{"id":125,"date":"2025-06-25T09:49:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T13:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/?page_id=125"},"modified":"2025-09-12T09:48:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T13:48:29","slug":"experiential-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Experiential Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-704e782a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center utkwds-superhead has-condensed-font-family has-large-font-size\" style=\"padding-bottom:0;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Get a Head Start on Your Career<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Experiential Education<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-25f0f0a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-orange-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-orange-background-color has-background\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Our program emphasizes experiential learning to ensure students are equipped to apply engineering principles to solve real-world problems immediately. With state-of-the-art laboratories, high-tech facilities, and collaborative projects, students in this program will be ready to enter the workforce as soon as they graduate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">In addition to classrooms and labs, our students will participate in experiential education opportunities like co-ops and internships. While both co-ops and internships provide students with experience, there are some differences. To learn more about those differences, visit the college\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/academics\/undergraduate-programs\/career-prep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">career prep page<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Our program addresses a significant gap in current engineering education by providing a more tangible, practical learning experience. Many employers are seeking graduates who can implement engineering principles in real-world scenarios. Thus, the emphasis on experiential learning through lab-based work, field applications, internship and co-op, and industry collaboration ensures that students are well-prepared for the technical demands of the engineering field.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-condensed-font-family\">Engineering Professional Practice&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/coop.utk.edu\">Office of Engineering Professional Practice<\/a> is here to help students find experiences that align with their career goals and meet industry needs. Their staff is here to help facilitate students in their search for the right opportunity and they have dozens of ambassadors available to work with you on your resume, interview skills, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The office works with more than 200 employers who are actively recruiting our students each year. Their goal is to work with our students and industry partners to find a match that will benefit you and provide you the skills needed to be successful in industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2250\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg\" alt=\"Student working on a co-op assignment\" class=\"wp-image-342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg 2250w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop-1536x819.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop-2048x1092.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Experience is the Difference&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students who participate in lab-based learning, project-based work, and hands-on activities are more likely to develop deeper connections to the material, retain knowledge for longer periods, and apply their knowledge more effectively in new contexts. Experiential learning enhances students&#8217; understanding and retention of complex concepts which allows them to apply these concepts to industry systems and processes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our curriculum is created to align with industry needs and trends to ensure our graduates have the skills and knowledge to drive innovation and efficiency.&nbsp; Our faculty have experience in industry themselves and regularly meet with industry leaders to ensure our students have the skillset to thrive. Through these partnerships and experiences, our students are equipped with a comprehensive skillset tailored to their chosen field and a portfolio of work relevant to their future careers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Developing the Soft Skills&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to technical proficiency, the program will emphasize developing essential soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, and leadership, that are crucial for success in the workplace. Over 18 credits of course work are integrated with developing professional skills through collaborative projects in practicum class. With this approach, students will develop industry-relevant competencies from the start to better prepare them for the workforce.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull utkwds-gallery is-style-orange-texture has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light twoUp-gallery-lgsm\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group twoUp-gallery is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-bottom is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large has-custom-border twoUp-gallery-img-lg clipCorner-tl\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/frito-lay-coop-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Students participates on a co-op assignment at Frito-Lay\" class=\"has-border-color has-white-border-color wp-image-343\" style=\"border-width:2px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/frito-lay-coop-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/frito-lay-coop-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/frito-lay-coop-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/frito-lay-coop.jpg 1493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full has-custom-border twoUp-gallery-img-sm\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1493\" height=\"996\" src=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/coop-student.jpg\" alt=\"Student works on a manufacturing co-op\" class=\"has-border-color has-white-border-color wp-image-344\" style=\"border-width:2px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/coop-student.jpg 1493w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/coop-student-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/coop-student-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/coop-student-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1493px) 100vw, 1493px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get a Head Start on Your Career Experiential Education Our program emphasizes experiential learning to ensure students are equipped to apply engineering principles to solve real-world problems immediately. With state-of-the-art laboratories, high-tech facilities, and collaborative projects, students in this program will be ready to enter the workforce as soon as they graduate.&nbsp; In addition to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":32,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"no-title","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-125","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Experiential Education - Department of Applied Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The basis of education within the Department of Applied Engineering is learning through hands-on experience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Experiential Education - Department of Applied Engineering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The basis of education within the Department of Applied Engineering is learning through hands-on experience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Department of Applied Engineering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-12T13:48:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Experiential Education - Department of Applied Engineering\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/student-at-coop.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-25T13:49:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-12T13:48:29+00:00\",\"description\":\"The basis of education within the Department of Applied Engineering is learning through hands-on experience.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/student-at-coop.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/student-at-coop.jpg\",\"width\":2250,\"height\":1200},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/experiential-education\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Academics\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/academics\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Experiential Education\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/\",\"name\":\"Department of Applied Engineering\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/tickle.utk.edu\\\/applied\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Experiential Education - Department of Applied Engineering","description":"The basis of education within the Department of Applied Engineering is learning through hands-on experience.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Experiential Education - Department of Applied Engineering","og_description":"The basis of education within the Department of Applied Engineering is learning through hands-on experience.","og_url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/","og_site_name":"Department of Applied Engineering","article_modified_time":"2025-09-12T13:48:29+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/","url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/","name":"Experiential Education - Department of Applied Engineering","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-25T13:49:42+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-12T13:48:29+00:00","description":"The basis of education within the Department of Applied Engineering is learning through hands-on experience.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/student-at-coop.jpg","width":2250,"height":1200},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/experiential-education\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Academics","item":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/academics\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Experiential Education"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/#website","url":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/","name":"Department of Applied Engineering","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/applied\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}