Curriculum
Help our students learn
Participating in our curriculum represents a valuable opportunity to impact students and prepare them to be innovative leaders and in their future careers at companies such as yours. In addition to the programs below, a number of professors invite corporate speakers to present in their classrooms and in seminar courses. The Corporate Relations team will work with you to determine the best fit between available courses and corporate interests.
iFoundry
The Illinois Foundry for Innovation in Engineering Education (iFoundry) is a cross-disciplinary curriculum incubator dedicated to transforming engineering education to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. To participate, your company could:
- Provide training materials and programs
- Participate in workshops or seminars
- Mentor students
- Provide internships or projects for students
- Attend events
- Provide financial support
TEC
The Technology Entrepreneur Center offers courses and programs for engineering and technology students interested in technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. TEC also provides resources to entrepreneurs and facilitates relationships with the College and University. TEC coordinates a number of entrepreneurship programs and competitions, including the V. Dale Cozad New Venture Competition, the Lemelson Prize, and Invention to Venture Workshops. Students participating in these programs develop important professional skills with an emphasis on leadership and innovation. Engage through:
- Sponsorship opportunities
- Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture Series
- Participation in other TEC activities and events
Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research Program
The Illinois Intel Scholars Undergraduate Research Program offers mentored research opportunities to women and minority undergraduate students in selected College of Engineering departments. Trained graduate students act as research mentors under the sponsorship of a faculty member. Graduate students and undergraduate scholars work together to define the project problem, objective, and methods. A poster presentation at the end of the program provides an opportunity for participants to present their work to other students, faculty, and professionals. Corporate sponsors are also invited to attend and are recognized during the presentation. The skills and experiences gained by these undergraduate students make them highly competitive in securing employment at graduation and in admittance to graduate programs.
Grainger Engineering First-Year Experience (GFX)
One way we make sure you start strong is with IEFX: a program specifically for first-year students, which helps you get adjusted to college and start learning what you’re interested in. Along with an introductory course, IEFX offers courses and other programs to give first-year students hands-on experiences to get their college careers off to a strong start.
Senior Design Projects
Senior design projects offer you an unparalleled opportunity to work with a company on a specific project, which will give you beneficial hands-on experience before you graduate. You’ll work in teams to solve real world problems for corporate or not-for-profit clients. All engineering departments (except Physics) have a capstone or senior design project.
Aerospace Engineering
- Jason Merret: merret@illinois.edu
- Michael Lembeck: mlembeck@illinois.edu
- Zach Putnam: zputnam@illinois.edu
Agricultural & Biological Engineering
- Nora Onstad: onstad2@illinois.edu
Bioengineering
- Jenny Amos: jamos@illinois.edu
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Joshua Bennett: jeb4@illinois.edu
Civil and Environmental Engineering
- James LaFave: jlafave@illinois.edu
- Jeffery Roesler: jroesler@illinois.edu
- John Popovics: johnpop@illinois.edu
- Scott Olson: olsons@illinois.edu
- Liang Liu: lliu1@illinois.edu
- Michael Woodley: mwoodley@illinois.edu
- Darko Marinov: marinov@illinois.edu
- Tao Xie: taoxie@illinois.edu
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering
Materials Science & Engineering
Mechanical Science & Engineering
Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering
- James Stubbins: jstubbin@illinois.edu
Cancer Community @Illinois
The Cancer Scholars Program is an undergraduate program that provides a unique and interdisciplinary learning experience. This program takes learning out of the traditional classroom model and incorporates real-world experiences. This method lets students pursue their passions, provides the opportunity for students to do meaningful work in an area that’s important, and will help Illinois graduates become leaders in providing solutions against cancer.
Hoeft Technology & Management Program
This innovative program is a minor offered jointly through the Grainger College of Engineering and Geis College of Business. It bridges the gap between traditional engineering and business education by offering a unique curriculum to a select group of highly qualified undergraduates. In the T&M Program, you will work closely with corporate partners and gain invaluable skills that will make you a leader in technology and business.