Four engineering students spent last summer in Spain researching advanced materials at the Madrid Microelectronics Institute (IMM). The eight-week fellowship offered the students a chance to perform leading-edge research while living, working, and learning in an international, multicultural environment. Rensselaer Education Across Cultural Horizons, or REACH, is part of Rensselaer’s initiative to provide all undergraduate students with an international experience. “Every Rensselaer student—whether an engineer, scientist, architect, artist, scholar, or manager—can benefit from studying abroad, participating in an overseas internship, or some other international experience. The benefit is too great to ignore.” —Prabhat Hajela, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education

Rensselaer Education Across Cultural Horizons (REACH)

Study abroad has become an integral part of a well-rounded undergraduate experience.

A period of study abroad allows students to develop a broader perspective on their academic field of study while earning credit toward a Rensselaer degree. Students will gain a deeper understanding not only of the culture in which they will be living, but also the culture of the U.S. and its place in today’s global society.

REACH provides international opportunities for undergraduates, including semester-long study abroad and exchange opportunities, short-term and faculty-led international programs, and other international experiences such as internships and service learning.

All students are encouraged and expected to take advantage of some sort of international experience during their four-year undergraduate education.

Semester Programs

Rensselaer offers semester study abroad and exchange opportunities for undergraduate students in more than 15 countries on five continents. Options are available for students in virtually every discipline, and credits are fully transferrable to the Rensselaer degree subject to departmental approval. Students who participate in affiliated study abroad programs may take advantage of both Rensselaer and federal financial aid.

Affiliated semester programs include:

• Architecture Programs are open by competitive application to students in their 5th semester and above; these programs offer semester-long experiences in Italy, India, and China.

• International Management Exchange Program (IMEP) provides 3rd- and 4th-year management students with the opportunity to spend a semester at a top-rated business school in one of 10 countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.

• Undergraduate Exchanges are open to students in all disciplines. These programs provide students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the daily life and culture of the host institution and country. While generally open to students with junior standing, second-semester sophomores and first-semester seniors may be considered.

• Global Engineering Education Exchange Program (Global E3) is an international exchange program for engineering students at member institutions. The program offers the opportunity for United States students to study in one of 17 countries and for interna- tional students at partner campuses to study in the United States.

	REACH Brochure (PDF)

Each year, Rensselaer faculty lead groups of students to international destinations. These programs are typically offered as extensions of regular semester courses and take place either in January or immediately following the spring term.

Recent offerings include Culture and Development in India and Fundamentals of Flight in Puerto Rico.

Other Opportunities

Opportunities for international study are regularly made available outside of the traditional semester and summer options. Recent examples include a weeklong Undergraduate Research Academy in Pune, India, and ongoing programs in Ghana and South Africa that focus on project work and innovative technological solutions to address problems in the developing world.

Foreign Language Study

Short-term intensive language courses are being developed that will allow students to spend time abroad for the purpose of language acquisition. The first of these is a three-week intensive Chinese language and culture program in Singapore offered annually over the winter break. Organized by the Rensselaer Office of International Programs and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), this program gives students the opportunity to earn four Rensselaer credits while learning Mandarin Chinese from native speakers at the Confucius Institute at NTU. Students develop an appreciation of Chinese history and culture through a variety of field trips and events.

For More Information:
Office of International Programs
Walker Lab 4th Floor
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street
Troy, NY 12180-3590
Phone: (518) 276-3411 or (518) 276-6663
Web: http://undergrad.rpi.edu (click on the Office of International Programs tab)