07-08-2025
For graduate students at the Daniels School of Business, the opportunity to engage in on-the-ground, practical learning is more than just a supplement to classroom education — it’s core to a master’s degree.
For students, particularly international students, curricular practical training (CPT) and optional practical training (OPT) give them experience in U.S. industry and organizational culture. Understanding the value these programs offer and how Daniels uniquely structures them can help prospective students make informed decisions about their graduate education and future careers.
CPT is an experiential learning component integrated into a degree, allowing students to gain practical work experience in their field of study before graduation. At the Daniels School, CPT and consulting projects are requirements for many students, especially those in programs like Global Supply Chain Management, to ensure graduates have encountered and wrestled with authentic business complexities with all their nuances and complications.
OPT, on the other hand, is a post-graduation opportunity that allows students to work in the United States for a limited period after completing their degree. While CPT is about training and learning during your studies, OPT extends that learning into the early stages of your professional career, helping you build on the foundation established during your time at Daniels.
The Daniels School of Business emphasizes that while frameworks and analytical tools are taught in the classroom, true understanding comes from applying them in actual business settings. CPT gives students the chance to:
For many Daniels students — who often have strong quantitative and analytical backgrounds — CPT is a transformative experience. It pushes them beyond number-crunching to develop judgment, stakeholder management and advocacy skills. These are precisely the capabilities that set top graduates apart in a world where artificial intelligence can automate routine analytical tasks but cannot replace human insight and leadership, says Academic Director of the Global Supply Chain Management program Amy David.
The Daniels School doesn’t leave students to navigate this process alone. Preparation for CPT starts even before students arrive on campus, with career coaches reaching out to help with resume building and job search strategies. Students work with faculty and career services to set goals for their internships, identify skill gaps and develop individualized plans of study. Throughout the CPT experience, students receive ongoing mentorship from faculty, career coaches and their workplace managers.
The Daniels School emphasizes reflection as part of CPT — afterward, students identify areas for further growth, adjust their academic plans and take electives to round out their skill sets. This structured approach, based on experiential learning models like Kolb’s cycle of preparation, experience and reflection, ensures that students extract maximum value from their practical training.
One of the distinguishing features of the Daniels approach is its flexibility. Students can pursue co-ops and internships in a variety of formats — fall, spring, summer or even a full year — depending on their needs and those of their employer. This adaptability ensures that students can find opportunities that align with their career goals and academic schedules.
It’s also important to note that the Daniels School maintains high standards for CPT. Every position must be directly related to the student’s field of study, and each placement is reviewed and approved by the academic director and other university officials. This ensures that CPT is a genuine educational experience, not just a job, and helps students avoid questionable day-one CPT programs that do not offer the same level of rigor or value.
For students in global supply chain and related programs, CPT and OPT are invaluable for developing both cultural and organizational competency. Students learn not just how to operate in U.S. business environments but also how to adapt to different company cultures, navigate complex organizations and build relationships across hierarchies and functions. These are essential skills for anyone seeking to lead in a global economy.
While the primary purpose of CPT and OPT is experiential education, students’ return on investment is multi-pronged. These are paid educational experiences that have helped students offset the cost of their education; on average, Daniels School of Business participants earned between $23-$57 hourly for an average of $38 per hour. They increased their networks, gained references and developed a track record of success in the U.S. business world. Alumni stories, like those of graduates working at leading companies such as Cummins and Amazon, demonstrate the impact of these experiences.
In summary, CPT and OPT at the Daniels School of Business are not just regulatory boxes to check — they are thoughtfully integrated, rigorously managed and designed to give students a competitive edge in the global marketplace. By combining academic excellence with real-world experience, Daniels ensures its graduates are not only job-ready but also prepared to lead and innovate wherever their careers take them.
Explore career outcomes for the Daniels School of Business MSGSCM program.
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