Office of International Education and Development

Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

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Planning
Planning your Program: 

The best time for a Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment major to go abroad will be a combination of their concentration, credits they have transferred in, whether they have a dual major or a minor, whether they plan on taking any summer classes, and obviously their personal situation.  Listed below are some suggested time frames for each concentration. Students looking to go abroad during a different period are encouraged to work closely with their department advisor and the Education Abroad Office.

For all concentrations short-term study abroad opportunities are normally fairly easy to fit into a student’s degree plan.  Students are able to start participating on short-term programs (winter break, spring break, and summer) as early as their first year.  Students participating on short-term faculty-led programs often fulfill General Education, Major Free Electives, Major Concentration courses, Language requirements, or 2nd Major/Minor requirements.  Students participating on partner summer programs may be able to fulfill Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment requirements in addition to the above options. Some students will also engage in research or complete an international internship.

Students in their first year are not able to apply for a semester program but may be eligible for short-term faculty-led programs either during the fall and spring semesters or during the summer sessions. The first year is also a great time to start planning for a semester abroad by making sure that you take the required core courses early on (MAT 1020, TEC 2029, PHY 1103, PHY 1104).

Architectural Technology

Students planning on participating on a semester program should consider fulfilling major elective requirements abroad.  It may be possible to take Architectural Design Studio courses abroad but students should work closely with their department.  The best semesters to study abroad are________. Students should save some of their General Education LSE requirements for their time abroad.  Courses that students should plan to take at Appalachian are______.

Construction Management

Construction Management majors often complete major elective coursework abroad such as Business and Sustainable Technology/Building Systems.  It may be possible to take core major courses but students should plan on taking ____ before or after their semester abroad. The best semesters to study abroad are ______.  Students taking Spanish language can also look at programs that offer intensive Spanish language coursework or complementary Spanish along with classes taught in English.

Sustainable Building Systems

Sustainable Building Systems  majors often complete major elective coursework abroad such as Business and Sustainable Technology/Building Systems.  It may be possible to take core major courses but students should plan on taking ____ before or after their semester abroad.  The best semesters to study abroad are ______.

Sustainable Technology

Students planning on participating on a semester program should consider fulfilling major interdisciplinary or technical specialization requirements abroad.  The best semesters to study abroad are________. Students should save some of their General Education LSE requirements for their time abroad. Courses that students should plan to take at Appalachian are______.  


Course Considerations: 

STBE majors may find it difficult to find equivalencies for the Foundation courses abroad, especially PHY 1103 and 1104. Other courses that students may want to plan to take before or after their abroad experience are______. Outside of these requirements students may be able to take other STBE courses abroad, but often electives are the easiest requirements to fulfill.

Students looking to participate in a semester or summer program can also look to satisfy General Education requirements.  It is suggested that students save 1 or 2 LSE requirements for their study abroad program. It may be possible to satisfy an ILE, Science Inquiry, or Quantitative Literacy course  but this requires more advanced planning.

Advising: 

Students should email their faculty advisor to schedule an advising appointment.

Key questions to ask?

  • What are my remaining degree requirements?
  • How many upper-division credits do I still need to complete for my degree?
  • How many elective credits (lower vs. upper division) do I have left to complete my major?
  • What remaining prerequisites must I fulfill, and how will study abroad impact my progress?
  • Which of my remaining degree requirements could I complete abroad? Are there any that I cannot take abroad?
  • Can I receive academic credit for an internship abroad?
  • Are there any in-residence requirements I need to be aware of before I go abroad?
Programs

STBE majors are able to participate on department faculty-led programs,  summer partner programs, and on semester programs.  Listed below are some possible options.

Program Type Information

Faculty-led

All faculty-led programs for fall 2021 have been suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. Please check back beginning in summer 2021 for updates about faculty-led programs for Spring Break and Summer I & II 2022.

Below are examples of previous faculty-led programs.

