Frequently Asked Questions about Engineering Internships
Q: How do I find engineering internship opportunities?
A: Brother Justin Hodges is the Internship Coordinator for Physical Science & Engineering.He has a large database of internship providers.He also sends announcements about current internship openings to all engineering students via email.Visit with him in AUS 106 first.
There is a campus web page maintained by the BYU-Idaho Internships & Career Services Office with internship information as well: http://www.byui.edu/careerservices/students/internships/internships.htm.
Career Navigator is an online tool provided by BYU-Idaho to help find internships as well as employment after graduation.You can find it here:http://www.byui.edu/careerservices/careernavigator/about_career_navigator.htm.
Do not forget to consult friends and relatives.Many jobs and internships are never advertised, because they are filled through networking.
Q: What are the prerequisites/requirements for ECE 398 (Internship)?
A: We encourage you to get internship work during your off-track semester as early and as often as possible.You can do this without enrolling in ECE 398.To earn ECE 398 credit, however, there are a few requirements:
(1) The work must be in the field of hardware or software engineering.Designing web pages or installing security systems, for example, is not engineering work and would not qualify.
(2) You must complete at least three Junior-level ECE courses (ECE 3xx) prior to beginning the internship.This will give you the skills to do some meaningful engineering work.
(3) You must work full-time for at least one semester under the supervision of an engineer.This will give you some exposure to what engineers do and how they do it.An automatic exception to this requirement is working on campus for Information Technology.There are no degreed engineers in IT and the maximum work-week is 20 hours. Two semesters of part-time work for IT at BYU-Idaho will satisfy this requirement.Other exceptions are rare.
Q: How do I register for ECE 398?
A: Once you have secured an internship, you will need to fill out paperwork to be registered for ECE 398.You will not be registered or receive credit for your experience until all steps are completed:
1. Go to http://www.byui.edu/careerservices or click on the Students menu button at http://www.byui.edu and scroll down to Internships.This will put you at the Career Services Home Page.
2. Click on Career Navigator.If prompted, select for students.
3. Log in with your BYU-Idaho netID and password.If you have not yet completed a profile, that will be your first step.Just follow the instructions when you get there.
4. From the Career Navigator Home Page, click on Internships in the Quick Links menu.(You may also select the Profile tab, then the Internships tab.)Any of your previous internships will show in a list.
To complete the approval form for a new internship, select Add New.Fill out the information completely, then click Save.If you do not know all of the information yet, click Save as Draft instead.You will be able to finish it later.
5. Once you have finished, print the form and take it to Brother Rex Fisher (http://emp.byui.edu/fisherr) for approval and signature.You will three copies: one for your own records, one for Brother Fisher, and one to turn into the BYU-Idaho Internships & Career Services Office.
6. Bring the signed form to the BYU-Idaho Internships & Career Services Office.If you are working full-time during an off-track semester, you will automatically be signed up for ECE 398 at half price.If you are on-track, or sign up yourself, you will pay full price for the course.
Q: How many credits of ECE 398 do I need?
A: Only 1 credit, which is awarded for one semester of full-time internship employment, is required for graduation.
Q: What course-work must be completed for ECE 398 credit?
A: Go online to: http://emp.byui.edu/FisherR/ECE398/ECE398_Page.htm.
Q: Can I substitute another class for ECE 398?
A: No.Start looking several semesters in advance to prevent delays in graduation.
Q: Can I use previous work experience for ECE 398 credit?
A: No.
Q: Can I operate my own business for ECE 398 credit?
A: No.
Q: Can I work in the family business for ECE 398 credit?
A: No.
Q: Can I use current employment for ECE 398 credit?
A: Yes, under the following conditions:
(1) The work must be in the field of hardware or software engineering.
(2) You must have completed at least three Junior-level ECE courses.
(3) You must work full-time for at least one semester or half-time for at least two semesters under the supervision of an engineer.
(4) Your employer must send an official letter (on letterhead) to the BYU-Idaho Internships & Career Services Office confirming your employment status and performance.
(5) You must submit a two-page summary letter detailing your internship objectives and desired outcomes.
(6) You must submit a journal to the BYU-Idaho Internships & Career Services Office at the end of the internship period.This journal must include regular (daily preferred, weekly required) recorded interaction/outcomes of your internship experience.