Student Resources
Undergraduate students have career development and support embedded into the college through the Engineering Student Success Center. Dedicated staff offer one-on-one coaching, workshops, and networking events all year to assist students in exploration of internships, research, full-time jobs, and graduate school. Highlights include two major career fairs, an internship preparation class (ITR300), and a weekly careers newsletter. Additionally, the college works closely with local, regional, and global employers to connect our students with relevant opportunities in industries of interest.
Internships & Research
Approximately 85% of engineering undergraduates have at least one paid internship experience – and many students complete two or more before graduation. Hands-on experience outside of the classroom is critical for post-graduate success in engineering careers. Engineering students complete internships over the summer for pay, not credit – 99% of students who completed internships in 2022, 2023, and 2024 were paid.
INSERT MAP OF 2024 INTERNSHIP LOCATIONS BY STATE.
INSERT TABLE OF TOP INTERNSHIP EMPLOYERS.
A sampling of our global internship partners:
Internship support is offered in many forms including one-on-one coaching, small group workshops, and ITR300, a one-credit internship preparation course. Students can find handouts and presentations on key topics including resume writing, networking, job searching, salary negotiation and more on the Center for Career and Experiential Education website. Additionally, students can access Handshake for events, internships, job postings, and direct access to employers.
For students interested in graduate study or eager to explore applications of their major, on-campus and nationally competitive research opportunities are available. Students can work with Engineering Student Success Center staff to identify and apply for research including our URISE and RI-INBRE SURF programs, NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates, and other nationally recognized research opportunities.
Career Advising & Full-Time Job Search
97% of URI College of Engineering graduates are employed in their field or in graduate school within six months after graduation with a median starting salary of $75,000. The same resources available for the internship search are available for the full-time, post graduate job search, too. Additionally, students have access to career exploration tools such as What Can I Do With This Major? and The Occupational Outlook Handbook. Details regarding typical industry destinations, job titles, and starting salaries for all engineering majors can be found here.
INSERT TABLE OF TOP EMPLOYERS HERE.
Applying to Graduate School
XX% of URI engineering graduates immediately go on to further study in their respective fields including pursuing M.S., Ph.D., MBA, and M.D. degrees. Students who are interested in graduate school may want to prioritize getting research experience while at URI. This is especially true for those who want to pursue a Ph.D. Students planning to do the FastTrack, 5-year B.S./M.S. program must apply to the Graduate School regardless of eligibility. Engineering Student Success Center staff can support students through the application process for all graduate programs.
Students who are interested in medical school or other clinical professions should work with the Pre-Health Advisor in addition to using support services in the Engineering Student Success Center.