Year 1: Pre-Professional Program
Join and engage in a College of Engineering club
There are a large variety of engineering clubs and organizations in the College of Engineering. Regardless of your interest, there is a club for you. The clubs provide opportunities to build the skills your future employers look for in new employees, including leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, initiative, and technical skills.
Clubs help you find friends, study groups, and career paths. Club members attend professional conferences, present research, participate in competitions, and provide service and outreach.
Connect with clubs at Day on the Quad, Club Fest, the Engineering Club and Organizations Board across from the Engineering Computer Lab, and on the College of Engineering Club Website.
Participate in Engineers Week, professional development events, and other college activities
National Engineers Week, which is observed each February, is a celebration of engineers and their contribution to our society. The USU College of Engineering hosts a variety of events including guest speakers, competitions, breakfast snacks, lunch, Cardboard Boat Races, Community Night, and the Awards Banquet. Engineers Week is a great opportunity to connect with the College and network with faculty, fellow students, and professionals.
Engineers Week is all about having fun and celebrating you!
Connect with the College of Engineering through social media and the weekly newsletter
Stay up to date on all College of Engineering news, events, and deadlines.
Social Media
Year 2: Pre-Professional Program
Investigate undergraduate research opportunities or design competitions
USU has a long history of undergraduate research that provides opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in cutting edge exploration. Most of your professors are actively involved with research. While meeting and networking with your professors you can learn about different research labs and how to start your own research. Involvement in research will enhance your resume, reinforce what you are learning in class, and prepare you for the professional world.
Ask about attending lab meetings or volunteering in a lab. Sweeping the floors or cleaning the equipment may lead to a paid research position. You can receive funding for your own research project through Undergraduate Research Fellowships (URF), Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity grants (URCO), and the Engineering Undergraduate Research Program (EURP)
Student design projects and competitions are another way to add to your skills, enhance your resume, and have some fun. There are club sponsored projects such as ASME’s Trebuchet-Pumpkin Toss and Soap Box Derby, ASCE’s steel bridge and concrete canoe, Aggie Marine Robotics’ submarine, AIAA’s Design, Build, Fly competition, EWB’s humanitarian projects, SAE’s Baja Buggy, and more.
Get involved in club leadership & engineering outreach
As you continue your involvement in engineering clubs, it is important for you to become involved in leadership because companies look for leadership experience on applicants’ resumes. As a leader, you will learn skills such as team building, meeting management, conflict resolution, decision making, mentoring, and delegation.
Another facet of engineering club or organization involvement is outreach. Sharing your love of engineering with the next generation of engineers is very important. You may have had someone who introduced you to engineering or encouraged you to be an engineer. Outreach provides opportunities for you to pay it forward and inspire the next generation.
Attend the SDL and/or College of Engineering lecture series
The College of Engineering sponsors a variety of lectures and technical talks that give you the opportunity to hear the latest developments in engineering. These lectures are opportunities to learn about new technologies, industries, and career paths. For example, the College of Engineering partners with the Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) to bring experts to campus to share the latest in space science engineering.
Additionally, these engineering professionals can help you grow your professional network, learn about internships, and find a mentor.
Year 3: Professional Program
Explore the USU accelerated master’s program
The USU accelerated bachelor/master’s program allows you to begin taking graduate-level classes during your senior year. This permits you to complete requirements for both a BS degree and an MS degree acceleratedly. If you are interested or have questions, meet with your department graduate coordinator.
Take the GRE and apply for graduate programs if you are going to graduate school
Attending graduate school after you complete your undergraduate degree can add many benefits to your career. You will increase your knowledge and skill base, you can gain more research experience, you may start at a higher salary, and you can qualify for higher-level positions.
Most graduate programs require applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and apply by the end of December for the following school year.
Continue to look for and engage in leadership opportunities
Challenge yourself by stepping up to positions of more responsibility in club leadership, or explore new clubs and opportunities. You never know what you can do until you try. Look for opportunities for personal development and growth, and to increase the scope of skills to put on your resume, so you will stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Year 4: Professional Program
If pursuing a accelerated master’s program, meet with your engineering graduate program coordinator
If pursuing a accelerated master’s program, you must meet with your department’s Graduate Program Coordinator. Your graduate coordinator will help you complete the required Split Form that allows you to apply up to 9 credits of undergraduate coursework to a future graduate degree. The Split Form can be submitted after you have applied for graduation.
Join the Order of the Engineer
The Order of the Engineer is a professional engineering organization that fosters “a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering profession ... bridge[s] the gap between training and experience, and … present[s] to the public a visible symbol identifying the engineer. The Order is not a membership organization; there are never any meetings to attend or dues to pay. Instead, the Order fosters a unity of purpose and the honoring of one’s pledge lifelong.”
New members of the Order of the Engineer participate in an induction Ring Ceremony where they accept the Obligation of the Engineer and receive a stainless-steel ring that is worn on the 5th finger of their working hand. The USU College of Engineering conducts a Ring Ceremony each spring before graduation. Spring, fall, and summer graduates, as well as engineering professionals, are invited to participate.