Internships and Job Opportunities
The Department of Economics offers several opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Below is a listing of internships, job opportunities, and research opportunities.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity in Economics
We are pleased to offer undergraduate students the chance to participate in faculty-led research projects. This opportunity allows you to:
• Work closely with a faculty mentor on an active research project.
• Gain hands-on experience providing research assistance.
• Develop valuable research skills for future academic and professional work.
EC 93 Course Details:
• Credits: 2 (Pass/Fail)
• Prerequisites: Economics 11 or Economics 12 (or equivalent) and Economics 15 (or equivalent)
• Repeat Policy: May be repeated once only
• Permission: Enrollment is by department consent only
How to Apply:
1. Review your eligibility (make sure you have completed the prerequisites).
2. Identify a faculty member whose research interests align with yours.
3. Complete an application: Ec 93 Research Assistantship Application for Enrollment Form and submit to Linda Casey.
4. If approved, you will receive permission to enroll.
This is an excellent way to deepen your economics training, gain mentoring experience, and strengthen your preparation for graduate study or careers involving research.
General Internship Information
Internship types include non-credit internships, transcript-notation internships, and for-credit internships. Tufts Career Services provides information and counseling about all of these possibilities. A summary of internship information and Tufts regulations is available through Tufts Career Services.
Students wishing to receive academic credit for an economics or finance-related internship should discuss the internship with their advisor prior to seeking credit. Generally, if the work is relevant to a student's studies in economics or finance, it may be possible to earn one unit of pass/fail credit. The credit will not count toward the major or minor, but will count as general credit towards graduation. Credit is awarded upon completion of the internship and the submission of an acceptable paper connecting the internship work with a topic in economics or finance.
EC 90 | EC 290 Course Details:
• Credits: 1 (Pass/Fail)
• Repeat Policy: Typically, no more than two internships
• Permission: Enrollment is by department consent only
How to Apply:
1. Obtain an offer of employment letter
2. Complete an Internship Agreement Form and submit to Debra Knox together with offer of employment letter.*
3. If approved, you will receive permission to enroll. *Debra Knox will assign an internship advisor.
F-1 Curricular Practical Training:
F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of authorization for off-campus experiential learning and academic activities that are directly related and integral to your major field of study. Examples of experiential learning include an internship, practicum, cooperative education, or fieldwork.
CPT experiences can be paid or unpaid but must be related to your major. It must be approved by an academic advisor or faculty member in your department and authorized by the International Center. CPT authorization must always be granted BEFORE starting or extending employment - the International Center cannot approve CPT for a start date that has already passed. Failure to obtain authorization before starting any CPT experience may be viewed as unauthorized employment, leading to a loss of F-1 status.
More information about eligibility and requirements can be found at the International Center's website.
Non-Credit Internships
Some non-credit internships do not require any Tufts sponsorship and can be completed with no official involvement of Tufts.
Occasionally companies will advertise their internships without noting restrictions and only later inform students that some Tufts recognition is required. Some companies that follow this bait-and-switch approach will accept Tufts' transcript notation. Some want special letters from Tufts.
Career Services has developed a letter which some companies, such as Salomon Smith Barney, will accept instead of registration for academic credit. Students with questions about these companies and letters should contact Tufts Career Services.
Research Funding
Students may request funding for senior theses and for other proposals emphasizing original research that is directly supervised by a Tufts faculty member.