Embedded Global Programs
What is an embedded program?
A Penn State faculty-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
Hannover, Germany
ME 399: Sustainable Product Development
Course Fee: $2,600 (estimated)
Travel: Fall Break (Nov 22-29, 2025)
Fall Course: T/Th 9:05 AM - 10:20 AM
This course challenges students to rethink the entire product development process—from material selection to design and manufacturing—through the lens of sustainability. This course explores the trade-offs between product performance, cost, quality, and environmental impact, providing a comprehensive understanding of sustainable engineering practices. Students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering can use this course to satisfy their Engineering Technical Elective. Other majors may also be accepted. This project-based course is jointly taught by Penn State Mechanical Engineering and Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) faculty. Students from both universities will engage in virtual collaborations throughout the semester, working on innovative design solutions that integrate sustainability principles. In addition to final design work and project presentations at LUH, students will get cultural and professional experiences including company visits such as Volkswagen and Bosch.
Key topics include lifecycle analysis, circular economy, and design for disassembly.
Applications for Fall 2025 are closed.
For more information, contact Sachin Gore at sag114@psu.edu.
Spring Semester
Aruba
ME 499: Sustainable Energy Solutions in a Global Context
Course fee: $2,365, plus flights
Travel: Spring Break
Class Schedule: M/W/F 9:05 - 9:55 A.M. (Spring 2026)
This course brings together students and faculty from Penn State, the University of Aruba, and Universidad del Norte in Colombia to explore sustainable energy solutions across diverse environments. Students will work in multinational teams to analyze energy systems in three distinct regions, culminating in a final report and remote joint presentation.
- Aruba: A small island state with limited natural resources and an isolated grid, where renewable energy is both a necessity and an opportunity.
- Caribbean Coast of Colombia: A region rich in solar and wind potential, facing challenges in energy access, infrastructure, and economic inequality.
- United States: A major energy producer and consumer working to modernize infrastructure and reduce emissions across all sectors.
The course is offered in two formats:
- Section 001 – Embedded Program (Aruba)
Students will travel to Aruba during Spring Break to participate in joint lectures, technical and cultural tours, and collaborate with University of Aruba peers on a site-specific energy design and analysis project. - Section 002 – EDGE Program (Virtual Collaboration – No Course Fee)
Students will engage in a virtual Experiential Digital Global Engagement (EDGE) project with peers from Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Penn State students will earn 3 credits of ME 499. This is an approved Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective for Mechanical Engineering majors. Other majors should work with their academic advising team to assess how it counts towards their program. Remote, synchronous participation for Commonwealth Campus students is available. More information can be found here, or by emailing Dr. Brian Fronk at bmf141@psu.edu and Dr. Margaret Busse at mmbusse@psu.edu.
Brazil
ENGR 399 / 499: Engineering in the Amazonas
Course fee: TBD
Travel: May 11 – 24 (tentative)
Penn State University’s Mechanical Engineering and Research program in Manaus Brazil, provides students with the opportunity to engage in a technical engineering program while learning about the culture and the engineering challenges of operating in one of the most important regions of the world, the Amazon rainforest. The program takes place in the state of Amazonas (AM) in the northern region of Brazil: Manaus (the capital). Located in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, it is home to the National Institute of Amazonian Research. Students will have the opportunity to meet with engineering experts and the local community. They will apply their engineering skills in experiential learning activities of data capture techniques, land development design, and STEM communication.
Santiago, Chile
ENGR 100: First-Year Engagement Seminar
Course fee: approximately $2,850, plus flights
Travel: Spring Break
This Global Engineering First-Year Engagement Seminar will introduce students to global competencies and leadership skills for participation in an increasingly global society. ENGR 100 meets regularly at University Park during the spring semester and has embedded international travel to Santiago, Chile, during spring break (March 6-14, 2026). While abroad, students will participate in cultural exploration, industry site visits, and join local university students for intercultural learning. Upon returning from the international experience, students will complete a capstone project demonstrating their intercultural development and the transferable skills they've developed for global engineerinig.
This course satisfies the College of Engineering First-Year Seminar requirement.
For more information, contact Dr. Angela Rothrock, arb184@psu.edu.
Sydney, Australia
STS 245N: Globalization, Technology, and Ethics
Course fee: approximately $3,450, plus flights
Travel: Winter Break (Dec 27-Jan 10)
This spring-embedded program travels to Sydney, Australia, for an immersive experience during Penn State's winter break, then moves to an asynchronous web format for the remainder of the semester. While abroad, students will tour built and natural environments to learn about the social and environmental complexities of redevelopment in an urban context. Course participants will broaden their understanding of ethical and sustainable redevleopment through team-centered projects and readings from the social sciences and humanities.
Students from all majors and campuses are welcome to participate.
This 3-credit interdomain course fulfills GS, GH, and IL knowledge domains.
For more information, contact Dr. Angela Rothrock (arb184@psu.edu).
Apply by October 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.
Education Abroad Embedded Programs Scholarship
Penn State Global offers one $1,000 scholarship for embedded programs. This competitive scholarship supports Penn State undergraduate students participating in officially recognized faculty-led embedded programs.
The main factor for consideration is an applicant’s financial need. All applicants must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid at Penn State.
Please note there is no application required to be considered for this scholarship, The Penn State Global team will utilize course rosters to determine eligible scholarship recipients.
Apply for Penn State Global's Scholarship
We encourage students to look for other funding opportunities on our website.
