided research related to urban science. We encourage internship employers to provide compensation for students per the guidelines listed above, regardless of a student's scholarship status. 

For unpaid internships, we encourage students to apply for the Wasserman Center Internship Grant, which was established to provide financial assistance to students pursuing unpaid internships in qualifying industries that do not traditionally pay their interns. The Wasserman Center offers $1,200 grants during the fall and spring semesters, and $2,000 grants during the summer. Applications are reviewed by Wasserman Center staff and representatives from various NYU academic departments along with feedback from the Office of Financial Aid. Visit Wasserman Center Internship Grant for more information. 

If you'd like to recruit CUSP students for internships within your organization, please do one of the following:

• Fill out this form to indicate any openings you have that are suitable for CUSP graduate students, which we will share among the CUSP community.
• Send an email to cusp.education@nyu.edu for a consultation about student internships.