Engineering Experience and Professional Skills minor
Alvernia University’s Engineering Experience and Professional Skills (EEPS) minor helps engineering and engineering technology majors turn classroom learning into real-world engineering experience. Through approved internships, research experiences, technical writing, project management, professional ethics, and faculty guidance, students build a transcripted credential that highlights practical experience and career readiness. The EEPS Minor is designed for students who want to build experience before graduation, including first-year engineering students planning ahead, community college transfer students, and 2+3 engineering pathway students.
Through the EEPS Minor, students can...
Build real-world engineering experience
Use approved summer or in-semester internships, faculty research, external Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), or applied engineering projects to connect classwork with practice.
Prepare for internships and research
Develop stronger résumés, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, professional communication habits, and interview stories.
Strengthen career-ready skills
Practice technical writing, project management, professional ethics, reflection, and presentation skills.
Make transfer time count
Use a structured minor to build documented experience during the three years at Alvernia in a 2+3 engineering pathway.
Go Beyond the Textbook
Alvernia’s engineering programs emphasize hands-on learning, design projects, labs, and industry-connected work. The EEPS Minor adds another layer to that experience by helping students apply engineering theory in professional, research, and applied project settings.
Power the Future
Program Overview
The Engineering Experience and Professional Skills Minor is intended for undergraduate students enrolled in engineering or engineering technology majors at Alvernia. Some courses may also count toward requirements in a student’s major. Students should work with their academic advisor to understand how the minor fits into their degree plan, timing, course sequencing, transfer credits and university minor requirements.
A Strong Fit for Transfer and 2+3 Students
The EEPS Minor gives transfer and 2+3 engineering pathway students a focused way to plan internship, research, REU or applied engineering experiences. Transfer students should meet with their academic advisor as early as possible to review transfer credits, elective space, major requirements, experience timing and intended graduation date.
Experience Employers Notice
Employers want engineering graduates who have applied knowledge in real settings, worked with teams, communicated professionally and gained field experience before graduation. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that the average conversion rate from interns to full-time hires reached 63.1% for 2024-25 interns. NACE also notes that internships are a path to a first career position for students.
Career Support at Alvernia
Alvernia's Office of Career Development supports students and alumni in job searches and career planning. Its services include interview preparation and practice and access to internship and job opportunities. Alvernia does not guarantee any particular internship, research, employer, REU, project or placement opportunity. Alvernia also does not guarantee that every student will receive a placement.
- Experiential Learning Opportunities
- Approved internships: Students may use summer and/or in-semester internship experiences when the work is approved in advance and meets the academic expectations for credit.
- Faculty research: Students may count approved research experiences with Alvernia faculty or interdisciplinary faculty teams when connected to their engineering education.
- External REUs: Research Experiences for Undergraduates may count when reviewed, approved, documented, and tied to the student’s academic plan.
- Applied engineering projects: Approved projects may help students build technical, communication, and project management skills while solving real problems.
- Professional reflection: Students document hours, complete academic assignments, reflect on their growth, and present what they learned.
- Typical Experience Sequence
The internship and research sequence helps students build experience step by step. Students usually begin with a first approved experience, then complete additional experiences as they take on more responsibility.
- EGR 285 Engineering Internship or Research Experience I: A first structured experience where students begin applying engineering coursework in a workplace, research, REU, or applied project setting.
- EGR 385 Engineering Internship or Research Experience II: A second experience that builds independence, technical contribution, professional communication, and confidence.
- EGR 485 Engineering Internship or Research Experience III: An advanced experience closer to graduation where students take on more responsibility and demonstrate stronger professional readiness.
Students do not need to complete all experiences with the same employer, lab, or project team. A student might complete one experience through a summer engineering internship, another through faculty research during the academic year, and another through an external REU or applied project. Although the typical sequence is EGR 285, then EGR 385, and then EGR 485, students may be able to use a higher-level EGR x85 course in place of a lower-level course when approved.
- Information for F-1 International Students
F-1 international students should contact Alvernia’s Designated School Official before pursuing any internship, research placement, off-campus REU, or practical training experience connected to the EEPS Minor.
This page does not determine CPT eligibility and does not guarantee CPT authorization. Questions about Curricular Practical Training are reviewed case by case through the Designated School Official. Any authorization, if approved, is employer-specific and time-limited.
F-1 students must receive any required authorization before beginning an internship, research placement, off-campus REU, or practical training activity. Students should plan well in advance because academic approval, employer documentation, course timing, Registrar review, and DSO review may all be required before an experience can begin.
- Application Instructions
Current Alvernia students should speak with their academic advisor about adding the EEPS Minor to their plan of study. Course sequencing, transfer credits, major requirements, elective space, internship or research timing, and graduation goals can vary by student. Early advising gives students the best opportunity to fit the minor into their degree plan.
Prospective undergraduate students, including first-year, transfer, and international students, may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. Community college students interested in transferring into engineering should ask how the EEPS Minor can fit into a 2+3 engineering pathway.
- Financing Your Education
There are options to assist in financing your education and making tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan, and the tuition deferment program. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233.
Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.
- Accreditation Statement
Alvernia University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The EEPS Minor is intended for undergraduate students enrolled in engineering or engineering technology majors at Alvernia University.
Yes. The minor includes approved internship or research experience courses. Students may use summer and/or in-semester internship experiences when the experience is approved in advance and meets the academic expectations for credit.
Yes. Approved research experiences may count. This can include research with Alvernia faculty, interdisciplinary applied research, or external Research Experiences for Undergraduates, provided the experience is approved in advance and connected to the student’s engineering education.
No. Alvernia does not guarantee any particular internship, research, employer, REU, project, or placement opportunity. Students can work with Career Development and engineering faculty for support during the search and approval process.
F-1 international students must contact Alvernia’s Designated School Official before beginning any internship, research placement, off-campus REU, or practical training experience. This page does not determine CPT eligibility or guarantee authorization. CPT questions are reviewed case by case, and students must receive any required authorization before beginning an activity.
John R. Post School of Engineering
At Alvernia’s John R. Post School of Engineering, students learn by doing. With small classes, hands-on labs, design projects, industry connections, and faculty mentorship, students prepare to solve real problems and lead in technical fields. The EEPS Minor adds another layer to that preparation by helping students connect classroom theory with professional practice.