- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Experiential Learning
- Faculty and Staff
- Costs
- Dates
- Additional Information
For the AY 2022-2023, this program will not be offered. The following information is provided as a reference for future years and is subject to change.
Information Session!
Fall 2024 Information Sessions TBD
- Gain an understanding of the challenges that Pacific islands face and meeting the UN Sustainable Development goals
- Develop insight on Guam’s economic, cultural, and social structures
- Learn how to use sustainable design (i.e. biomimicry) to balance natural resource management with economic development
- Collaborate with local entities and learn to research and develop contemporary engineering sustainability solutions
- Learn how to cook a local Chamoru dish (and eat it!)
Engineering students can view how these courses will fulfill degree requirements here:
- Bioengineering: coming soon
- Chemical Engineering: coming soon
- Civil and Environmental Engineering: coming soon
- Electrical and Computer Engineering: coming soon
- Industrial Engineering: coming soon
- MEMS: Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Engineering Science: coming soon
Island nations provide a unique learning opportunity to evaluate the complex task of engineering for sustainability. On small islands the connections between social, economic, and environmental impacts are more easily traced and the scale of the processes more readily tracked.
They often also present a unique and constrained set of material resources that have shaped indigenous cultural practices often spawning rare adaptations/designs.
By studying abroad you will explore the context of engineering challenges/opportunities/tradeoffs for sustainability in Guam by considering social (culture, history, governance), environmental (natural resources, built infrastructure, environmental impacts of industry), and economic (socioeconomics/economic development) perspective.
Students will be a part of multiple “workshops” where they will put into practice sustainable practices in Island living.
Dr. David Sanchez
David Sanchez, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. He is also the Assistant Director for the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation where he oversees the Sustainability Education programs such as the Undergraduate Certificate, Master’s in Sustainable Engineering and John C. Mascaro Faculty Fellows program. As an investigator Dr. Sanchez directs the Sustainable Design Labs where they look to enhance the sustainability of the natural and built environment on a local/regional scale. Current projects include converting Waste-to-Energy via bio-electrochemical systems, designing and deploying real-time sensors to identify uncertainty in water quality trends, and optimizing vertical agriculture/aquaculture systems. Dr. Sanchez is the recipient of several awards including a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, IGERT Traineeship, Alfred P. Sloan Scholarship, Pittsburgh Business Time Energy Award, the Pitt Faculty Sustainability Award and, the Best Mentor Award for Pitt’s Excel program. He actively leads international engineering trips on behalf of the Swanson School of Engineering and is excited about our new Jamaica program.
Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.
Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering. After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education. I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities!
Schedule an appointment
SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!
non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!
Lauren Smith-Lemesh M.Ed.

Om Swastiastu Pitt! My name is Lauren, and I am one of the Global Programs Managers in the Swanson School of Engineering. I studied abroad in Indonesia during undergraduate, and worked as a peer study abroad advisor once I returned. After my study abroad trip, I knew that I wanted to support students to have life-changing experiences abroad too. Let's talk about your interests and find a program that will help you achieve your goals!
Schedule an appointment
Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!
- Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
- Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
- Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
- Select 152 Benedum as the Location
- Select ENGR Global as the service
- Select my name and find a time that works for you!
Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!
Items Billed by Pitt |
||
---|---|---|
In-state | Out-of-state | |
Program Fee | TBD | TBD |
Study Abroad Fee | $300 | $300 |
Total Billed by Pitt | TBD | TBD |
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
||
---|---|---|
Airfare Estimate | $2,100 | |
Visa costs if applicable- If you are not a U.S. Citizen there might be costs associated with applying for a visa
|
$500 |
For global scholarship opportunities, check out:
- The Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples.
- PittFund$Me for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
- PittFund$Me for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!
Program Start Date: TBD
Program End Date: TBD
Application deadline: TBD
Admissions Requirements:
- Must have a 2.75 GPA or higher
- Good academic and behavioral standing
- Must have finished your second year engineering or higher level at the time of application