Inside Look - Engineering Study Abroad

Hello!

I’m Caroline Jarrard and I am a senior studying Civil Engineering (CE), with a concentration in Construction, at Purdue University. If you look around, wherever you are, Civil Engineering has impacted the scene around you. Since CE is such an applicable major, our program is split into multiple concentrations: Architectural, Construction, Environmental, Geomatics, Geotechnical, Hydraulics, Materials, Structural, and Transportation. However, you don’t need to choose a concentration right away, or at all! These concentrations are provided so that after you take some basic Civil Engineering classes there are some organized suggestions on future classes to take if one concentration piques your interest.

However, the CE program is structured so you can naturally discover your interests through classes, internships/co-ops, and extracurricular activities. The plan of study is set up so you get a taste of many of the applications Civil Engineering offers. In addition, there are multiple career fairs each year that are provided to introduce you to representatives of companies who will discuss taking part in their internship or co-op program. I took advantage of attending these career fairs and ended up with an internship each summer, which ultimately helped me narrow down what I love about Civil Engineering! I was able to get hands on experience tackling real world engineering problems, while learning about different companies’ cultures. These internship opportunities have provided me the ability to help choose what kind of company I would like to work for after graduation and what my interests are within Civil Engineering so I can structure the rest of my classes towards those specific interests!  

Did you know you can also earn credits for classes while traveling the world? This past May, I studied abroad for 2 weeks traveling throughout England, Germany and Austria with other engineering students and two faculty members. The trip focused on 21st Century European Transportation, so each day there were planned tours and experiences that focused on transportation. However, there was also ample time for us to explore on our own and learn about things each country offered! This trip was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I was able to learn so much about engineering, but also have so much fun with the other students in our group. When I came back to school, I applied what I learned abroad to my studies here in the United States and am now able to look at things with a new perspective.

Ultimately, I am so thankful for all the knowledge I have gained and opportunities I have taken a part of through Purdue’s Civil Engineering department. Through my classes, internship opportunities and study abroad experience, I have learned so much and have had such an amazing time being a Civil Engineering student!

Boiler Up!

-Caroline Jarrard