NEWS
Engineering Days at the University of Oklahoma give high school students direct exposure to engineering through hands-on, discipline-based experiences on campus. The program brings rising juniors and seniors to the Norman campus for one-day sessions led by OU faculty and supported by current engineering students. Each session focuses on a specific field and places students in active learning environments where they design, test and solve problems that reflect real engineering work.
Students make major academic decisions before they ever arrive on a college campus. Engineering Days meets them at that stage. The program helps students explore engineering in a structured way, compare disciplines, and understand what engineering study looks like beyond the classroom.
"At OU Engineering, we are committed to preparing graduates who are ready to solve the challenges facing industry and society on day one," said Dr. Randa Shehab, senior associate dean of the Gallogly College of Engineering. "That commitment begins long before students enroll. Engineering Days allows us to introduce future engineers, scientists and technologists to the excitement of discovery, connect them with our faculty and students, and strengthen the workforce that serves Oklahoma and the nation."
In 2026, Engineering Days served 201 students across 13 program days. Students came from Oklahoma and several other states, including Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Georgia and Ohio. Seventy percent were Oklahoma residents, and twenty percent identified as first-generation college students. The program has also grown steadily over time, serving more than 200 students annually in recent years and engaging more than 800 students across the past five cycles.
The 2026 schedule included discipline-specific sessions across the full breadth of the College of Engineering, including aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil and architectural, computer science, electrical and computer, environmental, industrial and systems, mechanical, petroleum and geoenergy engineering, and engineering physics. A Polytechnic Institute session expanded access to emerging and interdisciplinary areas of engineering, connecting students to applied technology fields that cut across traditional disciplines and align with evolving workforce needs.
Each Engineering Day runs as a full-day experience. Students check in, receive lunch, and spend the day working through structured activities tied to a single engineering discipline. Students work in teams throughout the day and apply core engineering concepts to real problems.
Faculty design each session around authentic engineering practice. Students learn how engineers approach problems, test ideas, and refine solutions. Undergraduate mentors support the experience by helping students work through challenges and understand expectations for engineering study.
The program also reaches students with little or no prior engineering exposure. Each session introduces core concepts in a way that does not require advanced preparation. Students compare fields and gain a clearer sense of where their interests may fit.
"Many students have heard of engineering but haven't had the opportunity to explore what different disciplines actually look like,” shared Dr. Rebecca Scott, a faculty member in the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering and E-Days faculty lead. “Engineering Days is designed to make engineering more accessible; we simply hope they come ready to explore, ask questions, and discover what interests them."
Since its launch in 2015, Engineering Days has become a core outreach program in the Gallogly College of Engineering. It continues to expand in reach and participation while maintaining strong access for first-generation students and those new to engineering pathways. Early exposure matters in a workforce environment where engineering talent needs continue to grow across energy systems, infrastructure, computing and biomedical innovation. The program strengthens the pipeline by helping students see how engineering connects to real industries and long-term career paths.
More information about Engineering Days is available through the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma online at https://www.ou.edu/coe/explore/k-12-outreach/engineering-days. A photo gallery can be found at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCY4io.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Engineering Days at the University of Oklahoma give high school students direct exposure to engineering through hands-on, discipline-based experiences on campus. The program brings rising juniors and seniors to the Norman campus for one-day sessions led by OU faculty and supported by current engineering students.
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