International Engineering
ENGINEERING IS GLOBAL!
The Valparaiso University International Engineering Program is a five-year program that combines a major in one of the four engineering fields with a major or minor in either German, French, or Spanish (VIEP-German, VIEP-French, VIEP-Spanish) or a minor in Chinese (VIEP in China). The program allows students to gain multicultural experience and language proficiency, along with technical engineering skills, and prepares them for careers with one of many international research and manufacturing firms located in the United States or abroad.
Engineers today work in a global environment that requires special skills. The Valparaiso University International Engineering Program (VIEP) develops these skills and provides experience necessary to succeed in the international marketplace. Specifically, the program prepares Valpo engineers to be:
- technically adept,
- broadly knowledgeable,
- multilingual,
- culturally aware,
- innovative and entrepreneurial, and
- professionally flexible and mobile.*
*From In Search of Global Engineering Excellence (Continental AG)
To participate in the program, students are required to:
- Fulfill all requirements for one of the four engineering majors.
- Take one German, French, Spanish or Chinese language course per semester, beginning in the third semester, at the latest.
- Participate in Valpo’s Study Abroad program in either Reutlingen, Germany (on the campus of the Fachhochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft), Compiègne, France (on the campus of Universitè de Technologie de Compiègne, Zaragoza, Spain (at the Centro Politecnico Superior University of Zaragoza) or Hangzhou, China (on the campus of Zhejiang University), in the seventh semester.
- Work in a cooperative education placement or internship in Germany, France, Spain, or China during the eighth semester and the ensuing summer.
| FALL | SPRING | SUMMER | |
|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR ONE | Engineering courses; add one language course if AP credit or other circumstance allows | Engineering courses; add one language course if AP credit or other circumstance allows | |
| YEAR TWO | Engineering courses; one language course | Engineering courses; one language course | |
| YEAR THREE | Engineering courses; one language course | Engineering courses; one language course | |
| YEAR FOUR | Study Abroad semester in Reutlingen, Germany; La Rochelle, France; Zaragoza, Spain; or Hangzhou, China | Cooperative-education placement in Germany, France, Spain, or China | Cooperative-education placement continues |
| YEAR FIVE | Engineering courses; one language course | Engineering courses; one language course |
VIEP-German is a five-year program that combines a major in one of the four engineering fields with a major or minor in German. The program allows students to gain multicultural experience and German language proficiency along with technical engineering skills and prepares them for careers with one of many German research and manufacturing firms located in the United States.
To participate in the program, students are required to:
- Fulfill all requirements for one of the four engineering majors; Take one German course per semester beginning, at the latest, in the third semester;
- Participate in Valparaiso University’s Study Abroad program in Reutlingen, Germany, on the campus of the Hochschule Reutlingen in the seventh semester;
- Enroll in at least one German-language engineering, science, or mathematics course at the FH-Reutlingen;
- Work in a cooperative education placement in Germany during the eighth semester and the ensuing summer;
- Reside in the Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center for at least two semesters.
- Fulfill all requirements for one of the four engineering majors;
- Take one Chinese course per semester beginning, at the latest, in the third semester;
- Participate in Valparaiso University’s Study Abroad program in Hangzhou, China on the campus of Zheijang University in the seventh semester;
- Work in a cooperative education placement with a United States or Chinese based Chinese company in China or participate in a research project at a Chinese University during the eighth semester and the ensuing summer.
VIEP-Spanish is a five-year program that combines a major in one of the four engineering fields with a major or minor in Spanish. To participate in the program, students are required to:
- Fulfill all requirements for one of the four engineering majors;
- Take one Spanish language course per semester beginning, at the latest, in the third semester;
- Participate in a Study Abroad program in Zaragoza, Spain (on the campus of the Centro Politécnico Superior – University of Zaragoza), in the seventh semester;
- Work in a cooperative education placement in Spain during the eighth semester and the ensuing summer; Reside in the Spanish House, La Casa Española, for at least two semesters.
VIEP-French is a five-year program that combines a major in one of the four engineering fields with a major or minor in French. To participate in the program, students are required to:
- Fulfill all requirements for one of the four engineering majors;
- Take one French language course per semester beginning, at the latest, in the third semester;
- Participate in a Study Abroad program in Compiègne, France (on the campus of Universitè de Technologie de Compiègne), in the seventh semester;
- Work in a cooperative education placement in France during the eighth semester and the ensuing summer;
- Reside in the French House, La maison francaise, for at least two semesters.
