Syracuse University Abroad and the College of Engineering and Computer Science have created a new study abroad program for engineering students at the SU Abroad Center in Florence, Italy.

The program, which starts this semester, has accepted 12 sophomore engineering students with a GPA of 3.0 or above into the program.

“Although we had a very short window to advertise it, interest has been excellent,” Can Isik, the associate dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, said in an email.

Since engineering students need to adhere to specific sequencing and course requirements, the program is only available to sophomore civil, aerospace, environmental and mechanical engineering students currently enrolled in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. As a result, the only courses that will be offered are the required courses for sophomore engineering students, an Italian language course and an elective, Isik said.

“Engineering realized that in the sophomore year a number of majors in engineering all had to take the same courses – and the courses didn’t involve labs, which is hard for us to duplicate abroad,” Margaret Himley, associate provost for international education and engagement, said in an email.

Previously, the required coursework and strict scheduling requirements only allowed engineering students to study abroad through SU Abroad’s World Partner program or at an SU Center in Istanbul. Engineering courses are also offered at SU Centers in Santiago and Madrid; however, these courses are only taught in Spanish, Jennifer Horvath, manager for marketing and communications at SU Abroad, said.

For a number of years, SU Abroad and the College of Engineering and Computer Science have been attempting to create an abroad option specifically for engineering students at one of eight SU Abroad Centers, Isik said.

“There’s always been a lot of interest from engineering students who want to go abroad and now there’s a specific program for them,” Horvath said.

Since studying abroad at SU Centers was not an option, the number of engineering students studying abroad has always been low. On average, only 20 or 30 students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science study abroad each year, Isik said.

Comparatively, 1,800 students from all colleges at SU study abroad during one calendar year, Horvath said. That means that engineering students make up less than two percent of all SU Abroad participants.

“We’re hoping that now more engineering students can and will want to go abroad,” Horvath added.

This first semester will operate as a pilot program and will determine if the Florence program will become a permanent option for engineering students. Himley added that the success of the Florence program could create opportunities for others like it in Madrid and Strasbourg.

“Engineering, the director and staff at Florence, and I will evaluate the success of the program. We certainly hope it is successful and becomes permanent in Florence,” Himley said.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science expects the program to be offered in the future and with a larger number of students, Isik said.

 

Published on January 13, 2015 at 1:22 am

Contact Rachel: rsandler@syr.edu