The School of Engineering Graduate Programs is committed to provide a holistic learning experience to our graduate students. Our professional development course series will provide you with the tools you need to be successful in your current graduate studies and your career after graduation!

Some examples of our courses include the 'Communication and Pedagogy' class where we teach you how to teach! We also have a 'Scientific Communication' class where we help you build the skills to communicate scientific data to the research community and the general public. Stressed about finding the right internship or job after graduation? Our 'Engineering Internships and Careers in Industry' course will help you develop effective resume and cover letter writing, and interviewing skills to help you with your job search.

ENGR 5410: Scientific Communication

When: Fall Semester, every Wednesday 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Who: All second through fifth-year Engineering Graduate Students are eligible to take the course
Why: By the end of the course, students will be able to create effective presentations of their research, write dissertation briefs and posters, and gain experience in public speaking.

Course Description

The goal of this course is to formalize the practice and improve professional development skills related to communicating scientific data and research related topics. Topics include: (i) developing the skill to build a story with relevant information to communicate scientific data; (ii) developing the art of public speaking and communicating scientific ideas to the research community and the general public; (iii) creating proper template for presentations, talks or posters; (iv) assessments and feedback for continuous improvement and (v) developing dissertation briefs. The course will also include invited talks and feedback from guest speakers in the field of communication.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants should be able to learn and practice presentation skills to communicate scientific data.

• Identify relevant information to build a story around the topic of research
• Work individually and with peers, instructors, and guest lecturers to develop presentations/talks/posters for a scientific community and the general audience
• Practice the art of public speaking to communicate scientific ideas
• Form a cohort/network/community/peer group within the class to support and mentor each other for success and to enhance active participation and build team work.
• Create an effective dissertation brief
• Create an impressive presentation/talk/poster

Facilitators:  

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn

Nusaybah Quasem, Program Assistant, Engineering Graduate Programs

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ENGR 5420: Engineering Internships and Careers in Industry

When: Fall Semester, every Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Who: All third, fourth, and fifth-year Engineering Graduate Students are eligible to take the course.
Why: By the end of the course, students will be able to identify 2-4 internship or fellowship opportunities for the following summer to apply. They will learn about  Personal Branding, Resumes, Cover Letters, visas, and Work permits.

Course Description

The goal of this course is to formalize the practice and improve professional development skills related to obtaining an internship in the industry/national labs.  Topics include: (i) identifying engineering internships and research fellowships; (ii) creating personal online professional brand, by developing effective resume and cover letters; (iii) developing interview skills.; (iv)) assessments and feedback for continuous improvement. 

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants should be able to identify 2-4 internship positions in the industry or fellowship opportunities in a national lab for the following summer and have their resumes/profiles and cover letters edited and finalized for the application process.  

• Identify job/internship opportunities 
• Working individually and with peers, instructors, and guest lecturers to develop and execute a strategy for obtaining a research internship in a non-academic setting such as private industry, a high-tech start-up or in a national lab. 
• Form a cohort/network/community/peer group within the class to support and mentor each other for success and to enhance active participation and build team work.  
• Identify effective practices for job application and networking. 
• Create an impressive resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile 
• Identify the requirements and procedures for job opportunities for international students.  

Facilitator:  

Fayekah Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn     

Aida Ghiaei, Director, Graduate Outreach & Diversity, Vergnano Institute for Inclusion

Nusaybah Quasem, Program Assistant, Engineering Graduate Programs

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ENGR 5300-002: First Year Experience

When: Fall and Spring Semesters
Who: All first year students
Why: By the end of the course students will be familiar with all the support and opportunities to adjust and thrive at UConn both academically and personally

Course Description:  

Welcome to the University of Connecticut School of Engineering! ‘The First Year Experience’ course is the first ever designed to provide you with the support and opportunities needed to adjust to the academic, social, and cultural life at UConn, learn from peers, faculty to be healthy, happy, successful, and graduate in a timely manner. Our goal for the semester is to provide an open forum for discussion about graduate school transitions from college / work to being a student again, issues and concerns, and to promote all around greater self-awareness, growth, and understanding of you as a scholar, leader, individual, and global citizen. Over the course of the semester, we will review components of graduate school holistically to aid students in developing the following essential skills: self-advocacy, overall well-being, as well as information, technology, and resources available for graduate students; preparing them for success in their personal, academic, and professional lives at UConn and beyond.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

1. Identify academic, technical, social, and cultural resources
2. Create an individual Development Plan (IDP) to follow throughout your tenure at UConn and graduate on time.
3. Be familiar with social and cultural resources on and around campus.
4. Be familiar with support available for physical and mental health (who, what, where, when).
5. Be familiar with technical and career resources available for graduate students.

Facilitator:  

Aida Ghiaei, Director, Graduate Outreach & Diversity

Nusaybah Quasem, Program Assistant, Engineering Graduate Programs

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ENGR 5300-006: Entrepreneurial Skills

When: Spring Semester, every Tuesday 12-1 pm
Who: All Engineering graduate students
Why: By the end of the course, students will learn executive, interpersonal, entrepreneurial skills that will help them in any career path they choose.

Course Description

Take a 1 credit course to learn entrepreneurial skills that are not covered in traditional STEM coursework.

Course Objectives

• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Ideation
• Communication
• Financial Literacy
• Branding
• Future of Work
• User Experience

Facilitator:  

Dr Leila Daneshmandi, Assistant Professor in Residence, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UConn

With guest speakers from the entrepreneurship space

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