Corporate Internships, Undergraduate Research, and Finances Successful African American Engineers’ Consideration of Immediate Workforce Entry or Graduate School

Abstract

This study was based on a multiple case study of two Predominantly White Institutions. Interviews were conducted with 61 individuals including undergraduate and graduate engineering and computer science majors and recent graduates, faculty, and administrators. This study focuses specifically on how students’ experiences with corporate internships, undergraduate research, and their financial status informed their consideration of immediate workforce entry or graduate school. The findings from this study indicate that students who participated in corporate internships overwhelmingly intended to pursue the labor market immediately following completion of her/his bachelor’s degree. Conversely, students who were engaged in undergraduate research tended to express a desire to pursue graduate school. Finances appeared to play a key consideration in participants’ decision to enter the workforce or seek graduate school.