International
Engineering Certificate
Information and Guidelines for Application
Students in the Swanson School of Engineering may
earn a certificate in International Engineering Studies (IES) by completing a
minimum set of requirements that include an approved educational international
experience and associated cultural enrichment and language studies. The certificate notation appears on the student's final transcript upon graduation. Students must contact the Office of Engineering International Programs to indicate plans to complete the certificate, and must submit their completed plan in the final semester prior to graduation.
In order to earn the certificate, the
student must complete at least four of the five requirements listed below:
1. Language Training: A minimum of either one
term-long course at the intermediate level in the local language on-site during
the study abroad program, or two term-long intermediate level courses at the
University of Pittsburgh (defined as third semester level or higher). A summer language school program at the study
abroad site could be used to satisfy this requirement.
2. Local Culture: A minimum of one term-long
course on-site during a study abroad experience. Acceptable areas are broadly defined to
include subjects such as fine arts, history, literature etc., and should focus
on the culture local to the study abroad program.
3. Culture Requirement at Pitt: An upper
division course at the University
of Pittsburgh which will
serve as a complement to Requirement 2.
4. Academic Courses in Engineering: A minimum
of two term-long courses on-site during the study abroad experience. The courses must satisfy graduation
requirements for specific courses in the student’s major department or program.
5. Work Experience / Internship: Equivalent
of 1 term spent in engineering-related work in the overseas location. A co-op rotation or an internship may be used
to satisfy this requirement.
NOTE: If
the international experience is in an English speaking country, the first
requirement is waived and the student must complete three of the remaining four
requirements. The courses taken
as part of requirements 1, 2 and 3 may be used to satisfy part of the student’s
humanities and social science requirements as long as the courses are on the
approved list of such courses for the Swanson School of Engineering and focus
on the local culture of the country of interest.