Perhaps you have been hearing the buzz about Georgia Tech's International Plan. The International Plan (IP) is an academic program that allows participating undergraduates to incorporate an international perspective into their education while at Tech. It is a degree designator which students earn by fulfilling certain academic requirements that have been integrated into their major's curriculum. The requirements include spending a total of six months abroad (studying, working, or researching), developing proficiency in a language other than English, and taking globally-oriented coursework as part of the student's usual coursework, all of which is intended to develop their global competence as it relates to their discipline at the university.

Currently, 25 of Tech's academic units-two-thirds of all majors-offer this program and almost 600 students are taking advantage of the opportunity. It's very exciting for Georgia Tech to be on the cutting edge of education and the international community is taking notice. Georgia Tech wants to ensure the success of students toward earning the international education designator. Students have many resources that allow them to develop a plan which will help them meet their academic and professional goals. The International Plan Coordinator advises students and helps them understand the pathway to earning this innovative degree designator.

The Office of International Education, for example, offers more than 25 faculty-led summer opportunities and more than 60 semester and year-long exchange programs from which students can choose. In addition, the Department of Professional Practice, which offers Work Abroad opportunities, welcomes students to learn about global internships or co-op opportunities. Each participating academic unit has a faculty representative to whom participating students in that major may go for advice on how to match their needs and interests with the academic requirements. There are also staff advisors to assist students in their decision-making processes.

For more information about the International Plan, please contact Karen Pierce at karen.pierce@oie.gatech.edu or at 404-385-7512. For more detailed information and to see upcoming events associated with the program, please visit www.internationalplan.gatech.edu.