INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

Internships

Internships are optional summer positions related to the student’s major field of study. The typical duration is about three months, and students may opt in to obtain credit for their academic work. 400 hours of work are required, in a full-time program. Based on the First Destination Survey from graduating students, nearly 94% of our graduates participate in experiential education, which includes internships, co-ops, student teaching, and more. In 2021, 100 students participated in summer internships.

Dayne Friday, mechanical engineering, interned with August Winter & Sons back to back in 2021 and 2022. After his second internship, August Winter & Sons offered Friday a full-time position for December 2022.

Cooperative Education Programs

Co-ops combine classroom learning with on-the-job experience. The time frame for a co-op is one semester plus a summer session spent in full-time employment with a private industry or governmental agency and requires 800 hours of work in a full-time position. Co-ops are optional, credit bearing, and some majors count these credits toward technical electives. In the 2021–22 academic year, 76 students participated in a co-op.

Student Teaching

One of the most important phases of preparation for a teacher’s professional career is the student teaching experience. Candidates serve a dual role as both student and teacher in classroom instructional settings and share instructional responsibilities in and out of the classroom in progressively increasing amounts. This holistic approach allows candidates to grow through direct experience with all the challenging and rewarding aspects of working in the school environment.