»Engineering in Action

As a Fowler engineering student, you won’t just learn engineering skills as concepts. You’ll put them into practice every day. You can get involved in real engineering work as a student:

• In the classroom.
• As a part of academic research.
• As part of an internship or other hands-on opportunity.
• As part of an entrepreneurship opportunity.

Engineering in the classroom

At Fowler, engineering happens every day in the classroom. In your classes, you will develop a strong basis in the key principles of your field. A computer science student might spend a few weeks learning how to design embedded systems. Meanwhile, a data science student might analyze big data and implement AI algorithms.

You will also learn about professional engineering concepts, such as product development timelines and the engineering lifecycle.

Engineering research

As an engineering student at Chapman, you can also take part in engineering research projects. Our engineering programs let you get involved in research as soon as you like. You can even start as early as your first semester.

Fowler Engineering students conduct research on a wide range of topics, including:

• Cybersecurity.
• Behavioral Health.
• Assistive technologies.
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning.
• Optical computing.
• Green computing.
• The mathematical foundations of computer science.

What is engineering research?

When you think “academic research,” what is the first image that comes to mind? Beakers and test tubes filled with colorful chemicals? Old, dusty volumes on library shelves?

Engineering research looks a little different. It’s about finding practical solutions to engineering problems. Simply put, engineering research is about building your skills as an engineer, and then using those skills to solve problems.

Here is an example. Say there is an existing challenge in engineering. Engineering is a wide field, so this problem could be anything from business software to biomedical tech and more. What engineering research aims to do is:

1. Identify the problem to solve or goal to meet.
2. Think of a way to address the problem using engineering skills. This could involve designing a specific device or writing a program.
3. Build prototypes and test them.
4. Iterate and improve the solution.

How is getting involved in research useful?

Engineering research is useful because it gives you professional engineering experience. You will be able to put the skills you’ve built in your classes into practice as you work towards your research goals.

Through research, you will also familiarize yourself with software development pipelines and product design practices. These are skills that engineers must use in the workplace.

Research is also a great way to build your “soft skills.” You will learn to work with other engineers and scientists on a team, network in your field and more.

Is there funding for student research?

Yes, we offer several grants and awards for student engineering research.

Grand Challenges Initiative

 The Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI) is a two-year project integrated into your engineering curriculum. For your first two years as a Fowler student, you will work with on a small student team to solve big problems in science and engineering.

GCI is:

• A two-year project that is part of your engineering curriculum at Chapman.
• A group project with interdisciplinary teams. This means you will work with students in other areas of STEM.
• A way to explore other STEM fields you might be interested in.
• A way to gain practical experience as an engineer.
• An opportunity to build your skills managing projects and deadlines, and working as part of a larger team.

Engineering internships and hands-on opportunities

Internships and fellowships are another way to build practical engineering skills at Fowler.

Our Engineering Career Center can connect you with internship and job opportunities in the fields that interest you. We’re open to current students and alumni, and can help you kickstart your engineering career.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program is a paid research program over the summer. It’s a great way to build your skills as an engineer right on campus.

“SURF provided me insight into the research conducted throughout Chapman. I have engaged with and learned about all the different research efforts and attended professional development seminars to enhance some of my soft skills.” -Sergio Torres, Electrical Engineering ‘23

The SPIRE Fellows Program is a professional development opportunity for students. It offers paid internships and funding for research projects.

Make-A-Thon is an event where you can showcase their independent research, and present your research to a panel of professionals for a chance to win a cash prize.

We also foster student-driven projects beyond the university. Through project design competitions and networking opportunities, we encourage you to explore your interests — fromhydroponic farming to video game designand more.

Entrepreneurship Opportunities

Chapman is proud to support student entrepreneurs, whether you are looking to learn more about running a business or ready to launch yours. 

Engineering students are often key members of start-up teams, and not just in the tech industry. Nearly every business needs technical support, which provides plenty of opportunities for our students.