Major Advising Page – Chemical and Biological Engineering Majors

In today’s global marketplace, there is an increasing need for broadly educated engineering graduates with cross-cultural skills, international understanding, and proficiency in more than one language. The College of Engineering is committed to providing international opportunities that will assist engineering students in obtaining these important skills.

Engineering students can go abroad on programs through the College of Engineering, International Academic Programs, or any others for which they meet the eligibility requirements. Students are awarded P/F grades for programs through the College of Engineering, whereas they will earn A-F grades for programs through other advising locations.

Chemical & Biological course considerations abroad

CBE encourages you to complete your six engineering elective credits while abroad, and that you get the courses you plan to take abroad equated before departing for your program to ensure that they will be equated to the course(s) you expect. You can do so by sending a request with the host institution’s course info and the proposed UW equivalent course to the program’s Enrollment Specialist Advisor (EM), which you can find listed here.

There are two courses in the curriculum in which majors must obtain a grade of ‘C’ or better. If you take either of the following courses abroad, a DARS exception will need to be processed in order for the ‘S’ grade obtained abroad to fulfill requirements. These courses are CBE 250 and 320.

CBE has a required summer lab, which is an intensive five-week session, usually as the final degree requirement before graduation. There are opportunities to complete this requirement either in Madison or abroad.

College of Engineering course considerations abroad

If you are hoping to take specific courses abroad that haven’t already been equated, it is strongly recommended that you equate them before applying to go abroad.

All majors have engineering electives as part of the degree requirements. It is recommended to save these courses for your time abroad. Having this added flexibility will ensure continued progress towards your degree and also provide you with access to unique courses.

Physics 202: Plan to take this course in Madison. The fact that it’s five credits and requires a lab makes it complicated to find an equivalent course abroad.
InterEGR 397: Plan to take the required InterEGR 397 (Technical Communication) course in Madison. It is rare to find an equivalent course or department abroad.

Mapping your study abroad experience as a Chemical and Biological Engineering major

First Year
Not recommended to study abroad unless it’s in the summer after your first year! You must complete your first year at UW in order to apply for progression and be admitted to your department and going abroad can delay your progress and jeopardize your progression status. Programs through the College of Engineering require that you meet progression requirements before applying.
Second year
Not recommended to study abroad unless it is over winter intersession or during the summer.
Third year
Studying abroad during your junior year works best in either semester. Completing engineering elective courses abroad also gives you more flexibility to take unique courses that aren’t offered in Madison.
Fourth year
Most engineering programs have a senior design requirement in their last year. It is not likely that this design requirement can be met abroad, and students should check with their advisor when considering studying abroad in their second-to-last semester. Please note that engineering students cannot study abroad in their last semester. Due to the College’s residency requirement, engineering students must complete their last two semesters in Madison. It is possible to request a waiver to study abroad in your second to last semester (contact international@engr.wisc.edu for more information on this possibility), or in your first senior year if you will have more than one! The one exception to this rule is that you can indeed do your summer lab course abroad- you can explore the options in Spain, Ireland and China!

Questions to ask

Your Academic Advisor

What classes must I complete for my degree (breadth/depth, major requirements, etc.)?
Do I need to be on UW-Madison’s campus for any courses in my major?
Are there any courses required for my degree that are only offered in a specific semester at UW?
Are there any courses required for my degree that I must take in a specific sequence?
How many engineering electives are required for my degree?
Does my department have a preference that I take certain courses in Madison or abroad?

Your Study Abroad Advisor

What classes can I take abroad in a particular program?
How and when do I select courses for my program?
Can I establish new course equivalents for my program?
What is the class structure like abroad?

Certificate in International Engineering

The Certificate in International Engineering provides recognition for your efforts to prepare for an international career by learning about one or more regions outside the United States. An undergraduate student in the College of Engineering or the Department of Biological Systems Engineering can earn the certificate by completing at least 16 credits worth of courses with a primary focus on the language, culture, history, geography, society, or institutions of a particular country or region of the world. Students are encouraged to submit applications as soon as they have met progression requirements. The one-credit capstone seminar required for this certificate is offered in the fall only, and must be completed after one’s international experience.

Hear from students in your major

Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.

Identifying programs that are right for you

Courses offered as part of these programs may not be guaranteed to be the best fit for you, depending on where you are in the major. Make sure to verify in which semester courses are offered, as many courses are offered in one semester or the other but not both, or may no longer be offered by the host institution.

International Internships

International internships are another way to gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning course credit. While you can often participate in a part-time internship as part of your study abroad program, it is also possible to participate in an Internship-focused program or a UW Signature Internship.

Search all programs

Research all programs using the Program Search page. The above is not an exhaustive list of all programs. There may be other programs that are a better fit for your individual needs or interests.