This angle or that . . . As an engineering student at Pitt, you will take a core set of classes during your freshman year. These classes are designed to give you a broad background in the different fields of engineering as well as build the basic knowledge you will need regardless of which field you choose. After the freshman year, you can select any major. The Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh offers nine different majors: Bioengineering Civil & Environmental Computer Electrical Engineering Physics Industrial Materials Science Mechanical Petroleum & Chemical In addition, Pitt offers a number of formal certificate programs that can enhance your engineering degree. These include certificates in: Energy Resource Utilization Fessenden Honors in Engineering International Engineering Studies Nuclear Engineering Product Realization Sustainability Energy Mining Engineering So, you can't decide between your love of engineering and your love of history? No problem. The Swanson School of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences offer a joint degree. You can select any liberal arts major. Typically, students in the joint degree program will spend the first three years focusing on their engineering degree and the last two years studying their liberal arts major. Real life experience . . . The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) is one of the best ways to gain work experience in your field. In the Co-op program, you will alternate semesters of study and work. When you complete the program you will have a full year of experience. As a Co-op participant, you can work with some of the top companies both nationally and internationally, and you can earn an average starting salary of $2,483 per month. If the Co-op program does not fit your needs, Pitt also offers many internship opportunities. Some companies also pay their summer interns. For international experience, the Swanson School of Engineering offers study abroad opportunities. You can study engineering just about anywhere in the world. Combine this experience with coursework at Pitt to earn a Certificate in International Engineering Studies. Engineering graduates who have knowledge of other cultures and languages have an edge in the job market. There is also the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research. You can investigate current problems in bioengineering, polymer science, environmental engineering and biosystems, just to name a few. Engineering Scholarships . . . The Swanson School of Engineering offers academic scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 per year. These scholarships can be in addition to the general University scholarships. All students who apply for admission by January 15 are automatically reviewed for academic scholarships on the basis of their high school record and SAT I or ACT results. Where can you go? The knowledge and skills you learn in the Swanson School of Engineering can lead you to any career you want. In addition to traditional engineering jobs, companies are always looking for people with an understanding of the technical aspects of the industry to work on the business side. Some engineering graduates go on to earn their MBAs. Some of the distinguished graduates of Pitt's School of Engineering include: Senior Vice President, DuPont Chemicals; Senior Vice President, Texaco Incorporated; President, 84 Lumber; and Vice President and Group Executive, General Motors Corporation, just to name a few. With a degree in engineering, your possibilities are only limited by your dreams. The Honors College The Swanson School of Engineering, in conjunction with the University Honors College, offers the Freshman Honors in Engineering Program. In this program, you will take an honors version of the basic science core courses as well as participate in discussion groups about the different fields of engineering and current issues. You do not have to participate in the Freshman Honors in Engineering Program to take honors courses. Honors College advisors will help you select courses that fit your interests. The University Honors College offers a number of courses in the sciences. UHC courses are not intended to be more advanced than regularly offered courses. However, they are designed to be more challenging and to give students a more in-depth perspective on the subject matter and are typically smaller and are more like a seminar than a lecture. The UHC offers a Bachelor of Philosophy degree that requires students to do an independent research project and defend their thesis in front of a faculty review panel. For more information visit the School of Engineering homepage.