Integrating engineering and global competencies: a case study of Oregon State University's International Degree Program

Although educators recognize the importance of a global perspective, few engineering undergraduates integrate significant international experience into their academic program. Oregon State University's innovative International Degree Program allows students to earn a concurrent bachelor's degree in International Studies associated with an engineering degree. Requirements include foreign language proficiency, overseas experience, courses with a cross-cultural focus, and a thesis. The program draws on campus resources such as overseas study programs, international internships, and the honors college, and enlists engineering faculty members as thesis advisors. This case study of a mechanical engineering student illustrates the degree's potential. In addition to meeting engineering requirements, he spent a year at a British university, studied Spanish in Spain, interviewed European engineers for his thesis on the Internet's impact on mechanical engineering design, and interned with a German company. His technical skills and global competencies equip him to work as a professional engineer both at home and abroad.