Embedded Global Programs
What is an embedded program?
A Penn Statefaculty-led embedded program is a short-term education abroad experience that is offered as a component or supplement to an academic course taught in residence on a Penn State campus or online. The international component is typically scheduled during a semester break or early summer, and it generally lasts 7-14 days. Embedded programs are ideal for students who are interested in short-term intercultural learning experiences during the semester breaks.
Fall Semester
Oaxaca, Mexico
SUST 150N: The Science of Sustainable Development
Travel: Fall break
This program is full.
This embedded course takes students to Oaxaca, Mexico earning 3 credits of an interdomain GenEd (GN & GS). This course is open to students from any major and any campus with travel over spring break to complete SUST150N: The Science of Sustainable Development. Oaxaca is a Cultural Center where students will experience:
- An Organic Farm and other Ecological Sites
- The Monte Alban Archaeological Site
- A Mexican Cooking Class
- Survival Spanish Training
- Other Programmed Studies and Cultural Activities
For more information contact, Dr. Eric Lipsky at eml13@psu.edu.
Spring Semester
Antarctica
ENGR 499/ERM499: Human Impacts on a Fragile Environment
Travel: Winter break
This program is full.
During the pre-trip course, students will attend weekly lectures, write two short essays, complete a midterm project and final essay exam, and submit an annotated bibliography of their field course readings. During winter break, the students experience a two-week field excursion, by plane and ship, to Antarctica, where they will explore sites such as the Beagle Channel, which is inhabited by black-browed albatrosses, Magellanic penguins, skuas, different varieties of seagulls and Alakush ducks. The ship will continue to the Antarctic Peninsula, where students can view icebergs and land at various points, including coves, inlets, islands, and bays. Wildlife is abundant during this season: penguins, seals, whales, and orcas are likely to appear during the excursion.
For more information contact, Dr. Angela Rothrock, Center for Global Engineering Engagement associate director, at arb184@psu.edu.
Aruba
ME 299: Sustainable Energy Production: Small Island Perspectives
Travel: Spring Break
Small island nations such as Aruba are highly exposed to risks from climate change and high energy prices. At the same time, there is the potential for sustainable production and utilization of energy from solar, wind, and other renewable resources. In this embedded course, students will initially learn and work together remotely with students at the University of Aruba to explore the operational principles of different energy-consuming and producing technologies. During spring break, Penn State students will travel to Aruba to participate in joint lectures and technical and cultural tours and form multi-university project teams for the design and analysis of an energy system. Students will spend the remainder of the semester working together, concluding in a final remote joint presentation. Students will earn 3 credits of ME 299.
For more information contact: Brian Fronk, bmf141@psu.edu.
Apply by December 1.
Ghana
BBH/ENG/INTAG 297N: You, The World & Change: Your First Global Development Experience
Travel: Spring Break
How do you begin your journey to make meaningful change in the world and in your community? Travel the world in your first or second year to learn how people are making more equitable communities happen. In this intentionally interdisciplinary team-taught course, diverse students from across the university will travel to Ghana to explore technology, health, and food security innovations and the people who develop them. This interdisciplinary course brings together the domains of social and natural sciences
For more information contact, Dr. John Gershenson, jzg322@psu.edu.
Apply by December 1.
Santiago, Chile
ENGR 199: First-Year Seminar
Travel: Spring Break
This program is full.
This unique opportunity for first-year students facilitates adjustment to the college learning environment and increased academic liberties associated with the transition to college life. Students will be introduced to the College of Engineering’s academic disciplines, learn about opportunities for co-curricular engagement, and participate in a culturally immersive experience in Santiago, Chile during spring break. This spring break embedded course satisfies the FYS and Social and Behavior Sciences (GS) course requirements.
For more information, contact Dr. Angela Rothrock, arb184@psu.edu.
Apply by December 1.
South Korea
ENGR 411: Business Basics for Entrepreneurs
Travel: Spring Break
In this embedded ENGR 411, Business Basics for Entrepreneurs course, students will add a study of entrepreneurship in South Korea to this comprehensive business course. Students will compare product marketing in South Korea to marketing similar products in the United States. The demographic and generational segmentation of the South Korean market will be investigated and compared to that of the US. The class will visit South Korean startups and explore founders' journeys to see how they are similar and different from those of US founders. The class will investigate startup funding in South Korea and compare it to financing a startup in the US. Students will also visit South Korean cultural and historic sites and experience the local culture.
Students enroll in the embedded ENGR411 section for 3 credits for the Spring and will also enroll in ENGR 499 Entrepreneurship in South Korea for 1 credit.
For more information contact Ted Graef, tedgraef@psu.edu.
Apply by December 1.
South Africa
ENGR 422: International Leadership of Virtual Engineering Teams
Travel: Spring break
This course focuses on leading international virtual cross-cultural, interdisciplinary teams in developing engineering solutions relevant to today’s global economy. Students will have opportunities to work with students from other countries on a semester-long project. This course is only offered in the spring semester, and students are offered the option of traveling to visit their international partner team during Spring Break (South Africa).
Prerequisites: Enrolled in the Engineering Leadership Development Minor (ELD).
For more information contact, engrleadership@engr.psu.edu.
Apply by December 1.
May
Kenya
Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE)
Travel: TBD
During the HESE field experience, you will live, work, and play in a community in Kenya for the month of May while you collaborate on ventures and technologies that impact the world. The HESE field experience is open to all majors who are prepared to test the results of the previous HESE course. If you are interested in this field experience, please contact hese@psu.edu to join the HESE program at least one semester ahead of time.
For more information contact, hese@psu.edu.
Switzerland
ENGR 422: International Leadership of Virtual Engineering Teams
Travel: TBD
This course focuses on leading international virtual cross-cultural, interdisciplinary teams in developing engineering solutions relevant to today’s global economy. Students will have opportunities to work with students from other countries on a semester-long project. This course is only offered in the spring semester, and students are offered the option of traveling to visit their international partner team during Spring Break (South Africa) or Maymester (Switzerland).
Prerequisites: Enrolled in the Engineering Leadership Development Minor (ELD).
For more information contact, engrleadership@engr.psu.edu.
Apply by April 1.
