An Alternative Approach for Practical Experience in Undergraduate Engineering Curricula

In this paper we present an alternative approach for providing students with practical experiences within the undergraduate curriculum. In contrast to conventional internships and co-op programs, the Field Experience is a full-fledged academic course that combines both in-class and on-site activities taken at the end of junior year. The course starts with 18 hours of in-class lectures and activities intended to prepare the students for on-site work through a combination of technical and non-technical skills. The students then work in engineering design and construction for a minimum duration of 240 hours under the direct supervision of practicing engineers. Specific activities and outcomes of the field component are directly mapped to the course learning outcomes, and are defined prior to commencing the fieldwork. The student's work is continuously monitored by the academic instructor through a journal or daily logs submitted periodically. Multiple assessment tools are used throughout the course, including homework assignments, in-class activities, an oral presentation, a detailed final report, and direct observation by the supervisor. A letter grade is earned at the end of the course, which affects the student's GPA. Compared to conventional internships, this approach has resulted in measurable increase in students' engagement and better attainment of the program-wide learning outcomes.