Info for Current Students

First-year students interested in pursuing a major in engineering:

• Should complete EGR 111 and EGR 112 in the first year.
• Should enroll in MTH 111 or 112 in the fall depending on incoming AP credits. If MTH 111 is taken in the fall, students should enroll in MTH 112 in the spring. If credit has been granted for MTH 111 and MTH 112, students could consider MTH 113 or MTH 205.
• Should complete PHY 113/113L^* in the first year. PHY 113 is also offered during the summer sessions.
• Students also interested in the health professions (i.e., pre-health pathway) should enroll in CHM 111 & 111L in the fall AND CHM 122 & 122L in the spring. CHM 111 & 111L and CHM 122 & 122L are also offered during the summer sessions.

First-year students curious about engineering:

• Could enroll in EGR 111 or EGR 112 in the fall, and the other in the spring.
• Could enroll in MTH 111 or 112 depending on incoming AP credits.
• Could complete PHY 113/113L in the first year. (See above for specifics.)

*Students may substitute PHY 123/123L in place of PHY 113/113L.

To be well positioned for junior level EGR coursework and to complete the degree in four years, students should complete the following courses during the first two years and earn a minimum (cumulative) GPA of 2.0 in the following courses: MTH 111, MTH 112, MTH 113, MTH 205, PHY 113/113L^g, EGR 111, EGR 112, EGR 211, EGR 212 or 311, and of CHM 111/111L, BIO 150/150L, CHM 120/120L, or PHY 114/114L.

EGR 111 is not a prerequisite for EGR 112, so either may be taken first. EGR 211 is not a prerequisite for EGR 212, so either can be taken first OR both can be taken in the same semester.

^gStudents may substitute PHY 123/123L in place of PHY 113/113L.

Our faculty advise undergraduate students on research projects and encourage you to get involved. As much as 85% of our graduates have done research while at Wake Forest. If you are interested in doing research, you should reach out to a faculty member whose work is interesting to you and start that conversation.

You may also apply for academic credit for unpaid engineering internships. To do so, follow the same instructions for EGR 381 registration below.

Academic Credit for Research and Internships

You can earn academic credit for engineering research or unpaid internships through two primary courses: EGR 281 and EGR 381. 

The main difference between these courses is how they apply to your degree progress:

• EGR 281 (Introductory Projects with Engineering for Majors): This course counts toward the 120 total credit hours required for graduation, much like a general elective.
• EGR 381 (Engineering Research): This course can be used to satisfy an Engineering Technical Elective credit, in addition to counting toward your 120-hour requirement. 

EGR 281 Registration

Registering for EGR 281 is a straightforward process.  You need to work with your research advisor and the EGR Academic Coordinator to add the course section at the start of the semester and before the semester’s drop/add deadline, then complete the research to the satisfaction of your research advisor. 

EGR 381 Registration 

Because it can fulfill a technical requirement, the process for earning EGR 381 credit is more rigorous and requires formal approval from the Department’s Curriculum Committee.  The entire process can be broken down into four main phases: planning, registration, conducting research/completing internship, and final approval.  

Phase 1: Before the Semester (Preparation & Pre-Approval)

You must complete these steps before the end of the first week of classes.

1. Find a Research/Internship Advisor: Connect with a potential advisor well in advance. Be aware: many faculty members require you to work in their lab for at least one semester before they will approve an EGR 381. This advisor does not have to be in the EGR department.
2. Co-Develop a Syllabus: Work with your advisor to create an ABET Syllabus for your work. This is the key document for your application. It must detail:
   • What work you will complete.
   • How you will document your work (e.g., reports, presentations, code).
   • How this work will satisfy the Student Outcomes (SOs) required by the engineering program (ABET).
3. Submit for Pre-Approval: Log in to the Alternative and Experiential Education Form and submit for “Pre-Approval.” You will attach your co-developed ABET Syllabus to this application. Remember that this form submission is due the first Friday of the semester you intend to complete the EGR 381 course.
4. Receive Committee Approval: The Curriculum Committee will review your submission. You will be notified if your project is approved, rejected, or sent back for refinement. You must have official pre-approval before the add date to proceed for Technical Elective credit.

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Phase 2: Registration

• After your project is pre-approved, a specific EGR 381 course section will be created for you.
• Register for this section in Workday just as you would for any other course.

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Phase 3: During the Semester (Research/Internship & Documentation)

• Conduct your research or internship as outlined in your approved syllabus under your advisor’s supervision.
• Throughout the semester, collect “artifacts” of your work as outlined in your ABET Syllabus. These are the evidence (reports, data, logs, presentations) that demonstrate you met the Student Outcomes defined in your syllabus. These will include the deliverables that were listed in the EGR 381 syllabus created for your project.

