Don’t Leave College Without It
Now is the time to start working toward your career goals. Every UA Engineering student is expected to participate in at least one internship, usually done in the summer – for pay, academic credit or both – or a research experience, plus a design project. Doing internships is one of the best ways to gain professional experience, boost your resume and grad school applications, and stand out after graduation in a highly competitive job market.
Job Search > Academic Credit > Student Stories > Resources >
An enterprising internship today sets the stage for your career tomorrow.
Your Job Search
Find your internship, work toward your career goals and ultimately land the job of your dreams. From interviewing advice to job search tips and tools, these resources will guide you along your path.
Job Search Tips
-
Schedule an appointment with a UA career coach to discuss your internship search strategy.
-
Visit UA Student Engagement & Career Development for extensive information on finding an internship.
-
Search Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center for job profiles.
-
Network and interview with employers through UA Career Fairs.
-
Meet with recruiters on campus.
-
Attend UA employer information sessions.
-
Search job listings through Handshake, Internships.com and idealist.org.
-
Set up keyword agents and daily email notifications, including from job boards such as indeed.com.
-
Use Monster and Linkedin resources for networking and searching.
-
Get online career coaching, and search for engineering internships at O*Net OnLine.
-
Apply for internships directly on company websites.
-
Use social media – Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat and Instagram to research College of Engineering alumni and gain an understanding of company culture.
-
Schedule informational interviews with alumni and company representatives, and attend UA networking events.
Interviewing Advice
Being prepared is the key to remaining calm and focused throughout the interview process. Remember, everything you say and do could make the difference between getting hired or going home empty-handed. Do your homework, practice your interview skills and shine as a confident, likable candidate.
An Internship for Every Student
Patrick Hughes, who arrived “a nervous shut-in and within a year was leading the Rube Goldberg team and serving as an Engineering Ambassador,” worked at ExxonMobil in 2015 before starting a PhD program in structural engineering at the University of California, San Diego.
With jobs at IBM and Microchip Technology behind him and a design project – a feeding tube placement system – in the works for Xeridiem Medical Devices, Dalton Hirst is set for his 2017 graduation and a career in electrical engineering.
Juan Sandoval interned at Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson while earning a BS in chemical engineering; in 2016 he accepted a position with Johnson & Johnson’s Neutrogena Corp., devoting himself full time to “making products that improve people’s daily lives.”
“Questions no one has thought of” motivate Jeannie Wilkening, a research intern at Valero Energy Corp., NASA, and NSF programs at Princeton and the University of Michigan before beginning earth sciences graduate studies in 2016 at the University of Cambridge.
Jeremy Gin interned in electrical design at Arizona Public Service and cybersecurity at Sandia National Laboratories; in 2015 he started the Master’s Fellowship Program at Sandia and began graduate studies with the University of Texas, Austin.
“The College of Engineering provided me endless resources,” said two-time Raytheon intern Elisa Duarte, a master’s student in management science at Stanford University whose 2015 UA Engineering Design team won top prize for its IED-eliminating robot.
While interning with Freeport-McMoRan, Luminant Mining and ASARCO and studying abroad in Spain, Mario Muñoz, set his sights on environmental education; in late 2016 he started his journey as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua.
Be Inspired
Getting to Work Carving Niches
Getting to Work Carving Niches
From pulling basalt out of a caldera on Oahu to putting a strip mine back to the way it was, meet six students who crafted their own experiences and set themselves up for careers in mining.
Following Path to Military Career
Following Path to Military Career
Maurissa Wortham, UA Ranger Challenge captain and Class of 2017 mechanical engineering major who landed a U.S. Navy internship in 2014, says she aims to serve as an Army helicopter pilot.
Aspiring to Entrepreneurism
Before moving on to his own endeavors, Andrew Granatstein, a 2016 aerospace engineering graduate, serves up advice on getting prepared for the world of high-tech startups.
Opening Doors to Global Projects
Opening Doors to Global Projects
Two friends from the Class of 2014 recount how their internships in South America and Africa yielded full-time jobs working on international projects.
Getting Academic Credit
Academic credit for industry internships is earned through department and College 493 elective courses. Internships must be relevant to degree programs, approved by faculty members in charge of the courses, and completed during the semester of enrollment in the class. Please consult your undergraduate adviser about whether your particular internship will count toward credits for your degree.
Steps for Internship Credit
Register for ENGR 493, available to all UA Engineering undergraduates, or a major-specific 493 course.
Submit on official letterhead a letter, email or memo from your supervisor or HR representative indicating:
- Begin and end dates that fall in the semester you are registered for the 493 course.
- Total number of hours or hours per week you will work.
- Brief summary of intended work projects.
- Your supervisor’s name and contact information.
Sample Offer Letter (PDF)
Complete your approximately 10-page professional technical report, including the following:
- Evidence – for example, drawings, charts, sketches, spreadsheets, code, photographs, calculations and screenshots – of your internship. Remember, your employer may want to screen the materials to avoid disclosure of proprietary information or ensure compliance with regulations.
- Explanation of how you applied classroom learning in your internship – specific courses that helped and how you see the internship influencing your remaining academic courses.
Sample Technical Paper (PDF)
Receive a final grade. Grades for 493 courses are assigned as follows by the supervising faculty member: P (pass) and S (superior), which do not count toward your GPA, D and E, which do count toward your GPA, or Incomplete if your internship report requires revisions.
Value Added for Engagement
The University of Arizona is dedicated to student-centered activities that build on classroom learning and help develop professional and personal skills. Successful completion of an internship course satisfies requirements for the University of Arizona’s Engaged Learning Experience. Your transcript will note the success, corroborating your internship experience for potential employers and grad schools.
In addition to internships, the University and College of Engineering have a number of options – research, study abroad, the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program and leadership communities, for example – that meet the criteria for engaged learning experiences.
Email Ara Arabyan for more on ENGR 493, or see your departmental academic adviser about major-specific 493 courses.