EGN 3945: Cooperative Education in Engineering (3 credit hours)

Interdisciplinary Engineering (IDE) students who need an additional project course* are welcome to sign up for EGN 3945: Cooperative Education in Engineering. The cooperative education in engineering course is for current interdisciplinary engineering students to pursue an experiential education opportunity at an organization focused on their area of study.  Topics must be related to engineering and preferably to their interdisciplinary engineering concentration area. This course gives students the chance to explore real-life applications of engineering by exploring different career paths in research, industry, or other areas (e.g., non-profit).

Specific daily internship objectives will be determined by the student’s manager at the external or internal place of employment. A detailed outline with goals, objectives, outcomes and expectations for the co-op may be developed in collaboration between the student, the course instructor, and the manager at the external or internal place of employment, if something collaborative between all three parties is deemed necessary. It is expected that in fulfilling these objectives, the student will work a minimum of 10-12 hours per week as part of this experience during a normal 15 week semester. For summer terms the number of hours per week expected will be more. 

It is highly encouraged that students gain permission from the instructor to enroll in this course the semester BEFORE the course begins. The instructor will also ask all students to provide written evidence that they have secured a cooperative education experience (i.e., internship). Accordingly, the written evidence from students must be accompanied by a job description that outlines their duties in the proposed experience. The instructor will also require that all cooperative education experiences be broadly connected to their engineering studies.

*Note that additional project course is generally not needed for individuals who were not in another engineering major previously, who later transferred into IDE; students who transferred from these other engineering majors typically bring over an introductory engineering course like EGS 1006 (Introduction to Engineering) into the IDE program. For these students, EGS 1006 or another introductory engineering course counts as their introductory course, and EGS 2053, EGN 3910, EGN 4943 and EGN 4944 count as their four project-based courses (12 credits required). However, for students who did not transfer from another engineering program, EGS 2053 counts as their introductory engineering course, and EGN 3910, EGN 4943 and EGN 4944 count as three of the four required (12 credits); a fourth project based is required, and EGN 3945 can serve as that fourth course. Finally, please be aware that EGN 3945 is not the only course that students can take for their fourth project course. Other courses like EML 4706: Design of Thermal/Fluid Systems can also meet this requirement; consult the IDE program director or your advisor for information on these other courses.