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Phase 4: After the Semester (Final Approval & Credit)

1. Submit Final Forms: At the end of the semester, return to the Alternative and Experiential Education Form and submit the form for Academic Credit. 
2. Package Your Work: Create a single Google Drive folder containing all the “artifacts” you collected that map to the ABET Student Outcomes. Share this folder with the Curriculum Committee at . This folder is due on the last day of classes in the semester you completed the EGR 381 course.
3. Final Review: The committee will meet after final grades are submitted to evaluate your completed packet.
4. Credit Applied: Once your packet is approved, the committee will notify your major advisor. Your major advisor will then complete the course override to ensure the EGR 381 course officially counts as an Engineering Technical Elective on your transcript.

There are many great summer research opportunities right here at Wake Forest through the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities center (URECA). However, for some, pursuing research at another institution over the summer can provide an important opportunity to broaden perspective or a pathway into a graduate program of choice.

Many colleges and universities offer summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates, funded through the National Science Foundation; you can browse through current opportunities on the NSF REU program webpage. Alternatively, some universities, departments, or academic research groups may use their own internal funding to support summer research internships; in these cases, the opportunities are usually advertised through the university, and you’ll have to do your own browsing through the webpages of schools of interest to you.

Many of the federally funded labs, including the Department of Defense labs and Department of Energy labs, also offer summer research internships for engineering undergraduate students. Even the Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, and Agriculture offer internships ranging from science/technical to public policy opportunities. Or if you’ve been thinking about pursuing a legal career after college, an internship at the Patent and Trademark Office might be the perfect opportunity to learn about patent law at a high level.

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Student Intern Program (SIP)
• U.S. Department of Defense Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation program (SMART)
• U.S. Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security student programs
• U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration student opportunities
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office student programs
• (Or search www.usajobs.gov for other internship opportunities.)

However, maybe you’re more interested in a position in industry or government after you complete your degree. A summer internship at a private company (or several, at different companies), non-profit, or public agency can help you learn which sector best fits your interests, or even what work atmosphere or team size is ideal for you. Such positions can also lead into job offers right out of college, and many employers will help co-fund advanced education. Major corporations have specific webpages just for student opportunities, whereas smaller companies might accept summer interns but not advertise on their website (you can always contact human resources directly with an inquiry).

Be advised that larger companies often offer both internships and co-ops to undergraduates, where an internship can usually take place during the summer, but a co-op would require you to work for a summer and a semester. Co-ops, therefore, despite their many benefits can create scheduling challenges in a curriculum where courses might be offered only in the spring or fall terms, and will by default delay your graduation date. Be up-front with potential employers when applying and interviewing regarding your availability.

Of course, the opportunities and information provided here are just a start, to help you begin thinking about your early career pathway. Questions to ask yourself are, Am I more interested in research,  design, or consulting (or do I even know at this point)? Would I prefer to work in an industry research environment, knowing that projects may be driven by profit margins, or a more academic environment, such as a federal lab, where I can pursue more basic science? Would I rather begin a doctoral program immediately after my undergraduate degree, or should I work for a few years to gain experience? Are you considering a study abroad experience? Perhaps an internship or research experience abroad would be a good fit.

No one expects you to have all of the answers – in fact, if you have more questions than answers, that’s probably a good thing! After all, you have a team of Wake Forest Department of Engineering faculty (and the campus Office of Personal and Career Development) to help you begin answering these questions. So reach out, and make an appointment with one of us today.

The WFU Engineering curriculum supports studying abroad for a semester if students wish to do so, and we continue to strongly encourage students to pursue study abroad opportunities. International experiences offer tremendous personal, cultural, and academic value, and we remain committed to supporting students who choose to broaden their education in this way. However at this time no courses taken abroad will be considered for the EGR course designation and no engineering courses taken abroad can count towards the Engineering major or minor requirements. 

Global Programs and Studies

Your primary resource for planning any study abroad experience is the Global Programs and Studies (GPS) Office. You must follow all of their instructions and deadlines for requesting course approval for affiliate/non-WFU programs.

Recommended Timing

For B.S. Engineering students, either semester of the second or third year are the most flexible times to study abroad without impacting your course sequence.

Engineering Technical Elective Credit

To have a course from another university evaluated for technical elective credit in engineering, the Alternative & Experiential Education (AEE) form should be completed. You will need to upload the course syllabus and instructor information for the course you are seeking to have approved for Engineering Technical Elective credit, as well as share any course deliverables (homework, labs, exams, etc) with the curriculum committee at . Keep in mind that submission of this form does not mean credit is awarded, review and approval by the Curriculum Committee of both this form and student artifacts is necessary for credit to be awarded. 

