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Industrial Engineering: University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering

Undergraduate International Requirement

Overview

Recognizing that engineering is an increasingly global profession, the Department of Industrial Engineering (IE) is committed to providing its graduates with the skills they need to compete on an international basis. Such skills will enable Pitt IE graduates to not only have a distinct employment advantage, but will also provide them with a cross-cultural awareness that will enhance their leadership abilities.

Beginning with the incoming 2007-08 industrial engineering sophomores, all IE students must either:

    A. Successfully complete an approved international experience and two globally focused Humanities / Social Science (H/SS) courses.

OR

    B. Successfully complete an integrated, globally focused set of four H/SS courses. This set must consist of one humanities and one social science course plus two courses in the same area (depth). Students who elect this option must have it approved by both his/her advisor and the undergraduate coordinator prior to completing the sequence.

The international experience is defined as an approved engineering academic program with a minimum of three-credits, an approved international internship, or an approved international co-op rotation of at least eight weeks. The two H/SS courses should be related to the international experience and may fulfill two of the six H/SS requirements. Appropriate language courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.

International Experience Options

The University of Pittsburgh provides a wide spectrum of options that may be used to satisfy the international experience. These options are sponsored directly through Pitt's Office of Study Abroad as well as offered by Pitt affiliated institutions. All of the School of Engineering's programs may be used as a technical elective. Specific examples include:

  • Term(s) abroad or exchanges including Global E3, SIP (Germany)
  • International co-op or internship including IAESTE internship
  • Integrated Field Trip Abroad (IFTA); e.g., Plus3, INNOVATE or EMPOWER
  • International design course/experience
  • Engineers Without Borders (EWB) or Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) with significant international field experience.

    • The School of Engineering has its own study abroad office extension in B-80 with full-time personnel to help you. See http://www.abroad.pitt.edu/engrng/index.html. Students interested in international co-ops or internships should contact the appropriate School of Engineering Office in B-80.

    H/SS Course Options

    There are over 500 acceptable international oriented humanities/social science electives. These may be found on either the approved H/SS list or on the CAS globally focused general education requirements list under "Foreign Culture/International" or "Non-Western Culture." See the General Education catalog. Up to two language courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.

    Certificate in International Engineering Studies

    Students in the School of Engineering may earn a certificate in International Engineering Studies (IES) by completing a minimum set of requirements that include a study abroad experience and associated cultural enrichment and language studies. The certificate will indicate the country and language in which the IES program was completed.

    In order to earn the IES certificate the student must formally apply to and be accepted into the IES program. Application forms may be obtained from the Study Aboard for Engineers Office. The application must include a plan for completing the requirements for a certificate. The plan must specify all relevant coursework to be completed at the University of Pittsburgh as well as the activities and site of the study abroad experience. The study abroad program must be formally approved by the student's advisor and the IES Faculty Committee.

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