Research and Experiential Learning Opportunities at Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offers undergraduates structured ways to do research, complete internships, and combine degrees. The university reports 6,000+ undergraduate research activities, 10,000+ internship placements, and 28 combined bachelor's-to-master's programs. These opportunities are relevant if you want hands-on experience before graduation, but access usually depends on your program, academic standing, and coordination with faculty or an internship office.

Undergraduate Research

FAU describes more than 6,000 undergraduate research activities. That figure covers the range of research participation across the university rather than a single centralized program, so the practical route differs by department.

How to get started

1. Identify your field and a faculty member. Review department pages for professors whose work matches your interests. The FAU news feed shows active research areas, such as a researcher examining whether AI can understand space, time, and pain, and a study on Hawaiian corals' response to ocean heat.
2. Contact the faculty member directly. Ask whether they have room for an undergraduate assistant and what preparation they expect. Expect to describe your coursework and availability.
3. Confirm credit or funding options. Ask your department whether the work can count as course credit, a paid assistantship, or a volunteer role. Policies vary by college, so get this in writing before committing.
4. Verify the outcome. Before the term starts, confirm your registration or appointment status with the department office.

Common sticking point: Research positions are usually arranged with individual faculty, not through a single university-wide application. If one professor has no openings, ask for a referral to a colleague or a related lab.

Internships and Placements

FAU reports 10,000+ internship placements. The university ties this to its relationships across South Florida, which it says connect students with relevant experience while they study in a subtropical climate.

How to approach the internship search

• Start with your college's career or internship office. Ask which employers recruit from your major and what documentation the office requires.
• Prepare the basics early: a resume, a short statement of interest, and a list of target employers.
• Check eligibility rules. Some placements require a minimum GPA, completed prerequisite courses, or a set number of credits. Confirm these with your department before applying.
• Clarify whether the placement carries academic credit. The university's materials do not specify payment or credit terms for internships generally, so ask the specific office handling your placement.

Common sticking point: Placement counts are university-wide. Your major may have a narrower set of partner employers, so treat the 10,000+ figure as context rather than a guarantee for your field.

Combined Bachelor's-to-Master's Pathways

FAU lists 28 combined bachelor's-to-master's degree programs. These let qualified undergraduates begin graduate coursework while finishing the bachelor's degree.

What to check before applying

• Which programs offer the pathway. Ask your department or graduate program office for the current list, since the 28 programs span different colleges.
• Admission conditions. Combined programs typically require a minimum GPA and specific completed courses. The exact thresholds are set by each program.
• Timing. Find out the earliest term you can begin graduate-level courses and how those credits apply to both degrees.

Common sticking point: The combined pathway is not automatic. You must apply and be admitted, and the requirements differ by program.

Student Support in Practice

Support programs can make experiential learning possible for students who need financial or academic backing. FAU highlights the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars program through the story of Kayla Harris, a first-generation student who studied marine biology and health science and now works as an environmental monitor focused on sea turtles. Her example shows how a scholarship program can connect a student's academic interest to a working role after graduation.

If you are a first-generation student or need financial support, ask the relevant scholarship or student services office which programs you may qualify for and what the application deadlines are.

Quick Reference

Deciding What Fits

Choose research if you want to work closely with a faculty member and build analytical skills; choose an internship if you want employer-facing experience in South Florida's job market; choose a combined degree if you already know you want graduate training and want to shorten the path. In each case, the university-wide numbers describe scale, not your individual eligibility, so confirm the specific requirements with the office or faculty member responsible before you plan your term.