Work Experience

Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) Website

Talk to a human: entrepreneurship@umich.edu | 734.763.1021

Semesters Offered/Recommended: Year Round 

Financial: Aid Available

CFE provides active-learning experiences to all students and faculty at the University via classes and programs designed to teach the skills needed to successfully translate high-potential projects and ideas into the world. In learning these skills, individuals become better prepared to identify and act on opportunities to solve problems in any organization or entrepreneurial endeavor.

Looking for something to complement your CFE experience? Consider one or more of these:

• Academic Minor in Entrepreneurship
• Center for Socially-Engaged Design
• Global Health Design Initiative
• International Programs in Engineering
• Multidisciplinary Design Program

If CFE isn’t quite your style, one of these opportunities may be a better fit.

• Wilson Student Team Project Center
• Engineering Career Resource Center 

Experiential education in entrepreneurship can give you great resumé points and memorable interview material.

Project: TechLab at Mcity 

• Team with startups, as well as industry flagships, to develop engineering solutions in the entrepreneurial realm.
• Learn about the startup process, including the journey of research and venture funding.
• Advance your engineering education and application while fostering strategic partnerships.

Engineering Career Resource Center Website

Talk to a Human: ecrc-info@umich.edu | (734) 647-7160

Semesters Offered/Recommended: Year Round

Financial: Paid Experience, No Extra Fees

Our mission is to offer comprehensive career development services to University of Michigan  Engineering students to support a successful transition from campus to career, and to assist employers with developing and maintaining successful recruiting relationships with the College.

Looking for something to complement your internship or co-op experience? Consider one or more of these:

• Multidisciplinary Design Program
• International Programs in Engineering
• Center for Entrepreneurship

If internships or co-ops aren’t quite your style, one of these opportunities may be a better fit.

• Wilson Student Team Project Center
• Student Organizations
• Center for Socially Engaged Design 

Internships and co-ops can give you great resumé points and memorable interview material.

Most projects include:

• Develop engineering skills hands-on through internships and co-ops
• Practice what you learn in class at a variety of industry organizations

Multidisciplinary Design Program (MDP) Website

Talk to a human: engin-mdp@umich.edu | (734) 763-0818

Semesters Offered/Recommended: Fall/Winter terms. Some projects have summer work opportunities.

Financial: No Extra Fees, some Paid Experience (summer)

The Multidisciplinary Design Program provides team-based, “learn by doing” opportunities for 950+ students from across the University every year. With MDP, you can: apply what you learn in class to engineering design challenges; gain the technical and professional skills necessary to thrive in engineering research or professional settings; experience how people from multiple disciplines collaborate within a team.

Looking for something to complement your MDP experience? Consider one or more of these:

• Engaged Michigan
• Center for Socially Engaged Design
• Honors and Engagement
• Wilson Student Team Project Center 

If MDP isn’t quite your style, one of these opportunities may be a better fit.

• Center for Entrepreneurship
• Global Health Design Initiative

Experiential education in the multidisciplinary design can give you great resumé points and memorable interview material.

• Utilize engineering theories and coursework in real-world applications 
• Work with both non-profit and for-profit organizations 
• Work in interdisciplinary, cross-collaborative teams with industry professionals on projects that include community outreach

Tauber Institute for Global Operations

Talk to a Human: tauberinstitute@umich.edu | (734) 647-1333

Semesters Offered/Recommended: Rolling

Financial: Scholarships Available

The Tauber Institute for Global Operations is a joint venture between the University of Michigan’s business and engineering schools, and many industry partners to facilitate cross-disciplinary education in operations management. Well-designed and managed team projects form the cornerstone of the Tauber Institute experience, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world settings. 

Looking for something to complement your Tauber Institute for Global Operations experience? Consider one or more of these:

• Engineering Honors Program (EGL)
• MFG501/TO701 (Topics in Global Operations, 1.5 cr)
• MFG605/TO605 (Manufacturing and Supply Operations, 3.0 cr)
• MFG504/TO703 (Tauber Institute Team Project, 3.0 cr)

If Tauber Institute for Global Operations isn’t quite your style, one of these opportunities may be a better fit.

• Multidisciplinary Design Program (MDP)
• Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety (CHEPS)

Experiential education through Tauber Institute for Global Operations can give you great resumé points and memorable interview material.

Sample Project: Pioneering Carbon Fiber Recycling at Boeing

• Use a systems thinking approach to collaborate with teammates from Industrial and Operations Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Business, and create a holistic solution for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) recycling
• Create a model to consider engineering, operations, and market variables in identifying the best scenario, tailoring recommendations company-wide
• Set a precedent in the industry for carbon fiber recycling, decreasing the environmental impact of airplane manufacturing by achieving a zero waste-to-landfill objective while decreasing costs and increasing revenues

Technical Communication Program Website

Talk to a human: challom@umich.edu | (734) 764-1427

Semesters Offered/Recommended: Fall and Winter 

Financial: No Extra Fees 

Students are exposed to technical communications topics that are highly integrated with engineering projects. This includes framing and researching an engineering topic, producing clear and concise writing in both print and electronic media, developing relevant and useful graphics and constructing sound and logical arguments. Students are taught to analyze the needs of different audiences, deliver focused oral presentations, communicate effectively on teams and conduct effective meetings.

Looking for something to complement your Technical Communications experience? Consider one or more of these:

• Engineering Career Resource Center
• ENGR 100

If Technical Communication isn’t quite your style, this may be a better fit.

Honors and Engagement

Experiential education in Technical Communication can give you great resumé points and memorable interview material.

Sample Project: Design of New Biomedical Test for Disease

Engineering 100.500, Fall term: Introduction to Engineering

• Design a test to diagnose the disease to treat it before symptoms appear and before complications arise that are difficult and/or expensive to treat
• Collaborate with fellow first-year teammates from biomedical and chemical engineering on the project for clients that are actual medical residents from U-M Hospitals
• Communicate the design, through written reports and oral presentations, to mixed audiences that include the client