Philosophy

An advanced degree should help you land a job and launch your career. We have over 25 years of success helping students transition to rewarding careers as scientists and engineers. Our program has reshaped what students should expect from a graduate education. Program metrics include:

• 98% graduation rate
• 15 -18 months to degree completion for most students
• 90% of graduates are employed within 3 months of completing internship
• $74,000 average, annualized internship compensation for the 2023 cohort

Overview

We believe graduate education should equip you with the skills that allow you to excel in your career: technical expertise, hands-on experience and professional skills (including communication, leadership, and teamwork).

Students gain these skills through focused coursework and labs, professional development training, and a 9-month paid internship. Program tracks span the fields of engineering, physics, chemistry and biology and include:

• Bioinformatics and Genomics
• Molecular Sensors and Biotechnology
• Polymer Science
• Semiconductors
• Optical Materials and Devices

Timeline

The master’s program operates within an accelerated timeline which kicks off in the summer term. Depending on the track, students take 2-3 terms of core coursework and electives and fulfill the remainder of the degree requirements with a 9-month (3 terms) paid internship. Students typically complete their degree in 15-18 months. More detailed timelines for each track can be found on their track pages.

Coursework and Labs

Students learn foundational knowledge and skills critical to their success in a particular field and actively apply what they learn to real-world problems in the lab. With feedback from our internship partners, curricula are annually updated to meet the current demands of industry, national labs, and research settings. Students complete 6 to 7 graduate level graded courses (24 to 30 credits), dependent upon their track. Further information regarding the core coursework can be found on each program track page.

Professional Development

Traditionally under-emphasized in science training, professional skills development is an integral part of our program and highly valued by employers. While building and applying technical knowledge in the lab, students simultaneously practice soft skills—teamwork, communication, leadership, networking, and inclusive mindset—that are critical for long-term career success. Students learn and practice professional skills in multiple facets of the program including:

• Professional development coursework (1-2 credits): Students receive coaching in technical resume writing, interviewing and networking. At the end of the course, student resumes are showcased and distributed to corporate partners and students have an opportunity to network and interview with interested partners.
• Integrated practice within technical core coursework: Teamwork, technical communication and time management are skills needed for scientists at all career stages. Students practice these skills throughout the core curriculum.
• Inclusion Workshop Series and Symposium: Summer term, the program hosts an Inclusion Workshop Series and Symposium to train students in inclusive leadership and allyship. By understanding how to include all voices, students are able to elevate their leadership and teamwork skills.
• Professional Network: Students have multiple opportunities to network and be mentored by program alumni. Building this professional network benefits our alumni well into their post-program career.

Internships

During a 9-month paid internship students apply what they’ve learned in classes and labs to the real-world environment of companies, national labs and research institutes. The program facilitates introductions to program partners through annual networking and interview events. The majority of students identify their internships through these program-hosted events; students who do not identify an internship from a program event receive coaching from program staff until an internship is identified. Some students elect to pursue internships outside of the program’s partner base. Though internships are not guaranteed, historically close to 98% of our students have successfully completed internships and close to 90% have regular employment within three months of finishing their internships.

Cost

The program’s 2024-2025 tuition rate for both residents and non-residents is $618/credit (subject to change annually). Full tuition and fee information for the current term can be found on the UO Tuition and Fee page by selecting “Graduate (Knight Campus Internship Program).” The number of credits required for each track can be found on the respective track pages. Students are assessed full fees when enrolled in campus-based coursework and reduced fees when enrolled exclusively in internship credits.

For information about financial aid, please contact the UO Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships or at 1-800-760-6953 / 541-346-3221.