Experiential Learning

School of Engineering students are encouraged to pursue experiential learning opportunities in the form of internships, cooperative education, and Senior Honors Thesis opportunities. 

Internships

Internships may be included on a student’s academic record by either completing an internship course or completing the transcript notation option through the Career Center. Engineering students interested in completing an internship course must obtain approval from the department offering the course prior to starting the internship. Internship credit may only be awarded for the term in which the work was completed. The School of Engineering limits students to receiving no more than 3 SHU of internship over the period of undergraduate study. Students interested in the transcript notation option must obtain approval from the Career Center prior to starting the internship.  

Cooperative Education Program

Engineering students pursuing majors in departments that participate in the Cooperative Education Program may pursue experiential learning through a semester-long co-op. Students interested in a co-op semester must obtain department approval prior to starting the co-op. Students on co-op are considered to be enrolled at Tufts. However, the co-op semester does not count toward the residency requirements. 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

International students may arrange Curricular Practical Training (CPT) through the International Center.

Credit for Research

Engineering students may receive credit for research. Students interested in completing a research course must obtain approval from the department offering the course prior to enrolling. Credit may only be received for research completed in the term in which the student is enrolled in the research course.

Senior Honors Thesis

The Senior Honors Thesis Program allows students that meet academic and department criteria to pursue a year-long research project in their senior year.  Students completing the thesis earn three credits of research in both semesters. The thesis is guided and evaluated for thesis honors by an advisory committee chaired by a full-time faculty member in the School of Engineering and including and at least one other full-time faculty member from the School of Engineering, School of Arts & Sciences, or industry expert. The thesis should be of quality comparable to a paper publishable in a peer-reviewed journal. Please visit Senior Honors Thesis Program for more information including eligibility criteria and thesis timeline.

Engineering undergraduates completing a senior thesis are eligible for the Best Senior Thesis Prize established by an anonymous donor. This prize is given annually in the spring to recognize the best undergraduate thesis in each department within the School of Engineering. Faculty in each department select the recipient and the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education administers the award.