All students (except Hospitality majors) will be required to devote a semester to furthering their skills in an extern position. Externship is a full-time commitment of a minimum of 14 consecutive weeks or 550 hours of full-time work at a CIA-approved location. A satisfactory evaluation of the experience or applicable transfer credit is required for students to receive their degree.
The externship program is administered under the auspices of the Center for Career and Academic Advising at the Hyde Park, NY campus.
Externship information in this section also applies to the CIA Singapore, with the following distinctions. Students who enter the bachelor's program in Singapore from a non-hospitality diploma program must complete the CIA Externship course following the completion of the final semester of academic classes ("top-up" module semester). Students who have entered the CIA Singapore with a hospitality-related diploma must participate in a non-graded professional bridge semester. Training agreements for both the externship and professional bridge must be returned to the managing director no later than the third week of the final semester of course work. CIA Singapore students who do not have additional courses to complete must submit the Professional Bridge Training Agreement prior to the 10th week of the fourth semester.
Externship Planning
Externship is considered a requirement, and all students must successfully complete the Externship Orientation.
Students should begin exploring externship possibilities well in advance to make sure they have secured a position and submitted a training agreement. They must select an externship site from an established list of approved sites. A student may not complete an externship at a site owned by a member of that student's family. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with these employers and obtain a position as an extern. The Center for Career and Academic Advising staff will assist as needed. Externship candidates in the U.S. who have not provided this office with a signed training agreement from an approved externship site or have not met the prerequisite by the end of the add/drop period will not remain registered for the course of externship.
Prerequisites for Externship
To begin externship, students must have received a passing grade for ServSafe® certification (CUSC-100A or CUSC-105A) and have successfully completed 15 Baking and Pastry or Culinary Arts laboratory credits. Students must be in good academic standing (2.0 cumulative GPA).
Acceptance of an Externship
Once a student has communicated acceptance of an externship verbally or in writing to the employer, this is viewed as a binding commitment on the student's part to complete the experience. Failure to follow through with the agreement may result in a grade of "W" or "WF."
A "W" grade will be assigned if:
- A viable reason is presented to the Center for Career and Academic Advising staff and property chef for not completing the externship—personal or family illness, or other circumstances beyond the student's control.
- The student informs the supervisor at the externship site of the change in plans. A Center for Career and Academic Advising staff member will then contact the supervisor to verbally confirm that decision.
Externship Completion
To receive credit for the course of Externship, a student must be properly registered, which includes financial and academic clearance granted through SFRS and having submitted a signed training agreement to the Center for Career and Academic Advising indicating 14 consecutive weeks or 550 hours at an approved site. No credit will be given for any time worked prior to registration for the course.
Students must submit a midterm and final evaluation from their externship supervisor and submit all externship assignments on time for grading. and receive a passing grade for these assignments.
Students will receive an failing grade and may be required to repeat the externship if they:
- Fail to complete a minimum of 14 consecutive weeks or 550 hours of full-time work at a CIA-approved site,
- Work at an establishment that has not been approved for externship,
- Fail to submit satisfactory work, or
- Are terminated from their externship or leave voluntarily.
Students must make arrangements with the Center for Career and Academic Advising and Student Financial and Registration Services if they need to make up a failed externship and pay the retake fee.
For completion of a second externship, students must complete a minimum of 14 consecutive weeks or 550 hours of full-time work at an approved CIA externship site. Students completing a second externship are required to choose a different approved externship location than where the student went the first time.
NOTE: If a student fails Externship, the externship assignments may be resubmitted at the discretion of the faculty and a fee will be charged. See Fees That May Be Assessed.
Returning from Externship
The Culinary Institute of America requires all students to return on their scheduled return date from externship. Students who fail to return as scheduled may be withdrawn. If the college grants a student permission to return on a different date, that selected date will be based on availability. Regardless of a student's return date, the externship assignments are due as outlined in the course.
Extending the length of the externship period beyond the scheduled return date may jeopardize the student's financial aid status and may adversely affect other aspects of the student's ability to return for their subsequent semester.
International Students
Per U.S. Department of Homeland Security/SEVP regulations, international students with an F-1 visa must complete one full academic year (two semesters) to be eligible to enter the course of Externship.
International students will need to provide a copy of their completed, signed Training Agreement to the designated school official (DSO) at the student's campus location to have the I-20 form authorized, and then obtain a Social Security card from a local Social Security Office.
International students are allowed to complete Externship abroad in other countries at an approved CIA site, but they must obtain country specific visas on their own. Students on Externship abroad are considered on study abroad semester in SEVIS.
International students are encouraged to direct any questions regarding their F-1 visa status and the externship to the designated school official (DSO) at the student's campus location.