Parents Weekend 2025 Swanson School of Engineering
About the Swanson School Student
Enrollment
First Year Students
“How is the class of 2029 doing?”
They are navigating the realities of the first-year engineering learning curve:
• This isn’t high school. It’s harder and it’s more work – a lot harder and a lot more work.
• It takes 1-2 weeks to study for a college exam, and college exams often all hit at the same time. That’s part of the learning process – managing the workload.
• High school grades and college grades don’t look the same.
• Policies and procedures do apply to them. They are not the exception to the rule.
• Everyone here is smart and even smart people have to work really hard.
• “Getting the answer” is less important than truly learning and internalizing the concepts.
• College professors’ and advisors’ expectations for listening, retaining information, learning, and taking responsibility are high.
“Are they navigating these challenges successfully?”
Are they navigating these challenges successfully?
• Some of them are. Some of them are struggling.
• Overall, feedback is that they are engaged. There is some concern about follow-through.
• There are more students at the top, more at the bottom, and fewer in the middle.
Topics we have covered extensively in their Seminar recitations so far (taught by their advisors and an engineering peer leader):
The college classroom environment/expectations
Time and task management
Study skills and test taking
Working effectively with faculty and advisors
Topics we will cover in their Seminar recitations in the coming weeks:
Spring course registration
Planning a four-year degree
Student panel of upperclassmen CliftonStrengths assessment
Pitt has so many help resources! Your student has been made aware of these resources in their first-year seminar course:
http://tutor.pitt.edu/tutoring
TUTORING:
Math Assistance Center
Physics Resource Room
Chemistry Tutoring
Engineering 0011/0012 TAs
Writing Center (and an ENGR-specific composition tutorial)
Study Lab and Mobile Study Lab
OTHER: Professors
Teaching Assistants
Academic Advisors
Engineering Peer Leaders
First-Year Engr Math Circles
Pitt EXCEL
Resident Assistants
Counseling Center
Disabilities Resources
Stress Free Zone
Undergraduate Degree Options Degree Programs
• Bioengineering
• Chemical
• Civil
• Computer
• Gas, Renewables, and Oil
• Electrical
• Environmental
• Industrial
• Mechanical
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Engineering Science
Certificates
• Cyber security
• Engineering Data Analytics
• Engineering for Humanity
• Engineering Simulation in Design
• Health Systems Engineering
• Human Factors Engineering
• Innovation, Product Design and Entrepreneurship
• International Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Quantum Computing and Quantum Information
• Supply Chain Management
• Sustainability
Experiential Learning
Co-Ops, Internships, Global Experiences, Undergraduate Research, Makerspaces
Putting into play what you do in the classroom
Experiential Engagement is
Co-Op & Internship Opportunities
International Experience Programs
Key
Undergraduate Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Student Clubs and Competitions
Continuous Professional Development Starting in the First-Year
Co-Ops & Internships
It is a must!
Cooperative Education
• Academic Program wherein students gain related experience, wages, and credit
• Work rotations to earn 3 credits towards an elective (3 alternating or 2 six-month)
• Can be with same employer or 2 different rotational experiences
• Students able to work longer than 10-12 weeks, gain more in-depth responsibilities and skills
• Graduate with a full year of work experience, and make money to help pay for expenses
• Keep full-time student status while on rotation
• Partner with Panther Central, Financial Aid, Global, all SSOE departments
• Established industry partners – domestic & global
ROI No-Brainer!
✓ Average starting wage is $21-$22 hr. – so if completing the co-op program, a student can make $35-$40K!!
✓ Pay $335 + part-time fees per alternating rotations OR pay $502.50 + part-time fees per 6-month rotations –do not pay tuition while on a rotation!
✓ Gain 3 credits towards elective – one less class to pay for!
* Second-Year alternating three rotation options
AY 2024 Co-op Participation Stats
• 37% student participation
• Average monthly salary: $3736
• Over 217 active employers (Co-op only)
• Post Grad FT salary average: $76K
• 85% program completion
• Overall post-grad placement was 96% for co-op (all majors) participants
• 61% received FT offers from co-op employers, 78% student acceptance
Internships & Research
Start looking in the fall term!
