GEL1 students MUST complete one of the approved Design and Innovation Leadership Requirement (D&ILR) options in either the fall or spring semester to remain on track to complete the program.
— Bernard M. Gordon (MIT Alum, B.S. ’48, M.S. ’49)
GEL is a vibrant professional community dedicated to your growth and success. We are here to help you expand your network, support your job search, and prepare you for a successful career in engineering leadership.
Receive Developmental Coaching and Mentoring From Staff
Our passionate, dedicated staff will prioritize meeting with you one-on-one to discuss your personal and professional goals. Contact any member of the GEL staff to schedule a meeting.
Join our Slack Channel
Contact (jmfeiler@mit.edu) to be added to our GEL Slack Workspace, which includes important course reminders, event invites, and direct communication with peers and staff.
Attend GEL Networking Events and Socials
These are valuable opportunities to connect with members of the GEL community, which includes like-minded engineering professionals. Make sure to read the GEL Blast and Slack messages to receive exclusive invitations.
Schedule a Resume Review or Behavioral Mock Interview
Need help with your resume or preparing for a behavioral interview? Schedule a resume review or mock interview here.
Create a Strong Portfolio
Refer to the School of Engineering Communications Lab’s portfolio guide and contact us to review it.
Attend Upcoming Employer Events or Professional Workshops
Enhance your professional skills and learn how to market yourself to employers. Be added to the GEL Jobs Slack Workspace to learn about upcoming employer events and workshops.
Make Meaningful Industry Connections
Expand your professional network by connecting with alumni or an ELL guest working in industry. To learn more, contact (emillign@mit.edu).
Access the GEL Course Syllabuses
Check Canvas to view the most current and updated versions of the GEL Course Syllabuses.
GEL offers two internship opportunities for students who have completed their GEL 1 year and are interested in becoming GEL 2s. These internships provide an opportunity to receive personalized guidance and mentoring that enhances the value of the internship experience (and also enhances future employment prospects). All GEL 2s must complete one of these internships.
| Summer | Fall | IAP | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEL 1 Junior or Senior Year | Engineering Leadership (6.9120) 3 units & Engineering Leadership Lab (6.9110 3 units Design & Innovation Leadership Requirement (select one subject) 6+ units* | Engineering Leadership (6.9120) 3 units & Engineering Leadership Lab (6.9110) 3 units |
||
| GEL 2 Senior Year | InternshipPlus or Impactship | Engineering Leadership Lab (Team&Lab Leader Role) (6.9130) 6 units Leadership Elective** | Project Engineering*** (6.9140) 4 units | Engineering Leadership Lab (Team & Lab Leader Role) (6.9130) 6 units Final Reflection Presentation**** |
GEL1 students MUST complete one of the approved Design and Innovation Leadership Requirement (D&ILR) options in either the fall or spring semester to remain on track to complete the program.
We will accept credit for any of the approved courses so long as you are able to prove that you received a passing grade.
*Students who have completed the first-year version of Design Thinking & Innovation Leadership for Engineers MUST still take 6.910B to receive full credit for the Design & Innovation Leadership Requirement.
At present, no courses beyond those listed as an approved D&ILR course may be used to satisfy the Design & Innovation Leadership Requirement.
Though MIT offers many design-related courses, these alternatives each provide uniquely wide coverage of the full product development cycle, spanning understanding user needs, early stage conceptualization, product realization, user testing, and design validation. Many other design courses stop short of covering this full cycle (often at prototyping).
Yes, students can remain in GEL while taking the spring semester off to complete a study abroad, internship, or Co-Op opportunity. Since each case is treated individually we recommend that you contact us.
There are several ways to engage with the GEL community from connecting with a GEL alumni to attending a GEL cohort-wide bonding event. We frequently advertise these opportunities throughout the year and strongly recommend that you take advantage of these opportunities to increase your value of the program.
The GEL undergraduate program is open to all engineering students at MIT and to students from other departments who are drawn toward engineering as a career. We understand that many students are still thinking through career plans as they begin their junior year. We encourage all students who are considering engineering careers to consider GEL, even if they’re not yet sure where they will be after graduation. But, in keeping with the program’s mission to develop individuals as effective engineers and engineering leaders, GEL is designed for those who have engineering career intent. Students aspiring to work in engineering (or to explore the prospects of working in engineering) will get the most out of GEL, as the program’s curriculum is tailored toward personal and professional development in this field.
Engineering work presents a remarkable opportunity to develop the world’s products and systems, and can thus form the basis of highly fulfilling careers. GEL encourages students to deeply explore career possibilities across engineering as they form their career intentions. GEL helps facilitate this exploration through the program’s mentorship opportunities , engineering industry guest visits, and internship and full-time job postings.
The breadth of engineering work has < grown in recent years . Traditionally categorized engineering roles – those on teams that hold responsibility for product or system design and performance – remain prevalent. Such jobs often constitute gateways into technical leadership and management: career trajectories directly supported by GEL’s educational program. Further, career opportunities not explicitly labeled as “engineering,” but that are engineering-related – such as careers in product or project management – have expanded substantially in the 21st </century. Students pursuing such tracks can also benefit from GEL, as this type of work resides in close proximity to engineering decision-making and involves collaboration with engineers. Students already committed to careers in other areas that are more distant from engineering decision-making and design responsibility will not get as much out of the GEL program. While GEL is an Engineering Leadership Development Program , those with interests in other career areas should consider MIT’s various other offerings in leadership, management, and entrepreneurship (see, for example, LeaderShape , Undergraduate courses and programs in the Sloan School of management,and courses associated with the MIT Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor, among others).
Our 1300+ alums represent a wide array of engineering positions and companies such as Apple, Adobe, Boeing, Bose, Google, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Shell, SpaceX, and many other companies. They also serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and civilian government agencies such as NASA.