CUSP Experiential Scholars

A collective of students striving to build better cities

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. 

Expand Your Network

Meeting other urban science practitioners in the field is a great way to get your foot in the door when searching for jobs later on in your career. Developing contacts is one of the most important things you can do as an early-stage professional.

Demonstrate Your Skills

Having professional experience on your resume shows that not only do you excel in the classroom, you also add value to a business or organization in concrete ways.

Explore Your Options

Short-term internships allow you to try on different types of roles with a lower commitment level. If you’re curious about a certain department or function within a city, this is a great time to see how you fit.

CUSP Experiential Scholars will be responsible for securing their own internships or guided research. Depending on a student’s personal goals, opportunities can be found at NYC agencies, nonprofits, niche consulting firms, startups, within NYU, and more. We also welcome students to take advantage of opportunities outside New York City upon approval from the CUSP Education Team. 

Reach towards your professional aspirations in areas such as:

The CUSP Experiential Scholarship provides financial support for students who have secured a for-credit summer internship or guided research related to urban science. CUSP students, including international students in lawful F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by NYU, must meet all of the criteria to be eligible: 

1. Currently enrolled and taking classes in the MS in Applied Urban Science & Informatics program at the Center for Urban Science + Progress at NYU Tandon.
2. A continuing student who has successfully completed at least 18 NYU credits prior to the summer term.
3. In good academic standing at CUSP with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
4. Not having an incomplete grade (I) in any course from a prior semester and not having received a Time Extension for their current degree program. 
5. During the summer, internships must be at least 8 weeks long. Additionally, the work experience must be a minimum of 240 hours. Start and end dates need not coincide with the first and last day of the semester, but must fit within the semester in order to ensure that final reports may be submitted and grades may be submitted in a timely manner. Please refer to the academic calendar.
6. During the academic year, students cannot work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session. Internships requiring more than 20 hours of participation per week are considered full-time. Students who are in their final semester of study and who require, and are registered for, no more than 3 non-internship credits plus 0.5 to 3 internship credits – for a total of 3.5 to 6 credits for the term – may be approved for a full-time internship. During the summer, students are permitted to work full-time, provided that they are not also taking more than 3 non-internship credits for the summer term. Work hours must be consistent with the organization’s regular work schedule.
7. 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.
8. Students must be hired as employees of the participating organization and must be paid directly by the organization using a W-2 form. Employers cannot pay students as independent contractors using an IRS 1099 form.
9. 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 that are 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.
10. International students who want to take an internship must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, which includes registering for an internship course.

Opportunities must be demonstrably related to topics covered in the MS in Applied Urban Science & Informatics degree to the scholarship committee's discretion. Participants are required to concurrently enroll in “CP-GY 9911 - CUSP - Internship for MS I” or “CP-GY 9921 - CUSP Internship for MS II” for 1.5 credits each enrollment with Pass/Fail grading. 

Students are responsible for abiding by the Tandon Graduate Academic Bulletin regarding Internship Policies and Guidelines.

Recipients understand that failure in the internship course and/or internship disqualification after to Add/Drop date may result in tuition liability and an F grade. 

Students interested in the CUSP Experiential Scholarship will have to secure an internship or guided research on their own first. Once the position is granted, students will fill out the CUSP internship application (linked below), including basic information about their position as well as brief written responses about their responsibilities and future goals, and how it relates to their current master’s degree. A committee of CUSP faculty and staff will review the applications and evaluate based on prior academic performance and the quality of the internship itself. Award recipients will be announced before summer tuition is due so students may plan accordingly.

The deadline to apply for the CUSP Experiential Scholarship is March 8th, 2024. To apply, complete the CUSP Experiential Scholarship Application Form. 

• 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 Wasserman Center Internship Grant 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.