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.
Commitment Deadline for Participation in an Embedded Faculty-Led Program:
- For embedded courses with travel during the fall semester: September 30
- For embedded courses with travel over winter break: October 1
- For embedded courses with travel during the spring semester: December 14
- For embedded courses with travel during Maymester: February 28
Fall Semester
Hannover, Germany
ME 399: Sustainable Product Development
Course Fee: $3,290.00
Travel: Fall Break (Nov 20-28, 2026)
Fall Course: T/Th 9:05 - 10:20 a.m.
This course challenges students to rethink the product development process through the lens of sustainability, global engineering, and entrepreneurially minded thinking. All engineering majors are welcome to apply. Mechanical engineering students may use this as an Engineering Technical Elective (ETE).
This project-based course, taught jointly by Penn State Mechanical Engineering, Leibniz University Hannover (Germany), and Jönköping University (Sweden) faculty, includes regular interaction with students from Leibniz and Jönköping, along with company tours and cultural experiences.
The 2026 program is full.
For more information, contact Sachin Gore at sag114@psu.edu.
Santiago, Chile
ENGR 100: First-Year Engagement Seminar
Course fee: $2,850, plus flights
Travel: Fall Break
Class schedule: Tu 4:40 - 5:30 p.m.
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 fall semester and travels to Santiago, Chile, during fall break. While abroad, students will visit cultural sites, meet industry partners, and participate in sustainable engineering design challenges.
This course satisfies the College of Engineering First-Year Seminar requirement.
The 2026 program is on pause.
For more information, contact Dr. Nicolas Soria Zurita at nfs5403@psu.edu
Spring Semester
Aruba
ME 440W: Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design – Global Sustainable Energy Solutions
Estimated Course Fee: $2,400, plus flights
Travel: Spring Break (Saturday, March 6 – Sunday, March 14, 2027)
Class schedule: T/Th 12:05 – 2:00 p.m.
Global Sustainable Energy Solutions (ME 440W) is a Mechanical Engineering capstone design experience with optional spring break travel. Penn State students partner with international peers and faculty from the University of Aruba and Universidad del Norte (Barranquilla, Colombia) to operate as consulting engineers. Cross-border teams take a complex energy-water project through the full engineering design cycle: defining quantifiable requirements, executing conceptual design, performing subsystem simulation, and down-selecting a final design.
The course is offered in two enrollment tracks:
- Section 006T – (Aruba Site Focus) Students will travel to Aruba during Spring Break to conduct physical facility site audits, stakeholder interviews, and participate in on-site co-design workshops at the University of Aruba.
- Section 006 – (Colombia Site Focus – No Course Fee): Students engage in a virtual Experiential Digital Global Engagement (EDGE) project, collaborating with engineering peers at Universidad del Norte using modern asynchronous project management tools.
Prerequisites: ME 340 and concurrent enrollment in IE 312 and ENGL 202C.
More information can be found on the course website. Complete this form to be notified of fall semester information sessions.
For more information, contact Dr. Brian Fronk at bmf141@psu.edu or Dr. Margaret Busse at mmbusse@psu.edu.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
ENGR 100: First-Year Engagement Seminar
Course fee: $2,800, plus flights
Travel: March 6 – March 13, 2027
Class schedule: T 4:40 – 5:30 p.m.
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 travels to Puerto Rico during spring break. While abroad, students will visit cultural sites, meet industry partners, and participate in sustainable engineering design challenges.
This course satisfies the College of Engineering First-Year Seminar requirement.
For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Greer, czg5155@psu.edu, or Dr. Nicolas Soria Zurita, nfs5403@psu.edu
Seoul, South Korea
STS 245: Globalization, Technology, and Ethics
Course fee: $2,000
Travel: March 6 – March 13, 2027
Globalization, Technology, and Ethics with travel to Seoul, South Korea, is an embedded study abroad program designed specifically for students enrolled in Air Force ROTC. This course will meet weekly during the spring semester and travel to South Korea during spring break, where participants will visit Osan Air Base, the DMZ, and engage with peers at Sungkyunkwan University.
Prerequisite: Students must be enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program.
For more information, contact Mr. TJ Joyner, taj5479@psu.edu or Dr. Angela Rothrock, arb184@psu.edu.
Sydney, Australia
STS 245N: Globalization, Technology, and Ethics
Course fee: $3,900
Travel: Dec 27, 2026 - Jan 11, 2027
Class Schedule: Asynchronous upon return
Globalization, Technology, and Ethics (STS 245N) is a spring-embedded program with embedded travel 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 redevelopment 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.
The 2026 program is full.
May
Madrid, Spain
STS 199: Global Engineering Fellows Pathway and Global Pillars Experience
Course fee: $3,000, plus flights
Travel: Maymester (May 22 to June 6, 2027)
Class Schedule: Wed 6:00 – 7:15 p.m., begins March 3
The Global Fellows Pathway program in Madrid is a faculty-led cohort-building experience for aspiring Global Fellows. This 2-week program, a prelude to the Global Engineering Fellows Program, is a structured pathway for cultivating globally competent, technically proficient engineering leaders.
While abroad, students will explore Madrid’s dynamic cultural, historical, and technological landscapes. Leveraging this vibrant city as our classroom, students will learn about sustainable urban design and engage directly with local stakeholders while critically examining how engineers can contribute to solving global challenges in socially responsible ways. This course fulfills the University IL Degree Requirement.
Participants will enroll in the spring semester prerequisite, STS 115, 2 credits, summer .25 STS 199, and, upon return, students should enroll in STS 313: Global Engineering Fellows.
Application opens Oct 1
For more information, contact Dr. Angela Rothrock, arb184@psu.edu.
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.
Application opens Oct 1
For more information contact, hese@psu.edu.
South Africa or Switzerland
ENGR 422: International Leadership of Virtual Engineering Teams
Travel: Maymester
International Leadership of Virtual Engineering Teams focuses on leading international cross-cultural, interdisciplinary teams in developing engineering solutions relevant to today’s global economy. Students will have opportunities to work collaboratively with peers from international institutions on a semester-long project culminating with an optional Maymester study abroad traveling to either South Africa or Switzerland.
Prerequisites: Enrolled in the Engineering Leadership Development Minor (ELD).
For more information contact, engrleadership@engr.psu.edu.
