why are we paying tuition for work we have to find on our own?? this is crazy and not what was promised when I enrolled. dont charge us extra for credits that dont even include classes.

when I chose the university for my graduate study，I heard that UM MSF program will offer internship for students，and that's the main reason for me to accept the UM offer. It doesn't make sense that now students have to find internship by themselves and pay two credits tuition,4,200 Dollar, to University. This internship Course means a lot to me, but looks like "free money" from UM perspective.

I felt the same way. Prof Fuerst described their reasoning for it. Basically he said it had to be a mandatory for-credit requirement so that all of us international students would be eligible to do an internship. If it wasn't, international students wouldn't be able to do OPT. Since to be eligible for OPT you must "(1) have been in full-time student status for at least one academic year by the requested start date of your OPT, (2) be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of the application, and (3) have not used OPT at the same degree level previously. Since this is a one year program, all international students wouldn't meet the first eligibility requirement. That is their side. I'm not saying it is right or wrong. I just want us to all have the chance to ask any and all questions we have. They announced the internship requirement and gave us no additional information. Until Tyrone's email which gave dates and steps we need to take, but not much beyond that.