 

Appropriate Technology in Peru

  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Peru
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Unique Feature: Students will take Appropriate Technology in Peru (TEC 3531 or 5531) and Renewable Energy in Peru (TEC 3532 or 5532)

Adventures in Sustainable Energy, Architecture, and BIM in Construction

  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: China, South Korea, Taiwan
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Unique Feature: Students will take Sustainable Energy and Architecture in East Asia (TEC 3531) and Energy Efficiency and BIM (TEC 3532)

Short-term

CELL Iceland

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Iceland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentration: Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Students will live in an Eco-village for two weeks  and will take coursework looking at innovative strategies and programs currently being implemented in the U.S. and elsewhere to proactively address issues threatening global sustainability.

CELL Scotland

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Scotland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentration: Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Use a systems thinking lens to understand how ecological systems function, how humans interact with natural systems, how these systems are altered by human behavior, and how we can design human ecological systems that mimic nature as architect (i.e. designed to be sustainable).

CIEE Sustainability and the Environment

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentration: Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Summer Session II of this program offers an Environmental Engineering for the Tropics course.

Veritas

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentration: Architectural Technology, Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Offers a Tropical Architecture and Design course each summer in addition to Spanish language and English-taught electives in Art, Dance, Photography, Environment, Politics, and Sustainable Development.  

Semester

Africa

University of Johannesburg

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Construction Management
  • Unique Feature: Students should have course flexibility.  Offers courses such as Architectural Design, Design Studies, Sustainable Design, History and Theory of Design, Computers in Architecture, Construction and Detailing,

University of the Free State

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Construction Management
  • Unique Feature: Students should have course flexibility.  Offers coursework in Architecture and Construction Management such as: Construction, History of Architecture, Design, Building Economics, Building Sciences, Construction Law, Construction Finance, Land Surveying, and more.  

Asia

ISEP The Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Sustainable Building Systems
  • Unique Feature: CUHK offers classes such as Green Building, Energy and Environmental Economics, Architectural Design Studio

Chonnam National University

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South  Korea
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Chonnam has offered courses such as Bioenergy, Green Energy, Hazardous Waste Management, and New and Renewable Energy Engineering.  

National Cheng Kung University

  • Program Type: Partial Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design, Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Offers an English-taught program on Energy.  Course offerings include Introduction to Energy Technology, Solar Thermal Energy, Energy Technology, Clean Fossil Fuel Technology, Power System, and Bioenergy.  They also usually offer 2-4 courses in Architectural Design and have a Sustainable Building on campus that is used for courses.

Europe

HOWEST

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Belgium
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Construction Management, Sustainable Building Systems, Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: HOWEST offers 1 international semester tracks relevant to STBE majors:
  • Integrated Building Design and Construction in the Fall - Portfolio Development, Architectural Design Studio, Computer-aided architectural design, Construction management, International project

CIEE Global Architecture Prague

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: You will take a Future Cities Design Studio, Future Cities Seminar, and Science and Technology Workshop along with 1-2 additional electives.

CIEE Global Architecture Berlin

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Germany
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: You will take a Future Cities Design Studio, Design and Sustainability Seminar, and Science and Technology Workshop along with 1-2 additional electives.

CIEE Open Campus Berlin

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Germany
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: Offers coursework in Business, Communication, Global Health, Political Science, Language and Culture, STEM and Society, and Global Architecture.

CELL Iceland

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Spring
  • Country: Iceland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Students will live in an Eco-village for the semester and will take coursework on sustainability, biomimicry, and sustainable communities.  

USAC Cork

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Ireland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Sustainable Building Systems, Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Cork offers a wide range of courses related to STBE majors: Design Studio, Energy in Buildings, Sustainable Energy, Wind Energy, Solar and Geothermal Energy, Construction Materials, Environmental Design.

Lorenzo de’ Medici Florence

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Italy
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: LdM offers Design Studio courses, as well Sustainable Architecture, Designing for Communities, and the Built Environment of Florence.

Universidad de Alicante

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Construction Management
  • Unique Feature: Students should have course flexibility. Offers courses such as Urban Planning, Unique Construction Systems, History of Construction, Architectural Projects, and Fundamentals of Construction, Structures, Advanced Construction Systems, and more….as well as a Spanish language course.

