CEE 4915 – International Engineering Field Experience
The International Senior Design (iDesign) Program provides a unique capstone design experience that involves service learning in an international, multicultural context.
Students work on engineering design teams under the guidance of faculty and partner organization advisors to serve the needs of community clients. Students experience a design project from the initial stages of needs assessment and project conception through the stages of design and documentation, while gaining an intercultural perspective from working and learning in another country.
Two-Semester Capstone Design Experience
Assessment Trip to Panama
CEE 4915 takes place during summer, Track B, including a two-week international experience.
Senior Design Project
CEE 4916 takes place on campus in the fall.
General Timeline
Spring
- Application and deposit are due.
- The preliminary project is planned (meetings).
- The team formation is discussed.
- Pre-entry is assessed.
- There is a surveying session.
Summer
- Trip takes place in August, at the end of the Summer Track B session (CEE 4915).
- Team assessment report is due.
Fall
- Design work is completed, in coordination with community and other partner organizations
- Final team report is due (CEE 4916).
iDesign 2023 Trip to Panama
Spring 2023
- Application Due Date: 3/20/2023 (approx.)
- Lab Fee: $985
- Deposit: $100 (refunded after trip)
- Deposit Due Date: 3/20/2023 (approx.)
- 3 Credit Cost: $1,887 (based on 2021-22 resident tuition)
Summer 2023
- Summer Track B Start Date: 6/26/2023
- Trip Start Date: 8/12/2023 (approx.)
- Flight Meet-up Location: Typically Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Trip Return Date: 8/22/2023 (approx.)
- Summer Track B End Date: 8/10/2023 (course is extended for study abroad trip)
- Team Assessment Report Due Date: 8/24/2023 (approx.)
Fall 2023
- Fall Semester Start Date: 9/5/2023
- Final Team Report Due Date: 12/15/2023
Who
- CEGE majors can join, as well as other engineering majors with approval. Other engineering majors may have additional capstone design requirements. Check your undergraduate flow charts.
- Non-engineering majors may participate in CEE 4915 as an elective.
- CEE 4915 is an elective for those minoring in Humanitarian Engineering.
- This study abroad program may serve as a required immersion experience for those pursuing the Peace Corps Prep certificate.
- The Michigan Tech chapter of Engineers Without Borders encourages members to participate in study abroad programs.
Expect to join 8–12 students and two instructors. There are 3–5 students per design team. In forming teams, we consider:
- Interests
- Expertise
- Experience
- Diversity of backgrounds
- Spanish skills
Where
Panama City, Panama
When
Summer Track B session, where the trip is approximately 10 days in mid-August.
What Will You Do?
Visit communities to assess needs and collect site data for an infrastructure design project.
- Teams travel together to project sites.
- A team will act as a professional design consultant.
Preparation
Consider registering for the following courses:
- Courses in Surveying and AutoCAD are highly recommended.
- Industry surveying and AutoCAD experience is just as valuable.
- SS 3961 is highly recommended.
For students outside of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, you must consult your advisor and/or department head to verify Senior Design or Technical elective credits.
Transportation
The class will meet up at a major hub (such as Chicago O’Hare) and then travel together by air to Panama City, Panama.
Prerequisites
A positive attitude, adaptability, and interest in another culture! Competent hiking skills, a letter of reference from another instructor, and a passport. Must be senior project ready as defined by major department.
Course Cost
Lab fee (TBD) and 3 credits. Fee includes all transportation, course materials, housing and meals (or per diem) in Panama, and travel insurance. Students are responsible for any required or recommended vaccinations and prescription medicines.
Project Completion
At the end of the visit, each team will complete an assessment report to be provided to the community and other project partners. Students then return to campus to complete a one-semester design course (CEE 4916) in the fall semester. By the end of the fall term, each team will deliver a final report, design drawings, a formal end-of-project presentation, and other final products to their organization and/or community partner.
Interested?
Contact David Watkins, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (dwatkins@mtu.edu) for more information and to apply for a spot in the class!
David Watkins, PE
Distinguished Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Teaching Statement
My goal is to provide a safe, exciting, and challenging learning environment for all students. I believe that many students are motivated to learn basic principles through practical application, and thus I frequently use problem-based learning methods and case studies in my courses. In nearly all my courses, students complete independent term projects so that they can dive deeper into topics of their choice. I also welcome guest speakers from industry and government, and I recognize the need for continuous professional development to stay up to date in the field of water resources engineering.