Internships Guaranteed - School of Engineering

UAB is the only engineering school in Alabama to guarantee internships

Opportunities for hands-on training and experiential learning have long been key strengths of UAB's undergraduate engineering programs.

As of fall 2021, the School of Engineering is making those opportunities an official part of its undergraduate programs by offering guaranteed internships to all incoming students following their second year of engineering coursework.

To be eligible for a guaranteed internship, students must participate in the Career Readiness Program, a new initiative launched this fall by the SOE Office of Career Services.

“Our location in Birmingham gives us a great advantage over other schools because there are so many local companies that hire students for engineering internships and co-ops,” said SOE Dean Jeff Holmes, M.D., Ph.D. “We realized there is an opportunity here for us to make a guarantee that few engineering schools in the country can match.”

Admissions Undergraduate Programs Scholarships

Goal

Empower students early in their academic career
Prepare them for their desired career path
Help them gain confidence in their selected majors

Eligibility

All engineering or pre-engineering students are eligible to participate.

Timeframe

Four-semester Career Readiness Program, followed by a one-semester internship (typically summer after sophomore year).

Objectives

Communication and critical thinking
Inclusion and teamwork
Leadership and professionalism
Technology

Examples of companies where our students intern and co-op

Altec
American Cast Iron Pipe Company
BioHorizons
Brasfield & Gorrie
Honda

Fluid Solutions
LBYD
Medtronic
Mercedes
Southern Company/Alabama Power

See Where Our Students are Interning

Jaron Gray
Electrical Engineering

Interned at NASA Pathways Program

My Pathways Internship experience with NASA was an awesome experience. From hardware design to researching new manufacturing methods, my internship was full of meaningful work that contributes to the future of space exploration.

The School of Engineering’s career center has been fundamental for the advancement of my professional development through resume workshops and mock interviews, contributing to my success in a professional environment.
Jack McEwan
Mechanical Engineering

Interned at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International

My time at Mercedes-Benz over the past year has been an incredible journey. During this time, I contributed to various challenging and innovative projects. From improving part quality, designing material movement routes, to researching and developing material quality topics. My knowledge and perspective on automotive manufacturing has broadened drastically, and the people there have made my experience all the more rewarding!
Emma Taylor
Mechanical Engineering

Interned at Georgia Power Chattahoochee Hydro

Working at Georgia Power in their Hydro Department has been an irreplaceable part of my education. Not only have I gotten the opportunity to apply what I have learned in the classroom to hydro generation, but I have also been able to get experience in other areas of generation thanks to Southern Company's excellent student program. This type of work experience is key to developing a deeper understanding of what is taught in my engineering courses.
Bhumi Patel
Biomedical Engineering

Interned at Hardware Park

This past summer, I got the opportunity to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world by applying engineering principles and the design thinking process to develop an assistive technology device at Hardware Park's MedTech program. Specifically, I collaborated in a multi-disciplinary team to create a portable and cost-effective solution for wheelchair users to traverse a 1-3 step incline independently. I gained valuable skills in communication and human centered design, and enjoyed bringing an idea into the 3D world to help improve lives.