Can work multiple experiences
• Both can be domestic or global experiences
• Great to try both (can help with graduate school decision)
• We advise students to consider both co-op and internships in their search
SSOE ELPE Co-op & Internship Intranet: Resources, videos, employer information, Co-op program information
https://pitt.sharepoint.com/sites/PittEngineering/coop/SitePages/Co-op-and-Internship.aspx
ELPE
Events: Helping with your professional development
Fall:
• Student Panel Event
• Alumni Mock Interview Event
• ELPE Co-op & Internship fair
• ASCE Fair / IISE Fair
• Pittsburgh Robotics Network
• Employer Panels / seminars
• Student groups, networking events
Spring: ELPE Co op & Internship fair
• Chris Ann Frankovic, Director
Undergrad COE, EE, ESCI, IE, ME, MSE
• Tyler Kimmel, Associate Director
Undergrad BIOE, CHE, CE, ENVR
• Valerie Kerr, Graduate Professional Development Consultant
Graduate MS and PhD
• Nora Dougherty, Global Engineering Professional Development Consultant International Co-Ops
ELPE LinkedIn Page
Global Experiences
Usually, only 8-10% of engineering students study abroad…
Swanson ~20% students go global
Engineering Global Experiences
Semester
• Global E3
• Universities of Applied Sciences Consortium
Short Term
• Plus 3
• Plus 3 transfer Plus – Czech Republic
• Sustainable Engineering in Iceland
• Engineering of the Renaissance: Florence
• Energy and Electrification: Brazil
Hosted within SSOE All credits count towards degree
• Moving the Cities
• Busn, Tech, and Engr the German Way
• Global Supply Networks: Uruguay
Global Research/Internship /Co-Op
Scholarships
Additional Pitt Recognized Summer Programs for Engineers
Plus 3 – FreshmenOnly
Hosted by Engineering
• Cyprus
• Crossroads of Global Industries
• Netherlands
• Sustainability, Fabrication, Flood Control, Floriculture, and Food
• South Korea
• Smart Systems
• Spain
• Healthcare, Innovation, and Technology
Global Experiences
• Drop In or set up an advising meeting
• 3 Staff and 4 Peer Advisors
• Scholarships are widely available to lower costs
Important Upcoming Global Dates
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Research
SSOE Summer Undergraduate Research Internship Program
▪ Students propose a research project with a faculty mentor
▪ 12 wk - $5000
▪ International projects
▪ Germany; Switzerland; Hong Kong; South Korea; Singapore; Israel; Others
▪ 10 wk - $4000
▪ Ingenium
MCSI Summer Research Program in Sustainability
▪ Students interested in gaining hands-on experiences related to the broad topic of sustainability
▪ 10 wk/$5000
Directly w Faculty or Class
▪ Required in two programs
▪ Independent study
▪ Some students work directly with faculty through their research grants
Professional Development
YEP! We’re helping students to get ready for the “real world”
Getting Started
Student Attends Freshman Professional Development - Intranet and Suitable Introduced
Suitable Page:
Welcome to the SSoE Community
• Getting Started
• Tell Us About Yourself (Beginning Survey)
• Greetings from ELPE
• Getting you registered on the site’s you need moving forward.
Module #1 –Your Resume
• Pre-Module Survey
• Your Resume / Instruction and Detail (Written/Video)
• Post-Module Survey
Module #2 –Interviewing Best Practices
• Pre-Module Survey
• Interview Best Practices / Instruction and Detail (Written/Video)
• Post-Module Survey
Module #3 –
Job Search Plan
• Pre-Module Survey
• Job Search Plan / Instruction and Detail (Written/Video)
• Post-Module Survey
Module #4 –What is Your Story?
• Pre-Module Survey
• What’s Your Story? / Instruction and Detail (Written/Video)
• Post-Module Survey
First Year Students!
Module #5 –LinkedIn
• Pre-Module Survey
• LinkedIn / Instruction and Detail (Written/Video)
• Post-Module Survey
Pre- & Post-Survey’s Measure – ATTITUDES, CONFIDENCE and KNOWLEDGE
Career Professional Development & Experienced Based Learning (EBL)
EBL = Co-op, internship, global experience(s), class projects, research, and any other activities that expose students to experiences that help them to learn and grow within engineering
Both are vital to our students being able to build durable “soft” skills, competencies, and confidence needed to secure jobs post-graduation
SSoE Career Toolbox
Resume Interview Best Practices
Job Search Plan Storytelling LinkedIn
EAGr Program
EAGr Website
▪ The EAGr Program is a 4+1 option that allows students to complete three graduate-level courses during their undergrad, with the remaining seven taken during their master’s study, saving both time and tuition. The EAGr advantage is that two of these courses will count toward both bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements.
▪ Benefits of the EAGr Program
▪ Accelerated Timeline – Earn a BS and MS in 5 years
▪ Reduced Tuition Costs – Take 3 graduate-level courses during your senior year at the undergraduate tuition rate
▪ No GRE Required – Application does not require a GRE
▪ Eligibility
▪ Undergraduates who maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA through their junior year
▪ Incoming first-year students must have SAT ≥ 1490 or ACT ≥ 34 and be in the top 10% of their class, pending a 3.25 by junior year. Students applying testoptional must rank in the top 5% and maintain a 3.25 by junior year
Graduation Outlook
• Knowledge Rate = 87.85% (564 responses)
• Placement Rate = 96.59%
• Working = 76.83%
• Continuing Education = 18.53%
• Military = 0.97%
• Volunteering = 0.19%
• Still Looking = 3.47% https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/career-center/success-after-pitt
Success After Pitt –
Class of 2024 Highlights:
Average Salary = $74,106
Top Employers:
• Westinghouse (30)
• Gateway Engineers, University of Pittsburgh (7)
• UPMC (6)
• Epic, Hatch, Naval Nuclear Laboratory (5)
• AstraZeneca, Civil & Environmental Consultants, CurtissWright, Eaton, Hensel Phelps, Lockheed Martin, Medtronic, MSA – The Safety Company, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Philips (4)
• Bechtel, Emerson, FedEx, Human Engineering Research Laboratory, Michael Baker International, PA Department of Transportation, Wade Trim (3)
• Aerotech, American Contracting and Environmental Services, Ansys, Atkore, Avient, Bloom Engineering Company, Duquesne Light Company, Form Energy, FSElliott, Galapagos, HDR, Hellbender, Herbert Rowland & Grubic, Hitachi Rail, Honeywell, Jacobs, Larson Design Group, Pitt Ohio, PNC Financial Services, Sargent & Lundy, Syensqo, Traffic and Planning Design, Inc., WSP (2)
https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/career-center/success-after-pitt