Engineering Basic Math & Science Credit

Any course taken outside Wake Forest University with the intent of counting towards the Engineering Basic Math and Science requirement must first be approved by the WFU department in question before submission to the Engineering Curriculum Committee to be approved. Once the course is approved by the appropriate math/science department at WFU, fill out the AEE form for approval of “A WFU course currently not on a pre-approved list.” Once approved, it will count towards your 30 credits of Basic Math and Sciences requirement for the B.S. Engineering degree.

In addition to helping you support your college education, undergraduate scholarships can provide you with funding to execute your own original research project, both of which can serve as important contributions to your early-career résumé. Undergraduate engineering students have many academic scholarship options, some of which may be one-time awards, while others may offer recurring funding on an annual basis. In some cases, the most prestigious scholarships can even include summer and post-college employment opportunities.

If you plan to apply for scholarships, make sure you establish a calendar of deadlines (some scholarships even have different deadlines for different components of the application!), and reach out to potential reference providers well in advance to ensure that they are both available and willing to provide you with a reference/recommendation letter.

Opportunities internal to Wake Forest include merit-based scholarships awarded at the time of admission (read more), some of which consider demonstrated financial need; Army ROTC scholarships; and a variety of summer grant programs.

Wake Forest also supports funding opportunities in undergraduate entrepreneurship, international study, research activities on campus, and travel to conferences and professional society meetings for students whose work has been selected for presentation.

Many professional societies (see “Professional Society Membership” below for a list of select major engineering societies) offer undergraduate scholarships, some of which may be for academics, while others may be designated for students traveling to present their research at that society’s annual meeting. In addition to the national parent society, many regional/local societies offer their own scholarships solely for students residing in their region. These opportunities may take more website browsing on your end, but they can also provide for important networking experiences as you become involved in regional/local chapters.

Federal government agencies support a variety of undergraduate scholarships in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

• The SMART Program, funded by the Department of Defense and administered by the American Society for Engineering Education, also offers potential summer internship placement and full-time placement after graduation.
• For those more interested in oceanic and atmospheric sciences, NOAA offers the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, which includes academic support and a summer internship at a NOAA research lab.
• NASA provides support to the North Carolina Space Grant, which in turn funds competitive applications for student research projects (among other opportunities, such as internships at associated labs throughout the state).
• The Department of Homeland Security offers scholarships (and other opportunities) in a variety of STEM related fields.

As with most federally funded opportunities, programs may vary depending on the current administration and funding.

Many Wake Engineering students will choose to pursue advanced degrees in STEM fields. As you begin to consider your graduate school options, remember to explore external funding options as well. While most STEM Ph.D., and some master’s, programs cover graduate student academic expenses and offer students living stipends and health care coverage, receiving your own research funding or external fellowship can provide opportunities that might not otherwise be available to you. In addition to the fellowship opportunities listed below, please ensure that you inquire about university- and department-specific opportunities at the schools to which you are applying.

• Department of Energy Office of Science, Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE SCGF)
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
• National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NIJ GRFP)
• National Institutes of Health, Predoctoral Training/Clinical Doctorate opportunities (NIH)
• Department of Transportation, Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP)
• STEMGradStudents.science.gov, a searchable collection of federally-funded opportunities

For some, pursuit of an alternative career path in business, law, or health might feel more in line with your personal values and career aspirations. A great way to explore any of these opportunities is to use your professional network (note that this might mean asking an engineering faculty member to help you make these connections!) to find individuals at various stages of their careers and ask for an informational interview.

In general, graduate programs today still require prospective students to take standardized exams, such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT. Some STEM graduate programs may also require GRE subject tests. In most cases, you will need to take a required exam in advance of your application to a graduate program, which is something to consider as you schedule your final year at Wake Forest. However, because admissions requirements vary greatly across programs, please make sure you check with specific programs (at both the department level and university graduate program level) to determine what standardized exam scores you must submit (or whether they are required at all).

The content on this page is intended for informational use only, and in no way constitutes an endorsement or promotion. While we strive to keep this content timely and relevant to our B.S. Engineering students and recent graduates, please recognize that there are many additional resources available to you online or from the WFU Office of Personal and Career Development.

The path to Professional Engineering (PE) licensure begins with the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. For more information on the FE exam and the registration process, visit here. In addition, you may eventually be interested in obtaining your PE licensure, at which point you would qualify to join the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

Certain career tracks are more likely to require PE licensure than others; therefore, as you begin thinking about your professional development plan or career aspirations, also keep track of the degrees and licensures of the individuals working in those fields.

Membership and participation in professional engineering societies can offer valuable networking and professional development opportunities. Many professional societies also offer discounted membership rates to students and recent graduates. Both undergraduate engineering students and more established engineers in the U.S. commonly seek membership in the following societies (many of which are discipline specific):

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Materials Research Society (MRS)
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)