On-campus student organizations with a professional goal are an excellent way to explore your future career and get involved in your field. For more information on the organizations below use the GVSU LakerLink.

• Women in STEM fields
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Cell and Molecular Biology Club 
• Student Environmental Coalition
• Wildlife Society
• Beekeepers Club
• Genetic Counseling Organization
• Biology Club
• Chemistry Club

• American Chemical Society
• Academic Data Science Alliance
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Association of Geographers
• American Society for Horticultural Science 
• American Institute of Biological Sciences 
• Institute of Food Technologists 
• Wildlife Society
• Soil Science Society of America

• Co-op Education is is a partnership between the university, student, and an engineering employer, resulting in an experiential learning work experience . A three (3) semester enrollment is a required component of the B.S.E. program at GVSU. 
  • The School of Engineering has resources listed on its website with helpful information about securing a Co-op. 
• Computing students are also required to complete an internship to graduate, the School of Computing has information on their website about finding internships. 

At the Career Center, we can assist students with employer connections, drafting  resumes and cover letters, and preparing for interviews during their Co-op/internship search. Visit CareerLab or schedule an appointment and we are happy to help!

• Padnos College of Engineering
  • Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)
• Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Programs
  • B.S.E/M.S.E Program
  • Articulated B.S.E. Interdisciplinary Engineering, Architectural Emphasis and Master of Architecture (at KCAD)
• GVSU School of Computing Graduate Programs
  • Applied Computer Science, M.S.
  • Cybersecurity, M.S.
  • Data Science and Analytics, M.S.
  • Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, M.S.

Gather information on whether to pursue graduate education and a timeline for preparing for graduate study. Talking to faculty from the specific program(s) you are interested in can provide a lot of information that will aid your decision-making. 

Resources for exploring graduate study

• Learn more about the badges and certificates offered by Grand Valley to help expand your skill set and enhance your professional profile
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Google Career Certifications 
• CompTia A+
• Microsoft Credentials 
• Cisco Certifications

• A gap year between undergrad and graduate school can be beneficial for many students to gain valuable work experience, clarify goals, strengthen your graduate application, and minimize burnout. 
  • Consider the goals and skills you would like to develop when considering options for a gap year. Some opportunities may even offer funds towards furthering your education upon completion of a service term. This can be full-time, part-time, personal/professional project, or volunteer work. 
  • Teach for America
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
  • Kaggle

• Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.

  • Connect with the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships to learn about opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad

• Attend an Info Session. Questions about a graduate program? Some programs will offer in-person or virtual info sessions to learn more about a program you might be considering 
  • Consider attending a GVSU Graduate School info session for a program of interest
  • Check out GVSU’s Graduate School Podcast Series for more information
• Gather information on whether to pursue graduate education and a timeline for preparing for graduate study. Talking to faculty from the specific program(s) you are interested in can provide a lot of information that will aid your decision-making. 

Some common post-undergraduate pathways at GVSU in Science and Research may include:

• Professional Science Masters
  • Cell and Molecular Biology (Biotechnology), M.S.
• CLAS Graduate Programs
  • Biology, M.S.
  • Biomedical Science, M.H.S.

Resources for exploring graduate study

• Learn more about the badges and certificates offered by Grand Valley to help expand your skill set and enhance your professional profile
• Michigan teaching certification