Graduating seniors may earn the designation of summa cum laude , magna cum laude , or cum laude , based on class rank at graduation. Honors students who complete a senior research thesis with successful oral defense are eligible to graduate with distinction in their major area of study. Finally, University Honors are awarded to students who have distinguished themselves both by point-hour ratio and a particularly challenging curricula. More information at the University Honors Center homepage . Co-op jobs require a minimum commitment to two separate work periods, but could extend, on an alternating basis, throughout a student's undergraduate degree program.
Internships also provide opportunities for students to gain valuable experience.
Most internships are summer quarter employment and require completion of two or three years of college and a record of strong academic performance. Students can also identify part-time and summer jobs through postings on the bulletin board located in the Placement Office lobby of Hitchcock Hall. Enrollment in the program does not guarantee employment. Students are urged to take advantage of the workshops and individual coaching which the program provides to improve their interviewing skills. Entering first-year students designated as University Scholars will be considered for additional Engineering Dean's Awards based on both academic merit and financial need.