CIEE Global Architecture Barcelona

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: You will take a Future Cities Design Studio, Future Cities Seminar, and Science and Technology Workshop along with 1-2 additional electives.

ISEP Linnaeus

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Sweden
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Sustainable Building Systems, Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Linnaeus has offered courses such as Sustainable Energy Supply, Sustainable Innovation in the Building Sector, Energy and Climate-Efficient Construction, and Environmental Technology for Sustainable Development.  

Bilkent 

  • Program Type: Appalachian Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Turkey
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Architectural Design Studio, Architectural Building Systems, Structural Design, Turkish Architecture, and more.

University of Lincoln

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design
  • Unique Feature: Lincoln offers coursework in their Architectural department.  Offerings include Buildable Habitable Design, History of Architecture and Design, Sustainable Design, Integrated Design Project, and more.  

ISEP Edinburgh

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architecture Technology, Sustainable Building Systems, Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Renewable Energy and Sustainability, Energy Systems Design, Building Design and Technology, Construction Management, and Sustainable Development.  

ISEP Plymouth

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design, Construction Management, Sustainable Building Systems
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of Architecture courses in addition to Building Science, Construction Materials, Sustainable and Safe Construction, and Low Energy Building Design.  

USAC Reading

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Construction Management, Sustainable Building Systems
  • Unique Feature: Reading offers courses such as Construction Procurement, Inclusive Environments, Sustainability, and Green Innovation in Construction.  

Latin America

Universidad Austral de Chile

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Chile
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: Architectural Design courses are offered in Spanish for students with advanced Spanish language skills.   

Veritas Universidad

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Sustainable Technology
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Biotechnology and Sustainability, Sustainable Development and Environmental Awareness, Sustainable Lifestyles, Sustainable Consumption & Production, Tropical Architecture and Design, and Sustainable Lifestyles.

Universidad de las Americas Puebla

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Mexico
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology
  • Unique Feature: Offers a few Architecture courses each semester in English as well Engineering courses.  Students can also take intensive Spanish language during the semester. 

Middle East/N Africa

AURAK

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design, Construction Management, Sustainable Building Systems
  • Unique Feature: Offers Physics I and II, Architectural Design Studio, Building Construction, Sustainability and Human Environment Interactions, Sustainable Architecture, Sustainable Housing, HVAC, and more.  

ISEP Sharjah

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design
  • Unique Feature: Offers Physics I and II, Design Studios, Human Interaction, Materials and Methods.

Oceania

University of Canberra

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Construction Management
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Urban Systems, Building Services, Construction Project Management, Building and Construction Studies, Building Information Modelling, Built Environment Technology, Introduction to Surveying, and more.

USAC Griffith

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design, Construction Management,
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Construction Materials, Sustainable Construction, Building Systems, Construction Estimating.

Ara Institute

  • Program Type: Appalachian Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Design, Construction Management
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Sustainable Rating Tools, Architectural Technology, Applied Sustainability, Building Estimation, Building Services, Estimation, Materials, Site Analysis, Design Construction Integration, and more.

ISEP Massey and USAC Massey

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct, and Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Building Sciences, Sustainable Building Systems
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings include Energy Efficient Design, Building Collaborative Communities, Renewable Energy, and Energy Systems.

Internships

Additional information about international internships can be found on the OIED website.  

Research

ISA Universidad del Norte

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Colombia
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Language Requirement: High Beginner Spanish for Research Project
  • Unique Features: Offers the option of completing a 4 credit summer research project.  Students with advanced Spanish may take content courses taught in Spanish.

ISA Euroscholars

  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Europe
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Architectural Technology, Sustainable Building Systems, Sustainable Technology
  • Highlights: EuroScholars is a unique research abroad programme designed for advanced and talented undergraduate students from US and Canadian institutions looking for an international research experience. In this programme, students have the opportunity to undertake one course in the classroom and then work under the direct supervision of professors and other academic staff on a specific academic research project chosen by both the student and the faculty.