2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Assessing the Impact of Internships on Undergraduate Students' Academic Success: A Case Study of Engineering Technology and Related Programs

Presented at Engineering Technology Division (ETD) Technical Session 7

This evidence-based research paper explores the impact of internship experiences on undergraduate student success within various engineering technology and related disciplines. While many undergraduate programs require students to complete internships before graduation, a notable number of students prioritize taking summer classes to accelerate their academic journey. Despite this trend, co-curricular activities like internships are vital as they provide essential skills, practical experience, and a clearer understanding of future career paths. This study investigates whether internship opportunities foster increased interest in coursework and improved academic performance among undergraduate students in Architecture, Construction Engineering Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, and Facilities Management programs. The motivation for this study stems from the belief that experiential learning, through internships, plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice. The theoretical framework guiding this research is Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory, which emphasizes learning as a process of transforming experience into knowledge. According to this framework, internships offer students the chance to engage in active experimentation and reflective observation, reinforcing theoretical concepts learned in class and applying them in practical, real-world contexts.
The research adopts a case study approach, employing survey methods to gather data on the experiences and perceptions of undergraduate students regarding internships. Students across four different programs will be surveyed to determine how their internship experiences influenced their interest in their courses, overall academic success, and readiness for professional careers. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the correlation between internships and academic outcomes. The findings of this research are expected to demonstrate a positive correlation between internship participation and student success metrics, such as increased academic interest, better course performance, and enhanced readiness for professional careers. These insights highlight the importance of integrating experiential learning opportunities into the curriculum, thereby encouraging academic institutions to emphasize internship programs as an essential element of undergraduate education.
This study will underscore the value of internships as a complement to traditional academic learning. By integrating experiential learning opportunities more deeply into academic programs, universities can enhance student learning outcomes and better prepare graduates for successful professional careers. Future work will explore the long-term effects of internships on career trajectories and examine strategies to encourage greater student participation in internship programs.

Authors

Dr. Doreen Kobelo Regalado P http://orcid.org/https://0009-0008-9020-6227 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Doreen Kobelo Regalado is an Associate Professor and Director of the Construction Engineering Technology Program at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), within the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. Her research expertise spans transportation engineering, focusing on traffic operations and safety, vehicle automation, intelligent transportation systems, and commercial and heavy construction management. Dr. Kobelo has successfully secured research funding from state, federal, and private entities, contributing significantly to advancements in these areas. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles for technical journals and conferences, particularly in traffic safety, operations, and engineering education.
Dr. Kobelo is committed to promoting STEM opportunities for minority students. She has hosted the National Summer Transportation Institute, a program funded by the Federal Highway Administration that introduces high school students to transportation-related STEM fields. Additionally, she has played an active role in FAMU's annual STEM Day, organizing hands-on demonstrations and experiments. As FAMU’s representative to the Transportation Research Board, Dr. Kobelo has also helped graduate and undergraduate students secure Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowships through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Dr. Kobelo serves as a member of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Occupant Protection Coalition, which aims to address key occupant protection issues and develop initiatives to reduce crashes involving unrestrained occupants.
She earned her Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Dr. Tejal Mulay http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3097-3888 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Tejal Mulay is an Assistant Professor in Electronic Engineering Technology in the Division of Engineering Technology under the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology (SAET) at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Dr. Mulay’s primary research area is speech signal processing, including but not limited to acoustic emotion recognition, digital signal processing, autonomous vehicles, and blockchain technology and its applications. She also has authored and co-authored articles in various technical journals and conferences in these areas of education in the engineering field.

Dr. Mulay has been working with minority students in the STEM fields since her graduate school days. She has been assistant director for the REAP summer camps funded by NSF, which aimed towards increasing the participation of minority students in STEM research. She has also been part of the FAMU STEM Day team, assisting with the demonstration and experiment portion of this annual event. She has assisted many undergraduate students in getting internships and scholarships through various programs.

Dr. Mulay received her master's of science degree and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in India.
Mohamed Khalafalla http://orcid.org/https://0000-0001-9621-4940 Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Mohamed Khalafalla is an Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering at Florida A&M University's School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. His research expertise includes risk analysis, cost estimating, and concrete materials research. Dr. Khalafalla has contributed extensively to projects sponsored by the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, conducting studies in sustainability, risk analysis, cost estimation, and concrete performance. He also has significant expertise in STEM education and research, particularly in innovative teaching methodologies and curriculum development aimed at enhancing student engagement in STEM fields. Dr. Khalafalla has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and technical reports. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Auburn University, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an MBA from the University of Khartoum, and a Master of Science in Law (MSL) from Northwestern University.
Dr. Behnam Shadravan http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7643-7098 Florida A&M University [biography]

Education
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Major: Structure, Minor: Geotechnical, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada(2010)
M.S. Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulic Structures, Construction, Sharif Univ. of Technology, Tehran, Iran (1996)
B.S. Civil Engineering, Shari
Dr. Chao Li P.E. Florida A&M University - Florida State University [biography]

Dr. Chao Li works at Florida A&M University as an associate professor in Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) Program. He teaches Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology Courses. He obtained his BSEE degree from Xiâ€™an Jiaotong University and M

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